Post Tagged with: "Fidesz"

The Publicus poll, conducted for the Vasárnapi Hírek weekly, shows declining Fidesz and Jobbik support and modest rise in MSZP's popularity.

New poll: Fidesz, Jobbik support drops, while Socialists gaining

The far-right Jobbik continues to slowly bleed away support, while after six months of increased popularity, the governing Fidesz party is also seeing a modest decline in its numbers. The boost in popularity that Fidesz experienced during the refugee crisis now appears to be waning, as that issue begins to recede. A new poll produced by Publicus for the Vasárnapi […]

by · January 30, 2016 · Politics
Ákos Hadházy. Photo: Lajos Soós.

Clear evidence shows that Hungary’s Fidesz abuses EU funds

The small Politics Can Be Different (LMP) green party has decided to air new, concrete information on corruption within Hungary’s governing Fidesz party each week, and the first such example of the misuse of funds was presented on Thursday, complemented by a secret tape recording, as evidence. Ákos Hadházy, a former municipal politician in the town of Szekszárd, left Fidesz […]

by · January 28, 2016 · Politics
György Matolcsy. Photo: AFP.

Hungary’s Fidesz: Corruption on a grand scale

When I read about Canada’s corruption scandals of the day — such as Senator Mike Duffy’s trial, where the disgraced politician is accused of claiming just under $100,000 in bogus expenses — I can’t help but think how incredibly petty all of this is, in comparison to the systemic and absolutely brazen corruption surrounding Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party. Today’s news […]

by · December 22, 2015 · Politics
Viktor Orbán on December 13th, 2015. Photo: MTI.

Left-centre daily reports that claims of an Orbán assassination plot were credible

According to Hungary’s largest circulation political daily, Népszabadság, claims surrounding a possible far-right assassination attempt against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were credible, despite widespread incredulity in much of the media, when news of the so-called Hungarian National Army (Magyar Nemzeti Hadsereg) and its plot were leaked. Népszabadság refers to police and Interior Ministry sources, who told the opposition daily that the […]

by · December 14, 2015 · Politics
A photo posted on Socialist MP Márta Demeter's Facebook page from the vigil held in front of the French Institute in Budapest.

Budapest residents light candles for victims of Paris attack

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday night at the steps of the Institut français de Budapest to light votive candles in memory of the 129 people killed on November 13th, when eight terrorists launched coordinated attacks in Paris. The French Institute, overlooking the Danube, was founded by France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to promote the French language and culture in Hungary, and […]

by · November 15, 2015 · Politics
Máté Kocsis

Calling someone a homosexual is defamation in Hungary

In a landmark case, a Budapest court ruled that calling someone a homosexual in public can be seen as defamation of good character. The decision is astounding, even if the justice argued –somewhat strangely–that it has nothing to do with the court passing moral judgment on sexual attraction, as such. We have written before about the public polemics between Fidesz […]

by · October 30, 2015 · Culture
György Alpár celebrates his 37th birthday. Photo: Facebook.

Hungary’s singing Fidesz mayor: György Alpár

The Fidesz party mayor of Drávaszerdahely, a village of just 214 residents, is a very lucky man, and for this, he can give thanks to the Hungarian right’s archnemesis, former Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány. In 2006, Mr. Gyurcsány signed an agreement to open a natural gas distribution centre in the village, which provides gas to southern regions in both […]

by · October 24, 2015 · Politics
Some of the Hungarians in Ottawa who showed up at the Ottawa Hungarian Community Centre to oppose membership in the National Alliance of Hungarians in Canada.

Is it possible to build an inclusive, democratic Hungarian diaspora community?

First off, I should explain my silence on these pages over the past several days. In addition to a very busy period at work, I have also been involved in a new grassroots movement taking off here in Ottawa, within an ageing and–for many of us–not especially welcoming Hungarian community.  On October 18th, 2015, the Ottawa Hungarian Community Centre (OHCC) […]

by · October 21, 2015 · Diaspora
Mihály Varga, luckiest Finance Minister in Central & Eastern Europe.

Luckiest Finance Minister in Central & Eastern Europe – Mihály Varga

Hungary’s economy minister Mihály Varga has been named “Finance Minister of the Year, Central and Eastern Europe 2015” by London-based Euromoney Emerging Markets magazine. Government media in Budapest and the Hungarian Embassy in Washington are praising Mr. Varga and the ruling Fidesz party is elated by Euromoney’s choice. Is this another example of Prime Minister Orbán’s successful economic policy? Many […]

by · October 15, 2015 · Politics
A monument commemorating the 1956 Revolution and refugee crisis, as well as Canada's decision to accept 38,000 Hungarian refugees, on Maple Island, in Ottawa. Photo: ottmem.blogspot.com

Inclusion and pluralism: Transforming Ottawa’s Hungarian community

Last Thursday, fifteen local Hungarians in Canada’s capital met at a “neutral” location to chart a course that would transform the small, but active local Hungarian community into one that is much more inclusive than it is now, welcoming a plurality of people, backgrounds, life experiences and views. This past Sunday’s Hungarian-language radio broadcast on CHIN 97.9 FM was a […]

by · October 13, 2015 · Diaspora