Politics

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with his wife, Anikó Lévai, visiting Tatarstan.

Viktor Orbán, as Hungary’s lord of life and death

The title of this article might seem overly polemical, but I can’t think of a more accurate way to describe plans that were leaked this week to lay off 20% of  the civil servants working in key national public institutions in 2016, followed by a further 10% in layoffs in 2017. This year’s 20% reduction will put 6,000 Hungarian civil […]

by · January 26, 2016 · Politics
Lajos Bokros addresses the protesters in front of Parliament on January 24th. Photo: Zsolt Szigetvári / MTI.

Opposition protests Orbán’s dictatorial “state of terror” legislation

Over a thousand protesters took to the streets of Budapest on Sunday, to protest the Orbán regime’s proposed amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary (the new constitution introduced by Fidesz in 2011), which give sweeping powers to the government and completely sideline parliament, whenever authorities decide that a “state of terror” is imminent. According to the proposed amendment, Prime […]

by · January 25, 2016 · Politics
Mr. Hasulyó (in blue shirt) with film and media mogul Andy Vajna and his wife Timi  (Mr. Vajna has recently purchased channel TV2 in Hungary.)

Hungary manufactures fake news in California

The Orbán government’s misinformation industry is alive and well and reached a new level. Generally, fake news is manufactured in Budapest by well paid professionals at the Hungarian News Agency – MTI. Not anymore–they are also made right here in the United States. Hungarian Minister of State for EU Affairs Mr. Szabolcs Takács recently visited Los Angeles and the M1 […]

by · January 23, 2016 · Politics
Omar Adam Sayfo

Omar Sayfo: I strongly refuse far-right label for the Demokrata weekly

Dear Mr. Christopher Adam, First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for offering me a space to respond to your piece in the Hungarian Free Press. I was delighted to read your review of my article about the global phenomenon of religious persecution. I am especially happy that your comments fueled a constructive dialogue on the Mandiner blog, […]

by · January 22, 2016 · Politics
Hungary's population peaked at 10.7 million in 1980 and has been declining ever since.

Hungary’s population woes and some bizarre ideas from Fidesz’s Christian Democratic partner

Hungary’s governing party has long been concerned with the country’s demographic decline–and Hungarian political leaders have good reason to worry. In 2005, Hungary’s population stood at 10.1 million. A decade later, at the end of 2015, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) estimates the total population at 9.8 million. The fact that 67% of Hungarian students told pollsters that they would want to […]

by · January 14, 2016 · Politics
British Prime Minister David Cameron, right, speaks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a meeting on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. European Union leaders are reconvening in Brussels for the final day of their year-end summit with a wide-ranging agenda including how to build greater economic unity among their 28 countries and stepping up the fight against terrorism. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)

David Cameron vs. Viktor Orbán

David Cameron is a true democrat and a wise politician. He believes in liberal democracy and free market economy, and refuses an ever more integrated European Union. Mr. Cameron looks for allies on these grounds. And his greatest challenge is that most of his anti-EU allies are xenophobes and extreme populists. Will statesman Cameron be ready to tame or handle […]

by · January 7, 2016 · Politics
István Garancsi (right) with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at a Videoton soccer competition in Székesfehérvár.

A new year, a new example of systemic corruption in Hungary?

One of the defining features of Hungary’s Orbán regime is the systemic and wanton corruption. The new year brings yet another example of what appears to be brazen turpitude when it comes to how state funds are used on a massive scale to reward those close and loyal to the ruling Fidesz party. István Garancsi, a close friend of Prime […]

by · January 4, 2016 · Politics
Katinka Kosszú at her press conference.

Katinka Hosszú is shocked, PM Orbán wants her to be his regime’s poster girl

World champion and world record holder Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszú has called a press conference to criticize Hungary’s swimming Federation for failing to provide resources to its swimmers. When she asked for better conditions from Hungarian swim officials they told her that she could have them on the condition that she lends “her image and brand to the organizational committee […]

by · December 31, 2015 · Politics
Omar Adam Sayfo

Omar Adam Sayfo on Islam and religious persecution

Omar Adam Sayfo is the foreign affairs editor columnist* at Hungary’s pro-Fidesz regime Demokrata weekly news magazine. He is of part-Syrian origins and is a graduate student at Utrecht University, with his research focusing on socio-political developments in the Arab world. The Demokrata, where Mr. Sayfo works, is among the worst of the worst, when it comes to the Fidesz far-right. The […]

by · December 29, 2015 · Politics
György Matolcsy. Photo: AFP.

Hungary’s Fidesz: Corruption on a grand scale

When I read about Canada’s corruption scandals of the day — such as Senator Mike Duffy’s trial, where the disgraced politician is accused of claiming just under $100,000 in bogus expenses — I can’t help but think how incredibly petty all of this is, in comparison to the systemic and absolutely brazen corruption surrounding Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party. Today’s news […]

by · December 22, 2015 · Politics