Politics

Adler Tippa typewriter from the seventies...

Letter to the editor: In defence of Sándor Szakály

One of our readers in the United States was angered by an article we ran about far-right historian Sándor Szakály’s visit to Cleveland and his revisionist views on the Holocaust. The reader’s letter is published below, along with a brief response from HFP contributor György Lázár.  Dear Mr. Lázár, I have no idea who you are but I can guess […]

by · November 24, 2015 · Politics
Connie Mack

Move over Connie Mack, Gov. George Pataki is eyeing your plum lobbying job

If Gov. George Pataki bows out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, one day he might make good money as a lobbyist. At least this is what the Cleveland based Bocskai Radio’s interview with Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s young foreign minister suggests. (Hear the radio interview here.) The reporter asked Mr. Szijjártó why Connie Mack got the well-paying lobbying […]

by · November 22, 2015 · Politics
The Záhony border crossing between Hungary and Ukraine. This represents one of the EU's external borders, which Hungarian border security patrols and protects and where you will come into contact with Hungarian border guards and customs officials. Photo: MTI.

The death of Schengen is not what Viktor Orbán wants…

This has been an annus horribilis for the European Union. In the spring and summer, the euro looked set to crumble, as Greece devolved into political turmoil, teetering on the brink of Grexit and as deep divisions within the eurozone emerged about how to deal with the debt crisis and whether to even salvage the unity of the euro. As often […]

by · November 21, 2015 · Politics
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with school children in the town of Szombathely. Photo: Facebook.

Viktor Orbán on defending Europeans and “the invasion of the outsiders”

We rarely publish verbatim long texts produced by Hungary’s current government, but to understand how Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is using the terrorist attacks in France to position himself as the defender of Europe, the “common sense” voice of “the people,” standing up to detached liberal elites who still believe in diverse societies and inclusion, we must read him. We […]

by · November 18, 2015 · Politics
A photo posted on Socialist MP Márta Demeter's Facebook page from the vigil held in front of the French Institute in Budapest.

Budapest residents light candles for victims of Paris attack

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday night at the steps of the Institut français de Budapest to light votive candles in memory of the 129 people killed on November 13th, when eight terrorists launched coordinated attacks in Paris. The French Institute, overlooking the Danube, was founded by France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to promote the French language and culture in Hungary, and […]

by · November 15, 2015 · Politics
Hungary declares day of mourning following Paris terror attacks

Hungary declares day of mourning following Paris terror attacks

Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party has cancelled its congress, scheduled for Sunday, and has instead declared a national day of mourning following the coordinated, ISIS-led terrorist attacks in Paris, which left at least 128 dead in the French capital. As well, the Orbán government has announced new, stricter national border controls and a military presence on the streets of Hungarian cities, […]

by · November 14, 2015 · Politics
The victim of the attack in Kőbánya (left) standing with another skinhead, who happens to be Béla Incze, vice president of the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement.

A Hungarian skinhead is assaulted – What the story tells us about Jobbik’s media

The Alfahír website, closely associated with Hungary’s Jobbik party, ran a story about a peaceful young man who was brutally assaulted on the streets of Budapest on October 23rd, a national holiday, apparently for no other reason than for being a Hungarian “patriot.” He was beaten up by a group of seven men and women, who Alfahír reported were of […]

by · November 4, 2015 · Politics
László Bogár

Hungarian “expert” opinions and conspiracy theories — Courtesy of pro-government publicists

László Bogár, an economist, university lecturer and pro-government publicist, went on public television in Hungary, in order to explain to viewers how the dastardly United States is using the refugee crisis as a weapon to destabilize Europe. According to Mr. Bogár, the EU’s real, “natural” allies are Russia and China. I’ve written before about another prominent pro-Fidesz publicist who also […]

by · November 3, 2015 · Politics
Ambassador Bell (in the middle) with Ms. Edith Lauer and Mr. Zsolt Szekeres of the Hungarian American Coalition.

Thank you, Ambassador Colleen Bell!

Almost a year ago, Senator John McCain blasted Colleen Bell on the US Senate floor: “We’re about to vote on a totally unqualified individual to be ambassador to a nation which is very important to our national security interest. Her qualifications are as a producer of the television soap opera The Bold and The Beautiful, who contributed $800,000 to Obama […]

by · October 31, 2015 · Politics
György Alpár celebrates his 37th birthday. Photo: Facebook.

Hungary’s singing Fidesz mayor: György Alpár

The Fidesz party mayor of Drávaszerdahely, a village of just 214 residents, is a very lucky man, and for this, he can give thanks to the Hungarian right’s archnemesis, former Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány. In 2006, Mr. Gyurcsány signed an agreement to open a natural gas distribution centre in the village, which provides gas to southern regions in both […]

by · October 24, 2015 · Politics