Orbán’s illiberal experiment: the real danger for Europe this year Published: 12 April 2017 Europe seems to face a more immediate threat than Le Pen. It comes from a central European country whose governing party belongs to the most mainstream European party, the European People’s Party, Hungary. By Péter Krekó
Momentum Movement: Is there a bright future for the new Hungarian youth party? Published: 11 April 2017 A new opposition party established in Hungary: Momentum Movement, a youth party formed by mostly 25-to-35-year-old university graduates. Is it merely a moment or the inception of a long-lasting political force in Hungary? By Áron Varga
Report from the trenches: The debate around teaching gender studies in Hungary Published: 10 April 2017 Academics in the field of gender studies do not normally experience a high level of public interest in their work, yet in recent months things have taken a turn in Hungary. By Andrea Pető
Lex CEU: The beginning of the end of Hungary’s academic independence Published: 7 April 2017 If Hungarian President János Áder signs the law, it will most probably have serious consequences for Hungary’s diplomatic relations. No less importantly, it will mark the beginning of the end of an independent academic sector in the country. By Zsófia Deák
The Clash of Realities Behind the CEU Affair Published: 7 April 2017 Thousands of people are protesting against the close down of the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest. It is a political battle about “foreign influences” and pro or anti EU, US or Russia sentiments. By Kata Szabó
Lex CEU: Orbán’s attack on academic freedom in Europe Published: 6 April 2017 The Hungarian government trys to shut down the renowned Central European University. This is an attack on academic freedom in Europe. By Eva van de Rakt
Balázs Tóth: "The Hungarian government aims to prevent the emergence of critical voices" Published: 9 February 2017 Balázs Tóth is head of the Law Enforcement Program at the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a public benefit human rights organisation that provides legal help to refugees, detainees and victims of law enforcement violence. Kristóf Szombati met with Balázs, who has been working for the organisation since 2004, to discuss the challenges faced by civil society organisations in Hungary. By Kristóf Szombati
Benedek Jávor: the Commission should not have approved the Paks II project Published: 30 December 2016 During his visit to Prague in November 2016, Hungarian Green MEP Benedek Jávor gave an interview to EurActiv.cz on the latest development around the controversial project of Hungarian nuclear power plant Paks II.
Hungarian Uprising: Blind Spot 1956 Published: 22 December 2016 During the 1956 uprising, the coat of arms named after the Stalinist dictator Mátyás Rákosi was cut out of the national flag by revolutionaries - the ground for a workshop arranged by the artists Katharina Roters and József Szolnoki. By Kristóf Szombati and József Szolnoki
Ágnes Heller: “Shamefulness is part of the European tradition as well” Published: 5 December 2016 Ágnes Heller is one of the most prominent philosophers of our time. We talked with her about her experiences during the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, about the crisis in Europe and its future, and about coping with the past. By Eva van de Rakt and Silja Schultheis
Massive deforestation to secure EU funds – Fidesz is not sparing the environment Published: 25 November 2016 An underreported aspect of Viktor Orbán’s rule is the harm Fidesz is doing to the environment. Due to urban development projects all over Budapest, thousands of healthy trees are in danger of being cut down. By Nóra Diószegi-Horváth
Hungarian Uprising: From the Power of a Symbol to a Symbol of Power? Published: 3 November 2016 What purposes does the remembrance of 1956 serve in Hungary today? A commentary about Hungarian politics of memory. By Ferenc Laczó
Introduction: The 1956 Hungarian uprising Published: 21 October 2016 In October 1956, Hungarian citizens staged a popular uprising to protest against the repressive policies of the Communist Party and against the country’s occupation by the Soviet Army. On 11 November 1956, Soviet forces quashed the last pockets of armed resistance in the capital city. By Eva van de Rakt, Silja Schultheis and Kristóf Szombati
The Referendum in Hungary: “A Clear Foreign Policy Debacle and a Temporary Domestic Setback for the Government” Published: 20 October 2016 What comes after the failed referendum in Hungary? Political scientist Bulcsú Hunyadi about Orbáns objectives and about Hungarians who are tired of the migration topic. By Silja Schultheis and Bulcsú Hunyadi
The shutdown of Népszabadság: Orbán comes one step closer to complete media dominance Published: 17 October 2016 Hungary’s largest left-wing political daily, Népszabadság, has shut down unexpectedly, and it is more than likely that this development is linked to the governing Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Independent journalists are not giving up, however, despite the ruling party’s tightening grip on the media. By Krisztián Simon and Tibor Rácz
The referendum in Hungary: A half-defeat for the government Published: 11 October 2016 Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán and his ruling party Fidesz failed with their referendum to obstruct the EU’s effort to impose an obligatory quota scheme for the resettlement of refugees. However, they could benefit from this defeat in domestic policies. A commentary. By Kristóf Szombati
Fidesz is driving Hungarians into a dishonest referendum Published: 26 September 2016 The government’s hate campaign against the refugees will soon achieve its goal: on October 2, Hungarians will cast their votes in an unnecessary, expensive and inhumane referendum. By Nóra Diószegi-Horváth
Business as usual: Riding the wave of anti-Brussels sentiment Published: 22 July 2016 While Great Britain’s future departure from the European Union is a sizable loss to Hungary in both political and economic terms, the Hungarian government is trying to cash in on increasing popular dissatisfaction with Brussels. By Edit Zgut
Putinist trolls in Hungary are a threat to objective journalism Published: 12 July 2016 Putinist trolls are having a good time in Hungary these days. Articles published by pro-Kremlin, anti-immigrant news sites are shared by thousands of readers, often mistaken for actual news stories. Objective journalism has thus been degraded to just one of many possible narratives for interpreting the world around us. By Krisztián Simon
Orbán’s Referendum on Refugee Quotas Is Meaningless and Irresponsible Published: 3 June 2016 The Hungarian government will hold a referendum in order to signal to Brussels that refugees are not welcome in Hungary. The referendum cannot influence EU policies, and may not even be legal. By Nóra Diószegi-Horváth