Category Archives: European Union

Csanád Szegedi, Hungarian Far-Right Politician

Posted on August 16, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Csanád Szegedi is a despicable politician even by Hungarian standards, and when his Jewish origins were leaked to the public, it was mostly my disgust that held me back from writing about his “troubles.” For months before revelations that his … Continue reading →

Posted in business interests, Csanád Szegedi, Előd Novák, European Parliament, European Union, far-right, Hungarian far-right, Hungary, Jobbik | 13 Comments

Hungary-IMF Talks: Central Bank Law, Check?

Posted on April 23, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Last week’s most puzzling political development had to be the inexplicable news that Minister of National Economy György Matolcsy submitted a newly-amended central bank law for vote before the parliament. What exactly was inexplicable about it? The newly amended version … Continue reading →

Posted in European Commission, European Union, György Matolcsy, Hungarian government, Hungary, IMF talks, Jose Manuel Barroso, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Political Debate in the Homeland: Hungarian Television Show Analyzes EP Hearing on Hungarian Democracy

Posted on February 13, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

The following are excerpts from a broadcast seen on a government-friendly television station in Hungary on February 10, 2012. “Korrektúra” (Editing Proof) provides political commentary during its regularly scheduled 30-minute slot on Echo TV. Last week, the show’s three panelists … Continue reading →

Posted in Békemenet (Peace March), Echo TV, European Commission, European Union, Hungary, Neelie Kroes, Ulrike Lunacek, Western criticism of Hungary, Zsolt Bayer | Tagged , | 128 Comments

Far-Right Protests in Budapest, Jan. 14. 2012

Posted on January 15, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

One of them featured the burning of the EU’s flag, another focused on Hungary’s colonization and a third pointed out never before seen international aggression. This weekend, three far-right protests opened a series of pro-government rallies in Hungary.

Posted in Békemenet (Peace March), European Union, Fidesz, Hungarian far-right, Hungarian reception of Western criticism, Jobbik, New Hungarian Guard | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Barroso’s Letter to Viktor Orbán

Posted on December 21, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

UPDATE #2 (JANUARY): The leaking of Barroso’s letter has become a discussion topic in parliament – in an exchange which is worthy of note for the chilling message it sends to journalists. On Dec. 22, Máté Kocsis (also known as the … Continue reading →

Posted in European Union, Jose Manuel Barroso, Viktor Orbán | 12 Comments

Der Spiegel: The Goulash Archipelago – EU Remains Silent as Hungary Veers Off Course

Posted on August 20, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

On Monday, the German-language weekly Der Spiegel published an exceptionally comprehensive piece on the most disconcerting political developments in Hungary that took place during this summer and on the reasons why this must worry the international community, and the European … Continue reading →

Posted in European Union, Fidesz, former prime ministers, Hungarian government, Hungary, közfoglalkoztatási törvény, közmunka, media law, parliament, public media firings, unemployment, US-Hungarian diplomatic relationships, Viktor Orbán, Western criticism of Hungary | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Caught in the Web of Hazy Thinking, Hungary’s Jobbik Distances Itself from Norwegian Tragedy

Posted on July 30, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

To begin with, let’s concede that Jobbik, Hungary’s extreme-right parliamentary party is not immediately responsible for the actions of Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik. To accuse them of having any agency in Breivik’s actions would truly be absurd. Let’s also … Continue reading →

Posted in European Union, FPÖ, Gábor Vona, Hungarian far-right, Hungary, Jobbik, Krisztina Morvai, neo-nazis in Hungary | Tagged | 5 Comments

Questions Remaining about Thomas Melia’s Critical Assessment of the Hungarian Government

Posted on July 28, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Perhaps another, longer post would be in order to explain the democratic theory on which Thomas Melia’s criticisms of Hungary are based and the reasons why he presented a laundry-list of critical issues which, in his opinion, pose a great … Continue reading →

Posted in constitution, Deutsch Tamás, English-language Hungarian news, European Union, Fidesz, Hungarian, Hungary, Németh Zsolt, parliament, Péter Szijjártó, Thomas Melia, US-Hungarian diplomatic relationships, Viktor Orbán, Western criticism of Hungary | Leave a comment

Falra Hányt Borsó: Why Did the European Parliament Decide to Scrutinize the Hungarian Constitution

Posted on July 7, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Since the European Parliament passed a resolution directing the European Council to “thoroughly examine” the Hungarian constitution, and to return to them an analysis of potential human rights and EU treaty violations it might contain, I must have read at … Continue reading →

Posted in constitution, European Union, Hungarian, Hungary, international politics, tiltás tűrés támogatás, Viktor Orbán | Tagged | 2 Comments