English

HUNGARY AND THE EU: THE WIDER CONFLICTS BEHIND THE HEADLINES

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19 April 2012

If you believed the wider international media, you could be forgiven for thinking that the ongoing contretemps between Hungary and the EU was nothing more than the Hungarian Government’s failure to adhere to European Union political and economic norms.

However this rather simplistic appreciation overlooks a far more wide-ranging and complex set of clashes which will, in time, be repeated throughout Europe. Therefore, in a sense, the continuing stand-off between Budapest and Brussels is worth monitoring.

GORDON BAJNAI: DEJA VOUS ALL OVER AGAIN?

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28 March 2012

Having failed to unseat Viktor Orbán by the ballot box, popular protest and EU pressure, the liberal left in Hungary is desperately seeking a ‘silver bullet’.  Some at least think they might have found it in the shape of former technocrat Prime Minister, Gordon Bajnai.

CHRISTIANITY AND THE PUBLIC SPACE

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14 February 2012

A recent legal ruling in the UK has prevented a local council from saying prayers before the opening of council business. Apart from displaying a lack of cultural sensitivity, the ruling has also been widely viewed as being intolerant of the rights of Christians to pray.

THE EU AND GREECE: TRAGEDY OR THE BEGINNING OF THE END?

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12 February 2012

A few years ago, a British writer wrote a book called ‘Why Europe will Run the 21st Century. It was a silly title then and looks even more ridiculous now. Nevertheless, the author and his hubristic opinions seemed to have captured a moment in time.

Move on seven years and German Chancellor Angela Merkel – with no small measure of anxiety and frustration, claims that the failure of the Euro will be the end of Europe. Is Greece’s economic mismanagement and unsustainable debt a catastrophe of such proportions that it threatens an EU construct built up over half a century and more?

THE EU’S VILIFICATION OF HUNGARY: WHAT LIES BENEATH?

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31 January 2012

 

Slowly but surely, people are beginning to question why the EU vilified Hungary in the way it did recently. Between the accusations of the Commission and the vitriol of some members of the European Parliament, the European public – if such a thing exists – were led to believe that democracy itself was under threat in Hungary. Large segments of Europe’s media were only too happy to sustain this belief.

HUNGARY AND THE EU: WHO IS DEFENDING DEMOCRACY?

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17 January 2012

The EU has convinced itself that Hungary’s government is taking the country on an anti-democratic path.  Ever since the furore over the Hungary’s new media law in January 2011, which conveniently for the government’s critics, blew up as Hungary was to assume the Presidency of the EU, Budapest politics have hardly been out of the news.  The adoption of a new constitution has been badly received and associated laws – particularly in relation to the management of the Hungarian Central Bank – have also generated an avalanche of protest.

A LETTER TO FIDESZ

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6 January 2012

 

I probably don’t need to tell you that the media – both domestic and foreign – are having a great time at your expense.  I also don’t need to tell you that much of it is ill-informed, lacking in objectivity and imbalanced.  The attacks on your Prime Minister are both spiteful and malicious.

THE UK MEDIA AND COVERAGE OF HUNGARIAN AFFAIRS

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4 January 2012

In recent days, a number of prominent UK media outlets, including The Financial Times, Guardian, Economist and the BBC have included articles on the current political situation in Hungary.  In essence, the reporting has focused on the increased criticism of the Hungarian government from both inside and outside the country.  In some respects, it was reminiscent of the media’s coverage of Hungarian affairs this time last year, particularly when Hungary assumed the Presidency of the EU.  The big issue then was the introduction of a new media law – today, the cause is the public demonstrations against a myriad of complaints about either new policies or new laws.

FOREIGN MEDIA CRITICISM OF HUNGARY

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30 December 2011

The continuing foreign media criticism of Viktor Orbán and his government shows no sign of abating. This week alone, the Hungarian government has been criticised for introducing legislation which ‘critics’ argue will reduce the independence of the Hungarian Central Bank. It has been accused of silencing a popular radio station. Its attempts to redefine election boundaries are described as a blatant attempt to hang on to power.