FOCUS ON HUNGARY

The Heinrich Böll Foundation is compiling a dossier containing articles on the situation in Hungary since the right-wing government came to power in April 2010.

The arguments and opinions presented in the dossier provide an acute, sometimes trenchant critique of the current government and its policies. Democracy is a never-finished task, and we see our role in supporting the democratic voices in Hungary and raising public attention in Europe with regard to critical developments in our common political space.

Zsófia Deák, Editor of the dossier (zsofia.deak@cz.boell.org)

Latest articles
image of a pregnant belly in a blue dress, with a rainbow belt

Hungarian rainbow families: raising children in a hostile political context

Article
In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Government, in power since 2010, has systematically curtailed LGBTIQ+ rights. Hundreds of such parents have adopted children with their same-sex spouses or partners, have given birth to children themselves or have availed themselves of surrogates to have their own genetically-related offspring. This article offers a glimpse into the lives of two such families in Hungary.
By Anna Frenyó
the building of the Court of Justice of the European Union

The most supported human rights case in the history of the European Union: new hope for LGBTIQ+ in Hungary?

Analysis
Since 2010, the Hungarian Government has been advocating for a conservative, restrictive notion of the family. The Ninth Amendment of the Fundamental Law led to the adoption of the so-called ‘child protection’ law (also referred to as the ‘anti-LGBT’ or propaganda law). This article tells the story of a successful advocacy campaign against these developments.
By Rémy Bonny, Esther Martínez, Vincent Reillon and Eszter Polgári
smear campaign posters spread by the government and government-friendly organizations before the 2022 elections

How Fidesz maintains its electoral stranglehold on Hungary

Commentary
In view of the forthcoming EP elections in 2024 and the Hungarian municipal elections held on the same day, András Lukács summarizes the state of the opposition in the shadow of the enormous financial and institutional predominance of Fidesz, its systemic violation of EU and national legislation, and last but not least, the colossal support provided to Fidesz by the European Commission and several EU Member States, including those with the biggest economies in the EU.
By András Lukács
More
image of Viktor Orbán walking confidently among photographers

The building of Hungarian political influence - The Orbán regime's efforts to export illiberalism

study
International influence-building is a legitimate goal pursued by all nations to expand their room for manoeuvre and enforce their political, security and economic interests. However, Orbán’s influence-building efforts have several specific features that differ from the practice of democratic countries. This study by Political Capital analyses Orbán’s international alliance building efforts.
By Political Capital
All dossier articles
Publications

Political integration of Hungarian students, 2019

After a four-year absence, the Active Youth (Aktív Fiatalok) Research Group has
returned with a new survey about the political attitudes of higher education students
in Hungary. The significance of this year’s findings relies on the fact that the political
views of the majority of students sampled in this most recent survey – including
some born as recently as 2000 – were formed during consecutive terms of prime
minister Viktor Orbán and his government, considered by many political scientists
and commentators to be a hybrid regime.

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Building Blocks for a Renewed Human Rights Narrative

This study aims to lay the foundations of a collaboration that can be joined by other organisations still being formed, as well as by actors sharing human rights values who can reach out to additional potential supporters. This text is designed to be continuously expanded in the future, so as to further incorporate increasingly sensitive analyses along with a growing pool of creative ideas and recommendations.

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