Category Archives: EN

Scheppele on democracy, constitutionalism, and rule of law in Hungary

Posted on November 17, 2014 by ellenpolus

What we have is a system in which Hungary has the appearance of constitutionalism, democracy, and rule of law, but no reality of constitutionalism, democracy, and rule of law.  This is a constitution that can be changed at will by … Continue reading →

Posted in EN, political background - HU, social background HU | Tagged , | Comments Off on Scheppele on democracy, constitutionalism, and rule of law in Hungary

The Orbán government’s vision of academe: A huge engineering school

Posted on November 9, 2014 by ellenpolus

Before I embark on the Orbán government’s latest strategy for Hungarian higher education, let me briefly introduce the past and present cast of characters tasked with overseeing universities. The first major change in Hungarian education under the Orbán regime was to nationalize … Continue reading →

Posted in EN, social background HU | Tagged | Comments Off on The Orbán government’s vision of academe: A huge engineering school

Hungarians protest against corruption, want tax chief sacked

Posted on November 9, 2014 by ellenpolus

(Reuters) – Thousands of Hungarians demonstrated against alleged corruption at the country’s tax authority and for wider democratic freedoms in Budapest on Sunday in the latest protest to rock the country’s politics. A woman carries a placard with the likeness … Continue reading →

Posted in EN, social background HU | Comments Off on Hungarians protest against corruption, want tax chief sacked

Around 100,000 Hungarians rally for democracy as internet tax hits nerve

Posted on October 29, 2014 by ellenpolus

(Reuters) – (This Oct. 28 story corrects the first date in quote in eighth paragraph) About 100,000 Hungarians rallied on Tuesday night to protest at a planned tax on data traffic and the broader course of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s … Continue reading →

Posted in EN | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Around 100,000 Hungarians rally for democracy as internet tax hits nerve

Ágnes Heller: Where there is no rule of law, there is corruption

Posted on October 26, 2014 by ellenpolus

Internationally reknowned philosopher Ágnes Heller told ATV’s Olga Kálmán on Friday that “where there is no rule of law, there is corruption. The two depend on each other”.  Citing former SZDSZ politician Bálint Magyar’s book “Magyar Polip” (Hungarian Octopus) she … Continue reading →

Posted in EN, political background - HU, social background HU | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ágnes Heller: Where there is no rule of law, there is corruption

Canadian civil rights group urges Prime Minister Harper to take a tough stand on Hungary’s anti-democratic government

Posted on October 24, 2014 by ellenpolus

Montreal: October 23, 2014: The Canadian Hungarian Democratic Charter, which is a non-partisan civil-rights group registered in Montreal, addressed a detailed memorandum today to the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Stephen Harper and to Canadian Foreign Minister, Mr.John Baird, about the … Continue reading →

Posted in EN | Tagged , | Comments Off on Canadian civil rights group urges Prime Minister Harper to take a tough stand on Hungary’s anti-democratic government

The curious case of voter turnout in Hungary

Posted on October 24, 2014 by ellenpolus

In few regions of the world has voter turnout fallen since the 1990s as in central and eastern Europe. With one exception – Hungary When it comes to European politics, Hungary is somewhat of an outlier. And, not just because … Continue reading →

Posted in EN, political background - HU | Comments Off on The curious case of voter turnout in Hungary