German-owned gas and electricity distributor E.ON could be next in line for nationalisation as the government presses on with a bid to gain control of key energy and utility firms. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Saturday his intention to nationalise E.ON’s Hungarian subsidiary, which supplies 2.5 million of the nation’s households with gas. E.ON’s… Continue »

On 25 July Békés county court rejected public prosecutors’ request that the so-called Civil Guard Association for a Better Future (Szebb Jövõért Polgárõr Egyesület), the paramilitary organisation behind last year’s anti-Roma disturbances in Gyöngyöspata, be disbanded. Emboldened by this unexpected turn of events, on 5 August Civil Guardsmen converged on the western town of Devecser,… Continue »

The International Monetary Fund fuelled the economic crisis in emerging Europe in 2009 to create a situation in which it would be asked to help bail out the region, and consequently elevate the IMF’s status and importance.  The ravings of a fringe blogger perhaps, an angry anti-globalisation activist or far-right ideologist?  If only.  In fact,… Continue »

Karl-Heinz Keth has steered the affairs of Praktiker Kft. since it was established in 1998. In addition to the challenges currently faced by all do-it-yourself stores in Hungary, in particular the drop in demand caused by the financial crisis and additional competition in the form of hypermarkets, the CEO has had to deal increasingly in… Continue »

Buda Castle’s courtyards are more accustomed to playing host to the flows of wine and pálinka that are regularly celebrated in now-traditional festivals, but it is beer that is currently ruling the day and will continue to do so until the closing of the 2nd Buda Castle Beer Festival at midnight this Sunday. Over 200… Continue »

A regular fixture on the Budapest festival scene since its inception in 1998, the ten-day Jewish Summer Festival still has a few days to go before its closing event for this year next Tuesday 4 September. Music takes pride of place, whether it be sephardic with rock, folk and blues touches (Péter Gerendás and Moran… Continue »

Over the next few weeks we are going to look at the various emotions that we all experience every day. We will examine the extremes of hate and love, joy and sorrow, depression and contentment, anger and peace, fear and hope from a biblical perspective. So to kick things off let’s take a hard look… Continue »

It’s her or me. There’s not room in this city for both of us. Either she goes, or I go. End of story. I’m not one usually given to ultimatums. Personal history had taught me that in the war between either and or, or usually wins. And if or wins, I lose. So I go… Continue »

Bahaman heat works in the Bahamas because they have the sea. With Budapest doing its bit to ridicule Bachmannesque climate change deniers, the Times editorial team is gladly taking its traditional three-week August break. The troika has left town, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repaired to his village to “recharge his batteries.” Yes, the silly… Continue »

As the basis of a nightlife scene, dilapidation might not be an appealing concept at first. But it has been over a decade now since Szimpla*, the pioneer of “ruin pubs” (romkocsma), set up in a disused tenement block in District VII. Crude, rickety, unpolished: just like that, Szimpla created a trend that caught the… Continue »