100 posts
The readers' editor on… a story of prejudice that hit a raw nerve in Hungary
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Our report on discrimination against Roma families caused a furore, but none of the complaints I received addressed any points of fact in the articleFor a newspaper, there are few more difficult subjects to tackle than race. When a story itself revol...
Blogging from Davos – I meet Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
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On Wednesday I promised to keep you updated on my meeting today in Davos with Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. As I expected, it was a very fruitful meeting. We discussed the developments regarding media freedom...
"Viktor Orban’s David Act is a sad Joke" by Gabor Gyori
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The government under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is seeking to frame the debate between itself and Hungary’s international partners, the EU and the IMF as the struggle between a valiant and...
Latest developments on media freedom in Hungary
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I am on my way to the World Economic Forum in Davos where I will present my plans for setting up the European Cloud Partnership – but more on that in the coming days. I first wanted to share the latest news with you regarding the situation of media...
Steelie Neelie takes on the Hungarians
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Viktor Orban is in Brussels today on the second part of a charm offensive designed to cool tensions between Budapest and the European Union. Last week he flattered the European parliament by dropping in on its second home in Strasbourg …Contin...
Constitutional change in Hungary: what can the EU do?
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Sophie Duxson* & Greg Weeks** An earlier version of the below article appeared in the UK Constitutional Law blog on 17 January. On 18 January of this year, in the face of EU pressure, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán agreed … Continue...
Morning Briefing: Hungary’s Final 2011 Budget Deficit Due
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A clearer assessment of the relative strength of Hungary's economy comes Monday when the country's 2011 final budget deficit figures are released. They are likely to show a deficit close to 3% of gross domestic product.
The Great Viktator
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BRATISLAVA—“Freedom House got it wrong!” We can expect to hear this message from an angry official in Budapest after the release on Thursday of the Freedom in the World Report 2012. Hungary has the unfortunate distinction of being the only West...
The Daily Hungarian: Orban faces more heat
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The buzz around Brussels since Viktor Orban’s appearance before the European parliament Wednesday has been that the Hungarian prime minister got the better of the parliamentarians, coming across as conciliatory and reasonable in the face of occasio...
Seven Days In Europe
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Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban defended his country’s new constitution before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, saying it is based on fundamental values of democracy and freedom. Orban’s trip to the EU assembly...
So where does EU money come from?
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Ahead of our impending paper looking at the effectiveness or otherwise of the EU’s structural funds (watch this space) we came across this timely comment from Hungarian PM Viktor Orban - who has been subject to some (ehum) controversy over recent w...
Debate on Hungary in the European Parliament
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Hungary's Prime Minister addressed the European Parliament today in the debate on Hungary's new constitution and Fidesz's actions in power. Earlier, in the debate on the Danish presidency, Danish PM Thorning-Schmidt signaled her support for the Commi...
The EPP’s stance on Hungary criticised by Cohn-Bendit
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The European Peoples Party (EPP) in the European Parliament is more and more showing face. It votes collectively against more EU transparency. And it defends Victor Orban’s “new” Hungary arguing that all his government did was to ab...
Hungarian Premier Orban Polarises the European Parliament
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The European Parliament has just wrapped up a debate on the political situation in Hungary following the European Commission’s commencement of infringement proceedings a few days ago against Hungary’s right-wing Fidesz government. The C...
Euro roundup: EU legal action against Hungary; Black Women in European Politics…
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Black Women in European Politics: from Struggle to Success from Global Voices Online by Vivienne Griffiths Nowadays, it is a common occcurence to witness African-born women having successful careers in Europe. Despite the evident challenges, many of...
Live blog: Viktor Orban at the EU parliament
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Welcome to our live coverage of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban’s appearance before the European parliament, where he intends to defend his government’s recent actions against accusations they are anti-democratic. All times are GMT. The Bru...
Hungary’s Monetary Policy Mistakes
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One of the most controversial topics in Europe right now is … Hungary’s national bank? Yes, we live in strange times.
Vrienden van Viktor
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Vandaag gaat het Europees Parlement in discussie met de Hongaarse premier Viktor Orbán. Orbán reisde op eigen initiatief af naar Straatsburg en eiste op hoge toon spreektijd in het Europees Parlement, om zich te verweren tegen de aanvallen van R...
Hungary’s Monetary Policy Mistakes
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Hungary's central bank is under political pressure. A look at its post-crisis decisions.
Poland’s Kaczynski to Hungarian Leader’s Rescue
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The European Union should mind its own business and leave Hungary’s embattled prime minister alone as he puts his house in order, said Poland’s conservative opposition leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
Brussels takes another whack at Orban
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Viktor Orban, Hungary’s combative prime minister, already had a lengthy list of Brussels’ critiques to rebut during an address today at the European parliament in Strasbourg, which the Brussels Blog is planning to live blog when it begins at 3pm...
What legal action is the Commission taking against Hungary?
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The Commission has announced that it will be taking legal action against Hungary, but only so much can be done under EU law. While people point out that:"Viktor Orbán's regime combines the extreme centralisation of economic assets (including the exp...
Petition: Act on Hungary in the name of Europe
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Three prominent scholars have launched a petition, calling on Europeans and Europe’s institutions to oppose a contagious trend born in Orbán’s Hungary toward a return to national egoisms. Jean-Michel De Waele, Political Science Professor at Univ...
A Washington wipe-out
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Hungary's attempts to make nice with the IMF don't appear to have got very far...
Supporters of Hungarian Government Revving Up For Show of Strength
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Supporters of Hungary's government are holding a display of strength and solidarity through mass rallies.
Eurosphere roundup: Financial markets now trust Italy and Spain; Euro fiscal pact; Danish Presidency news…
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EU to slam Hungary for constitution from Hurriyet Daily News The EU executive will demand Hungary row back on controversial changes to its constitution or face possible legal action in warnings to be delivered next week, a European Union source said...
"Lights are flashing Red about Hungary" by Paul Krugman
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The latest on Hungary from my Princeton colleague Kim Lane Scheppele, below the fold. Somewhere in Europe Kim Lane Scheppele Lights are flashing red about Hungary. The European Commission...
Playing Chicken And Rooster With Hungary
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Tension surrounding the application of a series of so-called “unorthodox policies” by Hungary’s Fidesz government has certainly been rising in recent days. While Washington has been reasonably quiet as govenment emissary Tamas Felle...
Hungary Accuses U.S. of Meddling in Domestic Politics
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A Hungarian government official is accusing U.S. diplomacy for meddling with domestic affairs.
The year has barely started, and yet another ‘critical and defining moment’ in EU history is already upon us
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While I have been thinking about an appropriate and a bit more optimistic way to start our blog in 2012 (and we grapple with the workload of getting back to work), the relations between Hungary and the EU have reached a new low and provoke me to add...
Not just a rap on the knuckles
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The government is slammed in Brussels, and faces a challenge at home...
Supporter Urges Prayer for Hungary’s Controversial Leader
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Hungary's embattled prime minister is getting fresh support from his loyal followers who are eagerly praying for him.
Hungarian Premier Orban seeks to out-Putin Putin
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The European Parliament Socialist and Democrat Group earlier today expressed extreme concern at the antics of the right-wing Fidesz governing Party in Hungary led by the populist and dictatorial Viktor Orban. On 1 January a new prescriptive constitu...
Hungary — “the Commission remains preoccupied…”
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Making an extraordinary story of bailout conditionality even more extraordinary…The European Commission warned the Hungarian government on Wednesday that it’s ready...
Guantanamo, Hungary and Copenhagen
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In the US, the Republicans’ choice for presidential candidate remains open. Mitt Romney is now looking likely to being Obama’s rival candidate, although it is far from settled. Many of us remember the last presidential campaign and the...
The New Hungarian Constitution and The New Hungarians
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After having read one of Krugman's articles in the New York Times where a certain Kim Lane Scheppele explains her juridic point of view on the new Constitution, I began asking myself questions about what impact might this have on the Hungarians that...
Hungary poses a stern test for Europe
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The European institutions have rarely faced a sterner test than in their dealings with Hungary. As defender of the European treaties the Commission must do all in its power to protect the fundamental principles that underpin liberal democracy in the...
Hungary poses a stern test for Europe
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The European institutions have rarely faced a sterner test than in their dealings with Hungary. As defender of the European treaties the Commission must do all in its power to protect the fundamental principles that underpin liberal democracy in the...
Can Hungary avoid rebuke? Leaked letter makes case
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The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, will meet tomorrow in Copenhagen amidst their ongoing investigation of new laws just passed by the Hungarian government of Viktor Orban, which have drawn accusations his ruling Fidesz party is usi...
Morning Briefing: Euro Zone Eyed, Hungarian T-Bills Set
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Markets Tuesday will have a chance to react to Monday's meeting of euro-zone leaders which attempted to stitch together a plan to boost economic growth while enacting stricter rules on fiscal discipline.
Eurosphere roundup: Danish Presidency, state of Hungary,
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Danish Presidency Press Trip from Jon Worth by Jon Sometimes unexpected doors open thanks to blogging, and next week is one of those circumstances. I am spending four days (Monday-Thursday) in Copenhagen on theDanish Presidency Press Trip. Growth an...
"Turning Back the Clock: Hungary reverts to Selective Education" by Carl Rowlands
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Since winning an election in 2010 with an extremely vague programme, Hungary’s right-wing Fidesz government, under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has engaged in a massive legislative tranche of...
Orban, l’idéaliste devenu nationaliste
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Jeune homme idéaliste et révolté dans les derniers temps du communisme, Viktor Orban, mu par une ambition forte et un certain opportunisme, est rapidement devenu le héraut de la droite nationaliste hongroise. En 1989, Orban a 24 ans et il n’hé...
Budapest Public Transport on Verge of Collapse
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Public transportation in the Hungarian capital is facing a crisis with the city-owned transport firm coming dangerously close to bankruptcy.
Hungary Looks to Reassure Markets, Fitch Unimpressed
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday made further efforts to back away from his earlier adamant opinion on modifying Hungary’s widely-criticized central bank law.
Morning Briefing: Hungary Remains Flashpoint in Region
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Hungary's currency and assets will remain volatile as the country's officials prepare for meetings with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union in the coming two weeks to launch talks about a potential credit line for the EU country.
The Orbarony of Hungary
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This weekend saw, rightly, a wave of stories about Hungary (see yesterday's Week in Bloggingportal for some blog articles). The new constitution came in for a strong attack by the Party of European Socialists president Sergei Stanishev:"Hungarian dem...
Week in Bloggingportal: Always ask someone else to proof-read your constitution
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“From post-Communist to present-Orban: People’s Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Hungary, the Orbarony of Hungary.” Picture: BY CC Európa Pont It looks like it’s going to be another interesting year for the EU (c...
Hungary for junk?
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Gosh, Hungary divides sentiment. (It has also, just as we went to pixels, been stripped of its last investment-grade rating by Fitch.)Despite our saying not once but twice that...
Hungary for change
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Last year when Hungary was taking over the rotating Council presidency, the Fidesz government was bringing in a controversial media law which we launched a blogging action over. Though the law was revised after discussions with the EU, EU law in the...
