Category Archives: Viktor Orbán

Hungarian Parliament Passes Early Registration Requirement to Disenfranchise Apathetic Voters

Posted on October 30, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

On Oct. 29 the Hungarian Parliament accomplished long-standing plans of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his conservative-right government: starting in 2014, when a make-or-break election will take place which could cement into power the current regime regardless of voter … Continue reading →

Posted in democracy watch, electoral reform, Hungarian parliament, Hungary, Viktor Orbán, voter registration | 17 Comments

Hungary Extradites Azerbaijani Axe Murderer: The Repercussions

Posted on September 2, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Updates to Hungary’s Extradition Of Ramil Sahib Safarov Due to unabating interest in the repercussions of Hungary’s exchange of a common criminal for billions of euros – and the unending stream of developments in the story – this post is … Continue reading →

Posted in English-language Hungarian news, Hungarian government, Hungary, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Conflict with Armenia: To Date, The Greatest Diplomatic Success of the Orbán Government

Posted on September 1, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

For a list of updates to this story, see next post. The Hungarian consulate in Yerevan was attacked with tomatoes yesterday and the Hungarian flag was torn off of the building in protest of the extradition of an Azerbaijani citizen … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungarian government, Hungary, international politics, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , , , | 37 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 Discourse in Hungary (Part 3) – The Economic Theories of László Bogár

Posted on March 22, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

On March 15, many Hungarians found Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán’s speech overly combative – the Hungarian government’s international allies were without a doubt outraged. “We will not be a colony” was the official title of the speech, reflecting Mr. Orbán’s keen … Continue reading →

Posted in Békemenet (Peace March), Hungary, IMF, László Bogár, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , , | 30 Comments

Pro-Government Rally in Hungary, Jan. 21, 2012

Posted on January 23, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

At the urging of pro-government journalists and media owners whose ideological committment is well summarized here, on January 21 a mass demonstration was held in support of Viktor Orbán and his government. “Never has a crowd so sizable demonstrated in … Continue reading →

Posted in demonstrations, Fidesz, Hungary, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Hungarian Guards at Flag-burning Protest – On Fidesz and the Hungarian Far-Right

Posted on January 20, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Update to the post on Jan. 22, 2012: source and link to pictures added to ending paragraphs on previous marches of the New Hungarian Guard in the latter half of 2011. For the last few days, one of the most … Continue reading →

Posted in European Parliament, Fidesz, Gábor Vona, Gyöngyöspata, Hungarian far-right militias, Hungarian Roma, Jobbik, public works, Viktor Orbán | 19 Comments

EU Infringement Proceedings Against Hungary

Posted on January 19, 2012 by The Contrarian Hungarian

On January 17, the European Commission launched accelerated infringement proceedings against Hungary over the independence of its central bank, the replacement of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Data Protection as well as over measures affecting the judiciary. The Commission first raised … Continue reading →

Posted in András Baka, András Jóri, democracy watch, European Commission, European Parliament, Hungary, infringement proceedings, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The Dear Leader To His People: A Christmas Interview with Viktor Orbán

Posted on December 27, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

The Christmas edition of the Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet reached the government’s eager supporters complete with a lengthy interview featuring Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán. Mr. Orbán is most interesting as a politician when he is speaking to his own, and since one could hardly … Continue reading →

Posted in Hungarian government, Hungary, international politics, Viktor Orbán, Western criticism of Hungary | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Hungarian Opposition Parties Resort to Civil Disobedience

Posted on December 23, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

In what kind of a country would an entire bloc of opposition parties find civil disobedience their only means to halt legislation in the country’s parliament? Yes, the question is rhetorical, and yes, we are talking about Hungary. On Dec. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fidesz, Hungarian parliament, Hungary, Hungary-protests, LMP, Viktor Orbán | Tagged | 5 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

How The News Gets Edited on Hungarian State Television

Posted on December 14, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Almost exactly a year after the enactment of Hungary’s restrictive media law, a scandal reveals editing techniques in use to manipulate the news reported on the country’s state-operated public television stations.  The scandal concerns the manipulation of a television report … Continue reading →

Posted in English-language Hungarian news, Ferenc Gyurcsány, Fidesz, Hungary, manipulation of the media, media freedom, media law, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

After Downgrade by Moody’s, Hungarian Government Gets Reality Check from Panel of Economic Advisors

Posted on November 27, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

Yet again, the timing was very awkward. Earlier on the same day, György Matolcsy, Hungary’s Minister of National Economy, was delivering on his patriotic duty to tell tall tales. In fact, on that particular day, Matolcsy went as far as … Continue reading →

Posted in György Matolcsy, Hungarian government, Hungary, IMF, Viktor Orbán | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

How the Hungarian Government Decided to Go to the IMF

Posted on November 22, 2011 by The Contrarian Hungarian

You may have sensed that the announcement on last Thursday that the Hungarian government wants to resume talks with the IMF was a shock to the system. I can say with certainty that it was a shock to my system. … Continue reading →

Posted in György Matolcsy, Hungarian government, Hungary, IMF, János Lázár, László Kövér, Viktor Orbán | 2 Comments