What I am going to say will not be popular: the proposal that the parties should not receive state funding in the coming two years is one of the government’s most brutal ideas to date and is most liable to limit democratic completion. I realise that in the age of mass democracy, the debate in… Continue »

There is a closer connection between confidence, or rather lack of confidence, in the political system and its institutions and tax-paying morals than some, including the country’s decision-makers, may think. The problem in Hungary is serious and it goes back a long way. It is common knowledge that many employees are registered as being paid… Continue »

For a long time we have faced the problem of there being two Hungarys, and this has intensified since Fidesz has been in government. Unfortunately, however, there are no signs of the country really endeavouring to get to the bottom of the phenomenon, although the connection between the quality of Hungarian democracy and capitalism and… Continue »

While the Pál Schmitt plagiarism scandal apparently closed with the resignation of the president, the case casts a long shadow politically. The problems of the Fidesz system and the way it functions that were brought to the surface by the Schmitt affair, however, will not cease just like that. These include the evident selection of… Continue »

Hungary bared by focus changing onto the East’s democratic deficiencies What is the debate between Hungary and the European Union really about? Perhaps it is not over-exaggerated to claim that the serious and insightful response to that question will determine the direction Hungary takes over the next few years. If the response is superficial and… Continue »

Hungary needs a change of economic policy direction. The majority of the public has been aware of this since at least a few months ago when the government admitted that it would be forced to crawl back to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund for a credit agreement. However, the government communications designed for the domestic audience contain no hint of change ahead. Continue »

“Dirty Jews” and “Dirty Nazis” were the most popular chants when two groups clashed in front of Új Színház this week, with anti-fascists and other left-wing organisations confronting sympathisers of the nationalist right (pictured) over the appointment of the theatre’s new director, György Dörner.  Continue »

After the surprising success of Jobbik at the European Parliament elections in 2009, gaining three seats, it seemed easy to conclude from the distribution of its votes countrywide that this party is the party of the poor, unemployed people: the losers of the transition from communism.  Continue »

At the beginning of 2012 Hungary is facing a financial and solvency crisis for the third time in the past six years. The forint is weakening again spectacularly, interest rates are rising and government securities can hardly be sold or only at horribly high yields. Continue »

Recent weeks saw much speculation about whether Zsigmond Járai, chairman of the Fiscal Council, intended to resign. His consistently denied departure has since been confirmed.  Continue »