Hungary Current Events

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The End - It Was Fun Nevertheless
2007-07-25 13:30:00
It was a hard decision to make. But I came to this decision, one that I thought over well. This must come as no surprise to those (few) faithfull readers who came and visited my site as I haven't posted anything since May.But you see, it wasn't worthwhile to continue. It seems as though no one is particularly interested in the political events of the small country located somewhere in the Carpathian Basin, Hungary.So I bid farewell and leave a few suggestions to those who wish to continue reading about Hungarian events:-Budapest Sun www.budapestsun.com-Budapest Business Journalwww.bbj.hu-Budapest Postwww.budapestpost.comIf you have any comments you can still leave it here on this blog.Thanks for your support and understanding:A.
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Breaking News: Police Officers Not Guilty of Rape Charges
2007-05-23 16:39:00
Earlier today DNS tests revealed that the police officers did not rape the 21 year old Zsanett. As is known, five police officers were suspended for allegedly raping the young woman on May 4 while on duty in downtown Budapest.There have been several conflicting accounts of the story so far; the police officers and their lawyers have said throughout that they were not involved in any sort of physical contact with the woman. One defendant's lawyer did admit, however, that there have been minor offences on the part of the policemen. For example, they didn't write a report and left their precinct when they followed Zsanett home.This latest finding will certainly have a big impact on the whole political sphere as the main opposition party, Fidesz, had immediately demanded that the justice minister and police chiefs leave office after the rape allegations surfaced - the latest in a string of allegations against members of the force.Ferenc Gyurcsany, the Hungarian PM, said Sunday that th...
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Teenage Kicks, Thrills
2007-05-14 12:52:00
Hungarian University students are becoming more radical, according to a recent survey, with 3% saying that vandalism has a place in political protest, and that they would damage private or public property. Around 7% say they would join instant demonstrations.Recent findings also reveal that the Hungarian youth are becoming more family and nation-centered, and increasingly skeptical about globalism. Meanwhile, intolerance and radicalism have grown in recent years. (Source: Budapest Business Journal)
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Liberal Staff Threatened by Rowdy Extremists
2007-05-01 11:00:00
Supporters of Jobbik (an extreme-right party), threatened the staff of the liberal party, SZDSZ, on Monday evening (30 April). SZDSZ planned to celebrate the 1st of May on Hajógyári Sziget as usual - they have been celebrating there for 17 years now - but on Monday during preparations, rowdy supporters of Jobbik coming from their party's program appeared at SZDSZ's tent and threteaned workers of the liberal party with knives.Apparently, the cause of the threat was that roma (gypsy) people were also working as staff at SZDSZ. Therefore, one staff member called the police. As a result, the liberal party has cancelled their program for the 1st of May. SZDSZ does not want their staff and their supporters to be victims of extremist criminals, they explained. Szabolcs Badacsonyi, an SZDSZ politician explained that SZDSZ has been celebrating at the Island for 17 years, Jobbik has also been celebrating there a couple of years now but there has been no conflict between the two parties un...
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Will the Riots Start Again?
2007-04-30 17:47:00
The events of fall could occur again as the society contains the same tensions it contained back in September and October of 2006 - said Gyögy Csepeli, a University Professor and member of the Gönczöl Committee (a politically independent committee which was created in order to investigate the responsibility of the government and the police after the riots. They successfully finished their job earlier on.-ed).The only way to decrease tensions in the society is through a learning process; we are not there yet, stated the Professor.Katalin Gönczöl, on the other hand, believes that the riots we have seen recently will not be coming back, because the society has finally learned at its own expense and it will carry this moral for a while. The committee published its report in February 2007 in which they write that the whole political class, media, social scientists, the police, the PM, and the Head of State were all responsible for the events, although to a different extent. The PM,...
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Holocaust Remembrance
2007-04-25 00:12:00
All parliamentary parties finally came together to remember the victims of the Holo caust . (Viktor Orbán, president of Fidesz also attended.) Besides politicians, leaders of the Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant Churches also attended the remembrance of the 15th of April. Everyone should condemn AntisemitismKatalin Szili, the Socialist speaker of the House, said that everyone ought to condemn intolerance, the inciting of racism, harassment, all forms of racist violence, and condemn without reservation all actions arising from antisemitism. Szili also remarked that like a virus antisemitism has popped its ugly head up on our continent once again, and it is encroaching upon democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We cannot allow even one member of minority to be insulted even if it is only done verbally, she continued.One should remember not because of revenge or self-torture, but to prevent inhumanity from returning. Children should also be taught to speak out against inhumani...
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New Order, New Regime Organized by the Extremist Rioters
2007-04-24 11:22:00
The radical nationalists didn't wreak havoc at H?sök Square on Saturday the 21st of April as feared, instead the 1000 people assembled put on a surrealistic show, as the reporter of 'Hirszerzo' reported. What is probably meant by surrealistic is that the radicals were not only dressed in Hungarian medieval clothes and brought with them their now trademark Árpád flag, but a large majority of these people appeared in gas masks also.There were of course dolls meant to bash the most prominent government members, and many people were shouting 'Frau Mengele' referring to the soon-to-be appointed Minister of Health, Agnes Horvath (her predecessor, Mr. Molnar, was responsible for the implementation of reforms, some of them leading to a few hospitals being shut down - mostly provincial, and/or not vital institutions - and others to be refurnished and improved-ed.) In addition, there were banners titled 'either our dreams will come alive or we will die together.'Then the famous spoke...
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Battle Royale
2007-04-19 15:03:00
'Hungary is in trouble today, but not because of its citizens but rather because their leaders have flopped', said Viktor Orbán a few weeks ago at a small Hungarian town called Tápióbicske at a National Remembrance.The leader of Fidesz said in front of an audience of 5000 that the Hungarian people are winners and not losers, like many believe. The Hungarian people are winning important battles day after they as they successfully defend themselves against the attacks of the government; Hungarian families, doctors, teachers, pensioners, and students as well- said Orbán.The party leader stated that the serious problems that are making life hard for the Hungarians are caused by the new aristocracy that appeared 17 years after the transition, and who are demanding privileges for themselves at the expense of the majority of the nation.This new aristocracy is trying to rob the country just like the foreign aristocracy wanted to do back in the 19th Century. The Hungarians defeated those f...
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Preparing for Revolt?
2007-04-19 10:49:00
A few weeks ago the Budapest Police Department found evidence on certain websites that an uprising is being planned; the gathered information was forwarded to the Hungarian National Department of Investigation (NDI). The Budapest Police Department examined the texts on 'kuruc.info', and 'mimagunk.com' (two relatively famous Hungarian extreme-right websites-ed.) and according to the police it might be considered as a crime. Only the NDI has power to investigate the matter and to bring a decision, however. The NDI says it has also monitored these websites and they will be examined.According to the extremist websites, (run by those responsible for the recent riots-ed.) the 21st of April will be the 'day of the new beginning' ('MÚK') with roads being blockaded, and new demonstrations held, one of them planned to be held at H?sök Square in Budapest. 'MÚK' is the idea of the two known criminals László Toroczkai and György Budaházi who took part in the riots of last year and in ...
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Egg Throwing at the Soviet Monument in Budapest
2007-04-03 12:21:00
Eggs were thrown on Tuesday morning at people taking part at the Soviet memorial in Budapest. The victims of the egg throwing were mainly old people taking part at the remembrance organized by the 'Hungarian Resistance and Anti-Fascist Union' (MEASZ).About 20 demonstrators standing outside of the security cordons surrounding the memorial disturbed the event by generating noise and shouting insults at the participants. After a while a demonstrator started throwing eggs which, according to the Hungarian AP (MTI), hit the face of many participants. The violent demonstrator was handcuffed by police, and with two of his partners were turned out.As known, in the past few weeks various organizations (many of them belonging to the extreme-right) have started to campaign for the removal of the Soviet military memorial from the center of Budapest and are petitioning the government to do so. Members of 'Fidesz' have also signed the petition.Viktor Orbán (leader of Fidesz) also spoke out a...
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Undisguised Racism in a Hungarian Weekly
2007-04-01 12:36:00
The following article appeared in the 'Demokrata' this Thursday on the 29th of March. 'Demokrata' is favored by the former PM, and the leader of Fidesz, Viktor Orbán, and is thus read by tens of thousands of Hungarian s. 'On the 15th of March I noticed something very peculiar. There was a nigger coming through the crowd with huge steps, his hair rasta, his clothing tawdry, his feature arrogant, he was impatiently walking around the Hungarian citizens immersed devoutly in celebrating the National Festivity. I wondered if I were in an African country walking through an armada of locals just musing with religious devotion on their liberation from oppressive colonialism, and I, instead of a banana in my hand, with the Bible and the Árpád Flag would shove away the behemoth black people with contempt, well, I don't know how long I would stay alive. And this one here doesn't give a damn. He behaves like this, because he feels he has the right to do so.' As mentioned before, Viktor...
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Scared Tourists Stay Away from Hungary
2007-03-30 01:36:00
The damage caused by the 15th of March riots cost the state approximately 30 million FT-s. (In comparison, last fall's damages were a couple of billion FT-s.) The mayor of Budapest, Mr. Gábor Demszky - who was the victim of the rioters egg throwing two weeks ago - tried to calm the tourist sector saying that this was 'a reverberation of last fall's riots, not a continuation of it.'Nevertheless, people in the business are worried that if this year's trend continues many of them will be out of business, as tourists are not coming to the country. The tourist branch wants the government to campaign in favor of the country's image as the classical tourist marketing is not able to downplay the political turbulence. Unfortunately, the recent turbulent events have severely hurt the economy.Source: www.turizmus.com
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Western European Press Reaction to Orbán
2007-03-27 00:59:00
The German and Austrian press collectively lashed out at Orbán and Fidesz. Both the conservative and liberal written media voiced its concern over the radical rally held at the 15th of March. DIE WELT:For example, the main conservative newspaper in Germany, Die Welt, published an article about the current events entitled, 'In Hungary the opposition is discrediting itself.' They mention that Orbán says that one can chase away the government even in a democracy. But with what means? With the power of the streets? - asks the famous newspaper. Hundreds of demonstrators took this literally and went on to wreck havoc in the evening -Die Welt interpreted, then added: Orbán was playing with fire. This is not only bad for Hungary ( a country that Orbán headed between 1998 to 2002) but also bad for his party and its civic leaders.SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG:According to the liberal newspaper, one should ban the interaction between democratic politicians and drunken, extremist hooligans. However,...
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How Many at the Fidesz Rally?
2007-03-19 00:41:00
The Hungarian independent news agency, MTI, which is often reliable seems to have made a 'slight' error. MTI have been apparently non-critical when Fidesz made public their estimation of 200 thousand people attending their rally on Saturday, and chose to go with the right-wing party's estimation. According to Mihály Karácsony, a program organizer working at the Hungarian Ministry says that it is physically impossible for 200 thousand people to fit in the territory where the audience was. He measured that from the stage to Astoria there is 600 meters of available space, while the general width of the territory is 30 meters (18000 square meters overall). 3 to 4 people can fit on a square meter. If we consider this data then there could have been no more than maximum 50 thousand people at the political rally.According to an online news site (privatbankar.hu), 100 thousand people attended the rally. They relied on police estimations. So how many were there at the rally? 200 thousand...
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After the Storm
2007-03-19 00:34:00
All is quiet in Budapest since Saturday night. The police were much more professional now than in the last two times; they were able to put an end to the riots and atrocities by lawful means. Luckily, all parliamentary forces seem to agree on this, even though Fidesz is still bringing up the events of 23rd of October as a counter-example. According to Hungarian media sources, the police troops have undergone extensive training on how to best deal with the rioters and riots in general.
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15th of March Events (Part 2)
2007-03-15 21:51:00
According to Hungarian media the demonstrators, or football hooligans if you like, started appearing on the streets after György Budaházy, a wanted criminal, was captured by the police.5:45 pm: About two dozen people appear in front of the Police headquarters (at Aradi street) where the demonstrators believe Budaházy was taken, shouting: 'we will free him'!6pm: 200-300 people appear at Andrássy Street. In a sound system placed inside a baby carriage near Astoria the FIDESZ supporters are called up to go to Aradi street to free György Budaházy. In the meantime 1500 people gather at the Museumkert calling for the resignation of Gyurcsány.6:25pm: Ski masks are handed out to demonstrators by other demonstrators and the Goy Motorists arrive to everyone's delight.6:38pm: Police start to arrive. There are about 1000 demonstrators already. The majority are wearing masks, gas masks. There are lots of skinheads wearing black clothes, black steel-plated boots. The crowd is provoking the p...
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'Chase Away the Government' - Orbán's Speech at the Fidesz Rally
2007-03-15 20:42:00
'The people have the right to chase away the government' Viktor Orbán, leader of the main opposition party FIDESZ, said today at his party's rally at around 5pm. Orbán often spoke about the people, or folk and referred to them as the 'new majority' who are disappointed in the government and who are behind him and his party. This new majority has to defeat the Gyurcsány government, or in his words, the 'new aristocracy'. The leader of FIDESZ said that his coalition is that of the winners and not the losers as the government wants everyone to believe [the government never said this-ed.]. 'The people have already won two battles: the battle of the municipal elections in the fall and that of the referendum' [that case is in the courts and nothing has been decided about FIDESZ's referendum proposals yet-ed.] Orbán explained that the referendums are needed because in their election campaign the government (comprised of the social-democratic MSZP and the liberal SZDSZ) lied to t...
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15th of March Events (Part 1)
2007-03-15 14:39:00
Yesterday, the FIDESZ chief of staff, Deutsch-Für Tamás, said that neither his party or KDNP (Christian Democratic Folks party- a party that was formed out of FIDESZ) will take part on the official hoisting of the state flag ceremony, because 'the Gyurcsány government is putting the state flag into prison.'The Kossuth Square was completely locked off from the public on Thursday night. Metal detectors were installed by the police at the streets leading to the festivity.At around 9am the PM, Ferenc Gyurcsány, appears on the Square, the few hundred demonstrators outside of the cordon start booing, shouting, whistling. You could hear the whistle when the Hungarian flag is hoisted and when the National Anthem is being sung.The public figures are protected by the security personnel. Near the end of the ceremony about 1000 people are gathered outside of the cordons verbally abusing the Prime Minister, Ferenc Gyurcsány. A vast number of Árpád flags are seen in the crowd.At 12pm mayor ...
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Opinion On the Events of March 15th -First Half
2007-03-15 13:55:00
The 'celebrations' have begun. But don't think of this as your typical celebration in Britain, Germany, or in the US. No, this a different celebration brought to us by our lovely football hooligans and other extremist protesters (probably also football hooligans). They went to all the venues and instead of singing the Hungarian National Anthem and enjoy the music and the show they booed, threw eggs, water bottles, and other objects at the speakers, dancers, musicians, politicians, invited guests, literally on everyone. The security personnel were successful in defending the people onstage mainly with umbrellas. During the whole celebration you could here cursing, whistling, protests, football chants, and although there were microphones and speaker systems at all of these bigger venues you could hardly make out what was said onstage. Yes, the 'celebrations' have begun. The ?peaceful? (this is the expression used by the main opposition party, FIDESZ, referring to these hooligans...
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More Weapons Found
2007-03-14 22:34:00
The Police is continuing the search for illegal weapons around the whole country. Yesterday in Budapest they discovered an apartment converted into a Molotov cocktail 'factory'. The tenant and maker of the weapons - a 19 year old young man - has been preparing the Molotov cocktails for a month now and was planning to use them tomorrow on the 15th. He also admitted that he is a member of the Kossuth Square Revolutionists. The young man has been taken into custody.Unfortunately, this was not the only case yesterday. Weapon s were found in other districts of Budapest and also in smaller towns across the country. Probably the most shocking finding revealed a whole weapon arsenal consisting of guns, rifles, pistols, flauberts, and also a rarity: a firearm disguised as a cane. Investigations will continue tonight and even tomorrow in the morning before the official celebrations. Police officials are confident that they will be able to seize other weapons before the state celebration...
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Weapons Found
2007-03-14 00:52:00
The Hungarian police found and seized various weapons at extremist group members' hideout.Source: Este
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Grand Assembly Held at Kossuth Square by Extremist Demonstrators
2007-03-13 00:07:00
They call themselves the Kossuth Square Revolutionists and on Sunday, March 11th they held their first grand assembly. The speakers warned the assembled people about the expected provocation by the police and Israeli 'street fighters' ordered to Hungary by the government come March 15th. The 'revolutionists' came together to show the people that they belong on the streets on the 15th of March to think about the events of 1848 and to demand the resignation of the Gyurcsány government. All of the speakers, including a pastor mentioned that Israelis have been ordered to Budapest to not only save the synagogues and other institutions from the Hungarian rioters, but to also to get into combat with them. Some speakers openly admitted their antisemitism. The occasion was guarded by about 100 policemen.Source of photo and article:http://www.mti.hu/cikk/193664/
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Gyurcsány: 15th of March Should Not Bring Fear and Anguish
2007-03-12 13:17:00
At MSZP's Women's Day celebration in Budapest, PM Ferenc Gyurcsány said: ' I wish that the holiday ahead of us will not bring fear and anguish, turbulence, but instead quietude, not the much repeated personal truths, but instead the capability to understand each other's truths. The way one celebrates shows what kind of everyday one can offer.' According to Gyurcsány, you don't need any courage to throw your weight about, but you need courage to understand the other person and be self-critical [referring to the leader of the opposition, Viktor Orbán].
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Interview with Ferenc Gyurcsány in 'Die Welt'
2007-03-11 23:50:00
'He who wants to conquer a mountain must first suffer' said the Hungarian PM in his interview with the German daily, Die Welt .Translation of the whole German article below:Die Welt:You have been elected by your party (MSZP) as chairman winning 89% of the votes - does this mean that you are backed to continue the reforms?Gyurcsány:It is a big support for me. This means that there is no alternative to the reforms. There are lots of debates inside the party, but at the end of the day they say OK let's continue, let's do it.Die Welt:In his New Year's speech the Head of State [László Sólyom] said that as a result of last fall's riots the country is split into two camps (a Gyurcsány and an Orbán camp). What do you plan to do against this division?Gyurcsány:I have recently written an article in the Hungarian daily, 'Nepszabadsag', where I write about the importance of understanding and appreciating the other side. I have been criticized for this by my supporters. I think we could d...
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Ferenc Gyurcsány (PM) interview in 'The Times'
2007-03-06 00:45:00
Gyurcsány PM and now the Chairman of the Socialist Party (MSZP) said in an interview last week that from Poland to the Balkans there is uncertainty as to whether these countries should follow a progressive modernisation policy, or the isolation of radical nationalism.To the question whether Hungary has experienced a resurgence of Anti-Semitism since last Autumn Gyurcsány replied with a resounding yes. The waving of Árpád flags (Hungarian National Socialist flags) by the demonstrators at FIDESZ's (the largest opposition party) rallies and at every other demonstration indicates this, as do the Anti-Semitic pamphlets that are being handed out in places such as the University of Law in Budapest. According to Gyurcsány, the problem is that Fidesz and the party's leader, Viktor Orbán, doesn't want to distance himself away from this crowd. Last year at the Kossuth square 50 Jewish politician names were read out loud on stage by the demonstrators' leaders, and after the verbal bashi...
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Hungary Current Events
2007-03-06 00:35:00
Welcome to the Hungary Current Events blog. Here we will be dealing with, as the title suggests, current political events in Hungary. This is a nasty time in Hungarian politics. Will the young and fragile democracy (similar to Weimar Germany in the 1920s) remain intact or will something terrible happen come March 15th and after? It is important for everyone to know what is being said and done in Hungary, so posting will start ASAP.
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