President Pál Schmitt told parliament on Monday that he would resign for the good of the nation, but he remained adamant that he had committed no crime in copying the bulk of his 1992 doctoral thesis. The following day he indicated that he plans to take legal action over his alma mater’s decision to withdraw… Continue »

President Pál Schmitt tendered his resignation on Monday to the Parliament that elected him. The end came four days after being stripped of his doctorate amid an embarrassing plagiarism scandal. His alma mater, Budapest’s Semmelweis Medical University, ruled last Thursday that Schmitt’s 1992 doctoral dissertation met neither ethical nor academic norms. This was two days… Continue »

On the surface, the usually genial Pál Schmitt’s credentials made him seem an ideal candidate for the largely ceremonial role of President of the Hungarian Republic. He won Olympic gold as a fencer in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, and was world champion in the épée event in 1970. Polyglot Schmitt, 69, reputedly speaks five… Continue »

Although the president holds no executive power in Hungary, the holder of the office is supposed to fulfil the key role as a last check on legislation passed by the national assembly. If the president feels a new law might be unconstitutional, he can refuse to sign it and return it to Parliament once for… Continue »

The National Resources Ministry rejected on Tuesday the resignation of the chancellor of Semmelweis University. Tivadar Tulassay had announced on Sunday that he felt he had lost the support of the government and would step down. This move came just two days after the senate of the Budapest medical university voted overwhelmingly to strip President… Continue »

While it received relatively little attention, one of the most surprising macroeconomic data releases this year was undoubtedly that of manufacturing’s Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) for March. The headline figure jumped to 56.8 points from February’s 51.2, indicating that the manufacturing sector is in a rather steady expansion, and what’s more it was the strongest… Continue »

Master and Zuriel, a dance drama by the Tibor Dalotti – Gábor Mészöly duo and performed by the Botafogo Dance Ensemble is at the  National Dance Theatre at 7pm on Tuesday 10 April.  District I, Színház u. 1-3 in the Várszínház building. Tel. (+36-1) 201-4407. www.nemzetitancszinhaz.hu Continue »

On a quiet street in the heart of District V, Kashmir’s doors and windows make it look quite large from the outside. But past the curtained door one finds a room that is actually quite small, with a few tables pushed against either wall and a mezzanine that does not seem to be open all… Continue »

For over 2,000 years Christians have held tenaciously to the singular idea that the man Jesus who is known as the Christ (Messiah) died a gruelling death at the hands of the Romans and Jews, was buried and then three days later rose from the grave. All four Gospel accounts hold to this foundational premise… Continue »

Hungarians currently top the list of foreign nationalities seeking refugee status in Canada. It is a delicate problem. As far as I know, the Canadian government would like to avoid imposing visa restrictions on Hungarians travelling to Canada because if it did, almost certainly Hungary would reciprocate. On my last two trips ticket agents at… Continue »