Money Pits and Public Duty: How Orbán’s government fails to restore Hungarian public’s trust Analysis The EU summit in Brussels has brought the attention of the public to the issue of how the European idea should be approached. Is Europe a mere community of countries sharing similar economic interests, or is it more than that? A clear response is still awaited to this question, even if the circumstances arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed with unusual clarity the stance taken by the EU member countries concerning the rule of law. By Emese Pásztor
What to make of Hungary’s budget veto? Analysis Hungary and Poland indicated in November that they would veto the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and the Next Generation EU (NGEU) economic recovery fund. However, recent developments indicate that Hungary’s and Poland’s views on the matter have diverged. Hungary continues to risk delaying the arrival of new EU subsidies that would allow the Government to make new spending commitments in the last full year before the 2022 general election. Yet, considering the current politico-economic situation in the EU, Hungary does stand a chance of achieving some of its immediate goals. So, the key question is: What does Budapest stand to gain by using its veto? By Patrik Szicherle
Free country, free university – students at Hungary’s University of Theatre and Film Arts protest against restricted academic freedom News “Shall we occupy the university?” “Yes!” cheered a roomful of applauding students from Hungary’s University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE), surrounded by the sound of drums, over a week ago. They then proceeded to block the entrance with the red and white stripes that have since become the symbol of a resistance movement supporting the autonomy of the SZFE and standing up against a further attack by Viktor Orbán’s conservative, nationalist Government on the freedom of art, culture and education in Hungary. By Anna Frenyó
“Don’t be silenced” – Hungary's biggest independent news site collapses Feature On the evening of 24 July, a crowd of 10 000 -15 000 people gathered in front of the office of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to show their solidarity for the journalists who had resigned that very same morning from the largest remaining independent Hungarian news portal. By András Földes
The Day of National Unity in Hungary fails to unite Hungarians Analysis The centenary of the Treaty of Trianon did not bring about “national unity” to Hungarians. If possible, they are more divided now than ever. By Róbert László
Orbán’s pandemic authoritarian grab Viktor Orbán uses the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext to complete his regime. This move is dangerous to the EU, and Germany has an important role to play. By Péter Krekó
The Stakes of the Local Government Elections in Hungary analysis Local government elections will be held in Hungary on Sunday, October 13th. The campaign has been marked as the dirtiest ever known in the country. By Nóra Dioszegi-Horvath
Serious human rights violations in the Hungarian asylum system Two years ago, the Hungarian government began to criminalise asylum seekers and migrants with clear political motivations. Within a few months, their initial verbal aggression and hate campaign targeting refugees had developed into actual legislative amendments which violated refugees’ rights. By Nóra Köves