Category Archives: social background HU

OPINION ON THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW

Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 95thPlenary Session (Venice, 14 – 15 June 2013) 1. By letter of 11 March 2013, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, requested an opinion of the Venice Commis … Continue reading

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Bálint Magyar: Viktor Orbán’s post-communist mafia state, Part I., II., III.

In the past few years I’ve often written about Bálint Magyar (SZDSZ), one of the few active opposition leaders during the Kádár regime. After the change of regime he became a member of parliament and served twice as minister of … Continue reading

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Letter on Hungary to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

To: Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 21 June 2013 RE: Request to open a monitoring procedure in respect of Hungary Dear Assembly Member, Ahead of next week’s Assembly debate on the request to open a … Continue reading

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1984, Hungarian Edition

Kim Lane Scheppele 16 June 2013 The Hungarian parliament recently passed a new national security law that enables the inner circle of the government to spy on people who hold important public offices. Under this law, many government officials must … Continue reading

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Hungarians fume over revealing tobacco scandal

When Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban swept to power in 2010, one of the many things he promised was to clean up government and root out graft. But three years on, a shake-up of the sale of cigarettes, of all … Continue reading

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Council of Europe legal experts: Hungary’s new constitution ‘endangers’ checks, balances

MILAN – The Council of Europe’s legal experts said in a report finalized Friday that Hungary’s constitutional changes endanger the system of checks and balances, but backed off more scathing language after Hungary made some concessions. The Venice Council’s opinion … Continue reading

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Beware of Hungarians Bearing Gifts

Kim Lane Scheppele Saturday, 8 June 2013 Hungary’s foreign minister, János Martonyi, Friday offered to make peace with Europe. He explained in a press conference that the Hungarian government would propose two new constitutional amendments to address European grievances. But … Continue reading

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