In spring 2o22, for the first time ever, Hungary’s strongman ruler Viktor Orbán will face a united opposition running a single slate of candidates spanning Jobbik on the right to the Democratic Coalition on the liberal left. This rainbow coalition, more disciplined in maintaining the united front needed to finally topple the rule of Viktor Orbán than ever before, will […]
One major goals of the Biden administration was to overhaul international tax rules and establish a 15 percent global minimum tax. The US wanted to reverse a decades-long race to the bottom of corporate tax rates after many major corporations shifted headquarters and profits to low-tax jurisdictions, depriving countries of much needed tax money to build new infrastructure, support education […]
Last November a new Kossuth statue arrived to Boston. It weighed about half a ton and Honorary Consul Gábor Garai asked local Hungarian Americans to store it in their garage. The statue, a generous present of the Orbán government to the City of Boston and planned to be installed at Faneuil Hall, where Lajos Kossuth gave a speech in 1852 […]
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 […]
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 and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the morning of September 12 at the Museum of Fine Arts. (Click here to read) The Pope himself never expressed desire to meet Orbán who desperately needs a […]
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 is going on? August 20th is Saint Stephen’s Day in Hungary. It is the celebration of the foundation of the Hungarian State. It is also known as Constitution Day, the end of […]
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 Covid-19 as the “China virus” or the “Wuhan virus,” mostly as a type of verbal nod to his viewers who are irritated with political correctness. Mr. Carlson cultivates a “tell it […]
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 the President of the United States describes you as a totalitarian thug, it’s a very serious thing to say about somebody, I would note. I mean, that suggests that, […]
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 […]
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 […]
