Mild snow in Budapest

Between Buda and Pest in a drizzling day. © Marta Pacheco

Hungarians against Orbán demand for Democracy

Article published in Cafebabel

Hungarians protesting on the national holiday, 15th March 2007. Habeebee © Flickr

The Hungarian people are not sleeping. Tired of corruption and lack of transparency, another protest will take place while Chancellor Angela Merkel pops up for an official visit. 

Hungary against the System 

When Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is ranked in second place by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), we understand the swingeing concern that Hungarian citizens are going through. On the top of the table is, naturally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Orban’s good friend. 

White House Vigil To Save Net Neutrality White House Vigil To Save Net Neutrality | (cc) Stephen Melkisethian/Flickr 

The problem in Hungary is dramatic as the whole system is enrooted in corruption. In one of many public demonstrations, last October, the citizen protest was against the government’s intention of taxing internet traffic, the biggest anti-government protest in the past four years, but the problems in the country go beyond that. The Hungarian people live in “pitch black” when it comes to institutional decisions, blind by a government with no respect towards the citizens. The New Year began with more protests asking for democracy, in Budapest. Activists said Orbán was not representing public interests in his policies, the Associated Press reported, regarding his efforts to tax the Internet.

Hungarians have condemned Orbán, also leader of conservative party Fidesz, for what they perceive as governmental corruption. Fidesz holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, which in 2013 allowed Orbán to pass a new constitution that centralized power. Under this system, and despite constant protests which are systematically ignored, he appointed people to lead the court system, the bank and the media. Before this picture, it looks more like Hungary is still living under a Soviet regime. 

The hope and solution for this scourge could be found in civic groups like MostMi! (NowUs!). Nevertheless, the question whether this political movement has a future remains among the analysts as one of the founders, Zsolt Várady, announced his withdrawal due to the lack of time and divergences with the other founder, Bori Takács. The non-partisan movement is currently in a fragile situation not promising great expectations in order to change the society. 

Merkel and Putin to visit Hungary 

In July 2014, the Hungarian government has reached a deal with Russia regarding the Paks nuclear power plant and a related 10 billion euros Russian state loan. With this agreement, Hungary’s gas storage facilities would be sold to Russia’s Gazprom increasing the country’s dependence on Russia. Opposition tried to scrap the Pak contract but without success. 

In an unusual criticism of Orban’s policies from a member of his own party, Zsolt Nemeth, chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee said that Hungary should make it clearly about its relationship with Russia, which according Nemeth is becoming far… 

The next protest is scheduled for the 2nd of February, on the occasion of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Budapest. But it is not only Merkel the expected visit. Putin is also in the guest list scheduled for the 17th of February.

Buda & Pest

 The commonly known Parliament of Budapest © Marta Pacheco

Budapest by night

View over the Danube

Hungarian National Museum

Freakin' Stalin 

 Interior of a local bar

  Interior of a local bar

  Interior of a local bar

 Red dress hanged on the street

Budapest lift

Angry Hungary over a Repressive System

Article published in Cafebabel

Hungarians protesting against the recent Government's initiative. Humans Development © Flickr

Thousands of citizens have raised their voices against Orban's government as an attempt to block the recent adopted tax on internet traffic. 

For the past months, Hungary has been in the European newspapers quite often and not for the best reasons. First, it was the global attack against the nomination of Tibor Navracsics, current Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Commissioner, whose position regarding Human Rights was quite controversial. Later, the most recent explosive episode happened after prime minister Viktor Orban announced the decision to impose a tax on internet traffic, triggering outrage from thousands of Hungarians. 

Viktor Orban during EPP meeting. European people's party © Flickr 

Orban was often criticised for his concentrated effort on censoring independent media in the country. Let us all remember about the generated polemic around Navracsics’ portfolio, which, thanks to social pressure, changed “Citizenship” to “Sport” (also an easy and quick solution to guarantee the Hungarian Commissioner his position as it was a bit fragile after being asked to go through a second hearing in Parliament). 

Not the first issue with Hungary 

In January 2011, the European Commission published a press release about a new media law implemented by the Hungarian government saying: “Hungary's new media law, which requires all media to register as such and provide ‘balanced’ coverage of national and EU events, was debated by the Civil Liberties and the Culture committees in Strasbourg on Monday.”

Some MEPs urged Hungary to withdraw the law immediately, whilst others urged it to wait until the European Commission had assessed its compatibility with EU legislation and fundamental rights. The Hungarian Justice minister promised to amend it if necessary. Despite the fact that the criteria must be the same for all Member States, almost four years later the free media topic appears not to have changed, while Tibor Navracsis jumped up and now plays an important role in the European spectrum… Is this congruent? 

In regards to the recent measure to be adopted by the Hungarian government over internet traffic taxation, the spokesman of Neelie Kroes, ex Vice-President of the Commission and in charge of Digital Agenda, by saying that this is a “terrible idea” and furthermore, “it’s not a question of whether the law is legal or not but it’s part of a troubling pattern of behavior and laws from the Hungarian government”. Naturally, over the past days, Hungary has been the stage for massive demonstrations against Orban’s government and his primitive ideas concerning freedom of information.