Post Tagged with: "Budapest"

György Budaházy receives a standing ovation in the Budapest Capital Regional Court on Tuesday from Jobbik supporters, right before his sentencing. Photo: Balázs Mohai / MTI.

Hungarian extremist sentenced to 13 years in prison for terrorism

A far-right extremist, whose group sadistically assaulted and nearly killed a media personality, bombed gay clubs in Budapest and attacked the homes of Socialist and liberal politicians using Molotov cocktails, received a 13-year prison sentence on Tuesday in the Budapest Capital Regional Court. Between 2007 and 2009, György Budaházy led a group of far-right terrorists, called the “Arrows of Hungarians” […]

by · August 30, 2016 · Politics
Budapest's Living Memorial in Freedom Square. Photo: Christopher Adam

Budapest Living Memorial – An interview with Eszter Garai-Édler and Balázs Horváth

As a continuation of the presentation of the work of the Living Memorial group in Budapest, Eszter Garai-Édler and Balázs Horváth provide insight behind more than two years of activism and almost four hundred public forum sessions. The interview was conducted by Katalin Szlukovényi. * K.S.: What were your personal motives for joining the Living Memorial? Eszter: I got involved […]

by · August 15, 2016 · Focus
Living Memorial activists. Photo: jeumag.com.

From Memory to Presence — Hungary’s Living Memorial

There are no conflict-free communities. But it is literally a question of life and death how communities address their common issues and whether they can learn from previous mistakes. Inescapably, this question came into the foreground two years ago, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust in Hungary, full of commemoration events all over the country. The […]

by · August 14, 2016 · Focus
Placido Domingo and Viktor Orbán.

Meet Placido Domingo’s new friends – Europe’s authoritarian leaders

We all know and admire the art of Maestro Placido Domingo, the great opera singer, conductor and musical director. He was born in Spain, raised in Mexico; his singing career blossomed in the United States and continued in Europe. The 75-year old is well known in Budapest, he visited Hungary several times and the Maestro even considered bringing Ferenc Erkel’s […]

by · August 10, 2016 · Politics
Protestors in Budapest's Városliget. Photo Credit: Colby Hopkins.

Activists occupy major park in Budapest to stop unwanted development

Colby Hopkins, an American social justice activist and graduate of New York University, is currently in Budapest and is witnessing firsthand an on-going protest in the Városliget (City Park) against the Orbán government’s decision to construct a new museum quarter, at the expense of trees and much needed public green space. Many analysts believe that the government is using the development […]

by · July 13, 2016 · Focus
Trams at Budapest's Széll Kálmán tér (formerly Moszkva tér) in June 2016. Photo: Christopher Adam.

Far fewer Hungarians own cars, according to new study

One of Hungary’s most prominent pollsters and research firms, Medián (commissioned by Robert Bosch Kft.), published some insightful statistics today, on how transportation and the role of cars in the lives of ordinary citizens is changing in Hungary. Anyone who has been to Budapest (I just returned from a three week trip) can tell you that driving in the city […]

by · July 4, 2016 · Focus
One of the nameless, security guards/thugs hired to intimidate demonstrators. Photo: C. Adam

An example of contemporary Hungarian fascism in Budapest

In other news from the European Union, not related to Brexit…Many thanks to my friend, Balázs Szücs, a city councillor in Budapest’s 7th District, for taking me to an eye-opening example of civil disobedience in Budapest’s City Park (Városliget) on Tuesday. Pro-democracy opposition activists and civil liberties demonstrators occupied the Hungarian Technical and Transportation Museum, chaining themselves to the windows, […]

by · June 30, 2016 · Politics
Fidesz mayor Máté Kocsis personally crosses out the sign that reads Köztársaság tér (Republic Square), after it is re-named in memory of Pope John Paul II.

Two talks in two iconic Budapest public squares

I am travelling to Budapest later this month and I’m scheduled to give two public talks in Hungarian, to very different audiences, yet on interrelated topics. Both events are open to the public and all are welcome! On Saturday, June 18th at 2:00 PM in Budapest’s Köztársaság tér, or Republic Square (now formally re-named II. János Pál pápa tér, after […]

by · June 8, 2016 · Politics
The demolition of the Radetzky Barracks in Budapest, on May 28, 2016.

Budapest is losing its heritage — The destruction of historic buildings in Hungary’s capital

An increasingly disturbing trend is taking hold in Budapest. A growing number of historic buildings and heritage sites are being demolished or remodelled, with little to no regard for their architectural value, nor for the public spaces around these structures. On May 26th, bulldozers appeared in Bem Square, along the banks of the Danube, to demolish one of the most prominent […]

by · May 30, 2016 · Focus
The Ikarus 280 model still runs in Budapest.

Reviving Hungary’s bus manufacturing industry — Confusion, chaos and concerns of corruption

The much needed refurbishment of Budapest’s M3 metro line, which is now potentially a safety hazard for both passengers and the Budapest Transportation Company’s employees alike, is being postponed to November, due to confusion around what type of replacement buses will be used during the two year period when the subway line is out of commission. Budapest officials had earlier […]

by · May 22, 2016 · Focus