As of Thursday, there were 585 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Hungary and 21 deaths, so the Orbán government is preparing to have parliament pass legislation attacking the recognition of transgender people and their rights. Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, the leader of the Christian Democratic People’s Party, a phantom party which survives at the pleasure of Prime […]
As COVID-19 ravages Europe, Hungary’s government focuses on stripping trans people of rights
3 days ago
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Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger’s statement on the situation in Hungary.
The Hungarian Parliament recently passed the Enabling Act to extend the Prime Minister’s power. Viktor Orbán is using the coronavirus crisis to grab nearly unlimited power for an indefinite period. The...
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Viktor Orbán uses coronavirus pandemic to complete his dictatorship
The party state’s two-thirds majority in parliament meant that with 138 voting for and just 53 against, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has secured the right to rule by decree for an unlimited period...
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A letter from the Embassy of the Slovak Republic
We published a piece about Hungarian-language announcements in California that „Slovakia” was organizing a March 25 non-stop charter flight from Washington DC to Bratislava. Stranded Hungarian citizens...
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Stranded Hungarians may fly to Slovakia from the US
There are hundreds (possibly thousands) of stranded Hungarian citizens in the US, desperately trying to return to Budapest. US airlines has suspended most transatlantic service and there is little hope...
Recently in the spotlight
Coronavirus and irresponsible Hungarian National Holiday celebrations in New York and Los Angeles
On March 7th Hungary cancelled celebrations of the March 15 National Holiday due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. Opposition parties, the Momentum Movement, Democratic Coalition, The Socialist Party, Párbeszéd and green party LMP – all agreed to cancel the events. They did this “in the interest of protecting the health of attendees”. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony cancelled the event planned at […]
Coronavirus, Iranian students and the Orbán regime’s friendship with the Islamic Republic
According to the Hungarian media currently there are 19 individuals infected with the coronavirus in Hungary. Nine of them are Iranians. (Read more here in Hungarian.) How did the Iranian coronavirus arrive to Hungary? The answer will lie in Hungary’s foreign policy and its blossoming friendship with the Islamic Republic of Iran. PM Orbán frequently talks in disparaging terms about […]
Hungary declares state of emergency over coronavirus — Tourism may decline by 60 percent
There are currently 12 cases of coronavirus in Hungary. As a containment measure, the Hungarian government has cancelled all public commemorative events planned for March 15th, a national holiday marking the 1848 Revolution and War of Independence. Additionally, on Wednesday, the Orbán government declared a state of emergency — an unprecedented move since Hungary’s transition to democracy in 1989/90. The […]
New US documentary features Orbán’s institutionalized antisemitism in Hungary
Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations is a new documentary film just released in theatres in the US. The film includes segments focusing on the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, anti-Semitism in the UK Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, anti-Semitic attacks in France and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s institutionalized anti-Semitic propaganda. The film director Andrew Goldberg says that anti-Semitism is on the […]
Slovakia’s election sees rise of anti-corruption party and demise of ethnic Hungarian parties
Slovakia held parliamentary elections on Saturday, February 29th and the vote was significant for two reasons. First, it brought the victory of the curiously named “Ordinary People” party (OĽaNO), which swept to power on a populist anti-corruption platform, garnering 25% of the vote. Second, for Hungarians, the election was an unhappy turning point, in that no Hungarian party passed the […]
Balaton — Definitely not a cookie-cutter restaurant in Cleveland
A Menorah stood on the ornate hutch, alongside Kalocsai embroideries, Hungarian country style jugs called Miska kancsó, hurricane lamps and a framed photograph of Balaton Restaurant’s late founder, Terezia Nevery — quite an eclectic mix, but a welcome change from the dime-a-dozen family restaurant chains around my hotel on the periphery of Cleveland. I spent an extended weekend on the […]
American-Hungarian filmmaker Steven Bognar wins Oscar for American Factory
American Factory is a highly praised American documentary directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert. It deservedly won an Academy Award this year in the documentary film category. The film is about a Chinese company’s takeover of an old General Motors plant near Dayton, Ohio and the struggle of the American workers trying to adjust to the Chinese management. Steve […]
Gábor Kaleta – Hungary’s ex-consul in Los Angeles and his child porn case cover-up
Almost a year ago Ambassador Gábor Kaleta, Hungary’s top diplomat to Peru was caught in a child porn case in Lima. 19,000 (!) images of violent child porn were found on the Embassy’s computers. Hungarian security officials quietly escorted the Ambassador back to Budapest and the cover-up almost succeeded. A couple of days ago journalist András Dezső of index.hu published […]
Animator of The Simpsons attacks Hungarian actor – reported by Origo
Gábor Csupó is a 67-year old Hungarian-born fellow Californian. As an animator he made his fame and fortune after coming to the US about 40 years ago in the creation of The Simpsons. Ervin Nagy is a 43-year old Hungarian film and stage actor. He had a memorable performance in the Hungarian cult-film Kincsem. Origo is a popular Hungarian news […]
Fonyo Beach, a 56-er story
The failed 1956 Revolution was a traumatic event in Hungary’s history. Today the “Hungarian Diaspora” tends to paint a rosy picture about the fate of the 56-er immigrant families, those who were allowed to settle in Canada and the US after 1956. They are often portrayed as “heroes” and “freedom fighters” and many of the 56-ers became very successful indeed. […]
