Ten years ago it was unimaginable that Hungarian left-wing opposition parties would support a joint candidate who had previously made anti-Semitic remarks. Now this is happening at an important by-election. They support a politician of the Jobbik party, which considers itself centre right but used to be called extreme right in the Western press.
The mayor of Budapest’s 11th district spoke in a positive way about Adolf Hitler at a council meeting last week. The video of his remarks was published by the pro-government news channel, Hir TV. Continue reading “Left-wing politician praises Hitler”
Hungarian opposition MEPs on Tuesday held a conference in Brussels dubbed “Critical Thinking Under Attack – 10 years dismantling Culture, Education, Science and Media in Hungary” with the aim to attract attention to “the effect that illiberalism has not only on the rule of law but also on society”. Continue reading “Opposition MEPs hold conference on ‘dismantling’ in Hungary”
The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning Hungary and Poland in connection with the EU’s Article 7 procedures launched earlier against those two countries. The resolution was adopted with 446 votes in favour, 178 against and with 41 abstentions. Continue reading “EP adopts resolution against Hungary and Poland”
The mayors of four Budapest, Bratislava, Prague and Warsaw have signed a “free cities” pact pledging to cooperate on issues ranging from environmental protection to urban planning and public transportation. Continue reading ““Pact of free cities” signed in Budapest”
Lawmakers on Wednesday passed a package of laws on cultural activity that creates the conditions for the establishment of local council-run theatres, state theatres and theatres with a mixed operating structure. Continue reading “Parliament passes culture bill”
Protesters rallied in downtown Budapest against the government’s new culture bill on Monday evening. Continue reading “Protesters rally against govt’s culture bill”
The European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee has approved Hungary’s candidate for European commissioner after coordinators of the legislative body’s political groups accepted Oliver Varhelyi’s answers to the additional written questions he was given following his hearing last week. Continue reading “Green light for Varhelyi”
The government is ready to “cooperate with all mayors and local councils that are themselves ready to cooperate,” Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in parliament’s opening autumn session on Monday. Continue reading “Orban: Govt ready to work with cooperative local councils”
Gergely Karacsony, the united opposition’s candidate won the seat of Budapest’s mayor at the local elections on Sunday. Opposition mayoral candidates won in most districts of Budapest, but Fidesz won in the majority of the cities with county rights and all the county councils. Continue reading “Opposition wins Budapest”
