I was shocked to learn that Consul András Doncsev of the far-right Hungarian Government was present at San Francisco City Hall’s August 20th event. The photo of the one-time speech-writer of authoritarian PM Viktor Orbán was taken at City Hall and triumphantly distributed at the San Francisco Honorary Consulate’s Facebook site. Mr. Doncsev represents a government which promotes racist, homophobic […]
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A meeting with dictatorial Viktor Orbán would tarnish Pope Francis’ reputation
Will Pope Francis meet Hungary’s far-right authoritarian Viktator? Well, it depends who do you ask. Orbán controlled Hungarian media claims that Francis will meet Hungarian President János Áder...
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Budapest Pride? Munich 1938? No, it is Saint Stephen’s Day 2021 in Budapest
Half-naked body-painted men are pulling a giant aluminum Turul bird on Budapest streets. Shamans, elk-costumes and a Greek female phalanx are marching. Bystanders are scratching their heads. What...
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Hungary teaches Tucker Carlson a lesson
Anyone who watches Fox News entertainer Tucker Carlson’s shows recognizes that the popular right-wing television host is a frequent and vociferous critic of China. Mr. Carlson refers regularly to...
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Pope Francis, President Biden and Viktor Orbán the “totalitarian thug”
Tucker Carlson from Fox News was in Budapest and conducted an interview with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. I found part of their conversation intriguing. Here is the official transcript. CARLSON: When...
Recently in the spotlight
Justice Minister Varga attacks Lewis Hamilton for his condemnation Hungary’s “cowardly” anti-LGBTQ+ laws
I pinched myself when I read the very personal (and very public) attack by 40-year-old Hungarian Justice Minister, Judit Varga, against 36-year-old Formula One race car driver superstar, Lewis Hamilton. Is she serious? Attacking Hamilton’s character and competence because he condemned Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ legislation? Here is this strange story. British-born Hamilton is a seven-time world champion and eight-time winner of […]
Meet Ambassador Maria Vass-Salazar, Hungary’s new top diplomat in Ottawa
Little is known about the new Hungarian Ambassador to Ottawa; she keeps her cards close to her chest. To be honest, I was surprised to learn that she got the job, a fairly important diplomatic assignment. I have a feeling that she was also surprised. Ambassador Vass-Salazar is in her late 40s, married, has two girls and had numerous diplomatic […]
An invitation to participate in a research project on Hungarian refugees to Canada
The Hungarian Free Press received the email below from researchers at the University of Toronto who are conducting a project on Hungarian refugees to Canada. Participants are paid an honorarium. We invite you to consider the invitation below if you arrived in Canada as a refugee. Dear Christopher Adam, We are recruiting individuals aged 50 and older, who are Hungarian […]
Hungary’s latest enemy – UEFA the European soccer’s governing body
On July 9 the UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body issued a statement related to events on the EURO 2020 group matches. Hungarian fans exhibited “discriminatory behavior” and article 14(2) of the Disciplinary Regulations was violated. The Hungarian Soccer Federation was ordered to play its next three matches as a host association behind closed doors and was also fined €100,000. The Hungarians […]
“Homophobia has been central to Viktor Orban’s fascist ideology” — Jerrad Peters vs. Valér Palkovits
In recent years Hungary’s Orbán government has targeted the Roma community, Hungary’s Jews and now the LGBTQ community. Racism, anti-Semitism and Holocaust falsification are institutionalized in Budapest and now homophobia has been legislated in this EU-member country. Hungary’s new “pedophilia law” connects the country’s LGBTQ community to pedophilia. Pro-Hitler Hungarian dictator of the last century, Miklós Horthy is profusely praised […]
The tragic life of Hungarian American film star Charlie Puffy (Huszár Pufi)
As part of our series on lesser known Hungarian Americans, we introduce Charles Puffy, the oversized silent-film-era comedian who became popular in the US in the 1920s. Charles Puffy was 40 years old when he arrived to the US in 1924 and soon became a household name. Although he barely spoke any English, he frequently appeared in US tabloids and […]
Hungary’s QAnon government
“Save our children!” This exhortation appeared on the bumpers of dusty North American pick-up trucks, on the darker corners of the Internet and occasionally on Facebook newsfeeds, signaling that many of us have acquaintances, friends and contacts who have bought into the worst and the most irrational of conspiracy theories. We’re talking about the likes of “Pizza Gate.” The European […]
Who finances right-wing Hungarian portals in North America?
There is growing concern that Putin’s Russia established a network of websites to spread disinformation and political propaganda in the US. And how about Viktor Orbán’s Hungary? According to public records the Clevelandi Magyarokért Foundation was registered on December 5, 2019 in North Olmsted, Ohio as a non-profit entity. Within weeks the organization received 1.5 million Ft support from the Orbán government. […]
Remembering Holocaust survivor Lilly Toth
Richard Schnurbach, president of the Montreal Holocaust Museum and Daniel Amar, the organization’s executive director, co-authored a moving piece remembering Lilly Toth (née Gluck), a survivor of the Holocaust in Hungary, who died in Montreal on May 22, 2021. We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lilly Toth, Holocaust survivor and Museum volunteer. Lilly was passionate about […]
The warm smile of dictatorship
The very worst authoritarian regimes — the ones that divert airlines in order to arrest journalists, poison and imprison their critics, beat opposition activists and produce hostage videos of forced confessions — also know how to smile. Belarus has decided to shutter its embassy in Ottawa, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a fairly tough line this week against […]
