Politics

Demonstration on Monday evening, in front of Ökotárs' offices. Nearly 1,000 supporters of the NGO came out in solidarity following the raids. Photo: vs.hu.

Regime officials, supporters coordinate messaging on troubling police raids

There seems to be broad agreement among supporters and officials of the Orbán regime on how to communicate Monday’s politically-motivated police raids against a handful of NGOs, including Ökotárs. These non-profits are perceived to have a liberal or left-leaning bias and are thus targets of Hungary’s right-wing authoritarian government . On Monday evening, Gergely Huth, the assistant publisher of the pro-Fidesz Pesti Srácok blog, […]

by · September 9, 2014 · Politics
HCLU's logo.

Europe cannot remain silent after police raids against NGOs, says Civil Liberties Union

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) condemned Monday’s police raids against Hungarian NGOs as politically motivated actions that elevate the illiberal Orban government’s attack against civil society to a new, unprecedented level. On September 8, 2014, dozens of police officers from the National Bureau of Investigation (NNI) raided the offices of Ökotárs and Demnet, two NGOs responsible for the distribution of Norwegian NGO […]

by · September 8, 2014 · Politics
Protest poster

Orbán regime launches all-out attack against NGOs linked to Norwegian Fund

A dozen police officers were sent out to search the offices of Budapest’s Ökotárs Alapítvány Monday morning and then at noon, investigators arrived at the offices of another NGO called the Foundation for the Development of Democratic Rights. The police arrived unannounced to both locations and prohibited employees to make any phone calls using office telephones, as they ransacked both headquarters. […]

by · September 8, 2014 · Politics
Vidar Helgesen. Photo: nrk.no.

Orbán builds “spiritual iron dome” over Hungary, according to Norwegian minister

Norway’s minister in charge of European affairs, Vidar Helgesen, is calling upon European leaders to take more decisive action against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s growing authoritarianism, noting that the country’s leader was busily building “a spiritual iron dome” and was turning his back on the West. Mr. Helgesen published his thoughts in the form of a letter to the editor, […]

by · August 28, 2014 · Politics
KDNP

Christian Democrats deny teaming up with fascistic Jobbik party

Hungary’s Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) has been exploring possible local alliances with the openly antisemitic and fascistic Jobbik party ahead of municipal elections. The liberal news magazine hvg.hu wrote this week that KDNP’s local association in the town of Szigetvár was cooperating with Jobbik to support an independent candidate acceptable to both parties, rather than backing the Fidesz candidate. Hvg.hu wrote that […]

by · August 27, 2014 · Politics
Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák, MTI.

Orbán takes hardline with his ambassadors

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke to Hungary’s ambassadors today at a talk given to employees of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is an annual affair, usually held each August, and just as the summer holidays begin to wind down. Mr. Orbán highlighted the fact that he places pragmatic considerations far above lofty ideals any day of the week and while […]

by · August 25, 2014 · Politics
Illustration: Echo24.cz

Illiberal Orbán portrayed as Central Europe’s paprika dictator

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s infamous (and illiberal) Tusnádfürdő speech has taken on a life of its own in the foreign press. The Czech Republic’s Ech024.cz news site published this caricature of Mr. Orbán, as Central Europe’s new “paprika” dictator: The illustration warns of Central Europe’s dangerous transformation and of Mr. Orbán’s dreams of resurrecting Greater Hungary, at the expense of neighbouring […]

by · August 11, 2014 · Politics
Evictions in Miskolc. Photo: miskolc.hu

Miskolc removes Roma population

Miskolc, a traditionally industrial and working-class city of 163,000 residents situated in northeastern Hungary, is evicting much of its Roma population. The official explanation refers to a petition apparently signed by some 35,000 residents, in support of razing one of the city’s rundown and largely Roma-populated neighbourhoods, which will become the site of a new stadium. Those who pay close attention […]

by · August 6, 2014 · Politics
The Budapest Roma Holocaust monument.

Opposition calls for Balog’s resignation over revisionist Holocaust comment

Hungarian human resources minister Zoltán Balog’s comments that Roma were not deported from Hungary during the Holocaust and that Roma intellectuals need to be careful not to focus as much on the experience of the Holocaust as the Jews did, for fear that the sense of “victimhood” lead to schizophrenia, has resulted in calls for the minister’s resignation. Ágnes Kunhalmi, […]

by · August 5, 2014 · Politics
Zoltán Balog. Photo: fidesz.hu

Zoltán Balog denies aspects of Roma Holocaust and says “victimhood” leads to schizophrenia

One day after the commemoration of the Roma Holocaust (also known as Porajmos) Hungarian Human Resources Minister Zoltán Balog denied that Hungarian Roma were deported from Hungary and went on to warn the community that they must be careful not to  focus as much on these Holocaust experiences as the country’s Jewish population has focused on the Shoah, for fear that […]

by · August 4, 2014 · Politics