Global Voices

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The world is talking, are you listening?

The Wayward Hungarian, a new English-language Tumblr blog, writes about the recent initiative by a Hungarian activist, who has “hacked” the regulation targeting the homeless living in Budapest's District VIII. The regulation imposes a fine of “up to 250 dollars if one is conducting ‘lifestyle-like’ behavior in public, but the municipality may now also fine the same amount if one stores items in public areas that may be accessories to the selfsame ‘lifestyle-like’ behavior. Items such as blankets for instance. This means that people can be fined for unsettlingly vague things like ‘sitting on a rock’ and ‘having a blanket'.”

The Contrarian Hungarian writes about “a long weekend of protests” in Budapest – here and here, and about “a protest art competition that serves both as creative outlet and as protest against the most recent instances of the government’s restrictions on the freedom of the press” – here. Hungarian Spectrum comments on today's protest: “[...] the fact that more than 100 trade unions and civic organizations managed to create a Hungarian version of the Polish Solidarity movement signals that something is brewing.”

The Contrarian Hungarian reports that photojournalists working for two Hungarian online news portals have been banned from entering the Parliament building following the publication of photos of PM Orbán's handwritten notes on the speech he was delivering on the country's defense plan.

Hungarian Spectrum writes about “higher education and the question of ‘tuition'” in Hungary.

The Contrarian Hungarian reviews the most important items on the Hungarian parliament's legislative agenda of Fall 2011.

The Contrarian Hungarian writes about a new regulation that requires “every municipal council in Hungary [to] set up a table to display the country’s newly enacted constitution”: “The table must be covered by glass, and the constitution on the table must be opened on page 28 [...]. Next to the table, a chair must be set. [...]” Marietta Le of Remainder of Budapest reports several sightings of mock “Constitution's Tables” around Budapest.

Hungarian Spectrum posts an update on the state of the Hungarian economy.

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the Hungarian authorities’ dubious ways of dealing with what by all accounts appear to be hate crimes against the Roma.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum commemorates István Bibó (1911-1975), who in her opinion is one of the greatest political thinkers in Hungary during the 20th century.

Eva S. Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum writes about Hungary's new law on churches – according to which the legal status of a church is to be decided by the parliament – and the alleged role of the Church of Scientology in the adoption of this law.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum writes about the situation of Roma in Hungary against the beckground of US-talks with representatives of the Roma group in the country.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum reports on how US representatives are becoming increasingly concerned about the new Hungarian constitution and how the Hungarian government reacts to US and European crtitique against it.

Edward Hugh of Hungary Economy Watch comments on reactions to the Hungarian government's decision to drastically cut public debt.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum takes a critical look at Prime Minister Orban's difficulties with balancing between Hungary as nation and state.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum writes about the trial against and acquittal of Sándor Képíró, accused of the 1942 Novi Sad Massacre, in Serbia during World War II.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum reports that from the schoolyear 2012/2013, Hungarian high school students will be able to study basic military science as a subject to be included in their highschool degree, and goes on to present other critical views on what she feels is a militarization of Hungary.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum takes a critical look at governmental investments in the energy industry, and asks whether they are wise, looking at the country's increasing economic reliance on foreign lenders.

Max Steinbeis of Verfassungsblog writes about [GER] changes in the composition of and requirements for Hungary's Constitutional Court as well as the process towards changes in electoral law in the country.

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum reports on the adoption of a new and criticized law on religions and religious communities in Hungary.

Edward Hugh of Baltic Economy Watch argues that Central and East European economies are more exposed to risk in case of a Eurozone crisis than what financial ratings say.

Hungarian Spectrum reviews news coverage by various Hungarian public and commercial media outlets – here, here, and here.

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the staff cuts at the three Hungarian public media outlets: “My understanding is that the two television stations [MTV and Dune TV] and Magyar Rádió have a total of something like 3,500 employees. From the little one can learn about the government's plans, most likely 1,000 people will get pink slips between now and the fall. [...] Yet once again it looks as if this necessary financial step is being used to change the political coloring of MTV even more.”

The Worden Report discusses how Hungary is overriding European Union legislation and decisions, and what the limits for membership are to make European federalism work.

Belatedly, links to some of Hungarian Spectrum‘s posts: on the Hungarian “oligarch” and PM's ally Sándor Demján; on the opposition rally and gay pride parade that took place in mid-June; on Hillary Clinton's visit to Budapest; and on a lecture by Aladár Horváth, the chairman of the Roma Civil Rights Foundation, who is currently visiting the United States.

Authors of Kettős Mérce (“Double Standard”) blog held a ‘picnic for democracy‘ [hu] last Sunday in the capital of Hungary. They also shared a video from the event, which was organized in solidarity with the recent protests in Spain.

Hungarian Spectrum writes about corruption in Hungary: “A few days ago Ernst & Young made public its latest survey on corruption in Europe and came up with the startling result that Hungary is the most corrupt country within the European Union. It can be compared only to Russia.”

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum reports on how the government of Hungary has sacked the director of the country's Holocaust Memorial Center and replaced him with one more compatible with the views of the current regime.

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the relationship between the Orbán government and the Hungarian minority in Romania.

Hungarian news sites report that Facebook has blocked the most popular far-right website Kuruc.info. According to kuruc.info [hu], no referring links can be sent through Facebook's system, the Like button has disappeared, and Facebook is also blocking mentions of “Kuruc.info.” Kuruc.info wrote that the block was worse than similar measures in the communist China, encroaching on free speech and personal freedom. They also encouraged readers [hu] to file requests on Facebook to unblock the site. Many, however, welcomed Facebook's decision.

More on the new Hungarian constitution – at Hungarian Spectrum and Hungarian Watch.