There is nothing mysterious about public budgets: it's our money! Project summary Imagine a country where citizens and public bodies come together to solve the most important issues they face; and allocate public funds accordingly. Where the decision-making process is transparent and accountable, and where you have a real say in the policies and services that shape your life. In Hungary, the budget process, that distributes almost half of the national income, operates against these democratic principles. The latest Open Budget Survey shows that Hungary is far behind other countries of the CEE region in almost all aspects when it comes to transparency and participation related to the national budget. By Miklós Merényi
Legalized voting tourism and other rules threatening the chances of transparent elections Analysis Recently, in mid-November 2021, Hungarian Parliament adopted a bill which did not itself amend the rules governing elections, but may nonetheless have a profound impact on the integrity of the 2022 parliamentary elections in Hungary. By Dániel Döbrentey
Freezing fuel prices adds fuel to the fire Commentary The Hungarian government has found a unique way to prevent fuel prices from rising further by freezing the prices of petrol and diesel at a maximum price of 480 forints and passing the increase in world prices on to domestic distributors. More worryingly, however, this measure is exacerbating the very problems it is supposedly trying to avoid. By András Lukács
Interview with Benedek Jávor on the PAKS II nuclear plant extension Interview In this interview, the green Hungarian politician Benedek Jávor explains the history of Paks II, the controversial Hungarian-Russian deal to expand the four nuclear power plant units in the southern Hungarian town of Paks by adding two more units. By Anna Frenyó and Benedek Jávor
The tragic consequences of EU funding on the environment in Hungary Commentary To avoid further environmental damages due to the use of EU money, the European Commission should suspend funding to the Hungarian government. By András Lukács
The victory of the laughing third Analysis Successful organization of the primaries, high voter turnout, and (partial) successes for most of the participating parties are all reasons for the Hungarian opposition to celebrate, but there is still a lot for them to do to win enough votes for a majority in the National Assembly, especially from small settlements. Forging their coalition party list will be the main source of future conflict, but the dynamics of the six-party machine are also threatened by an internal fight for domination over the alliance, and the ruling party could be an active actor in disrupting the unity of the opposition. By Róbert László
Climate, justice and citizens’ participation Summary Summary of the panel 'People's power vs Climate crisis' at the Budapest Forum on the 16th September 2021. The conference was co-organized by the Municipality of Budapest, Political Capital Institute and CEU Democracy Institute. Heinrich Böll Foundation was a strategic partner at the conference. The panel was moderated by Benedek Jávor, former MEP of The Greens/EFA, currently the Head of Representation of Budapest to Brussels. The keynote was delivered by Ellen Ueberschär, co-president of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. By Benedek Jávor
Why Orbán's "child protection referendum" makes no sense, and why it does Article Back in June, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a new law, the so-called "Child Protection Act, that resulted in a major international controversy and infringement procedures launched by the European Commission over its measures targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Seeking to reinforce these provisions on the European stage, Viktor Orbán recently announced a referendum on the regulations. Is it about protecting children, or is it a tool for Viktor Orbán in his domestic and European political battles? Analysis. By Zoltán Kovács
Pegasus in Hungary: A Surveillance State Unmasked Analysis The hacking of dissidents worldwide is even more widespread than we thought. This year’s largest cross-border investigative undertaking, the Pegasus Project, has revealed that at least 10 governments have used sophisticated Israeli spyware to gather information on human rights activists, independent journalists, and opposition politicians. The only EU member in the pool of offenders was Hungary. This might not be an unexpected development for most readers, but it is a further blow to both independent journalism and the sanctity of citizens’ privacy. By Konrad Bleyer-Simon
Culture Wars and the Battle for Hegemony Essay The first in a series of essays dedicated to the phenomenon of what is known as the culture wars of Central Europe explains the concept in its original American context, as well as its shift to Europe. This kind of conflict, unlike a historical dispute or ideological debate, is primarily about power. By Zora Hesová