Wednesday, “after a decision of the European People’s Party Presidency (EPP) together with Fidesz,” the Political Assembly of the EPP voted to immediately suspend Fidesz’s membership. A three-member evaluation committee has been appointed to monitor whether Fidesz meets the conditions of the joint proposal. As a result, a great debate has erupted in Hungary regarding whether Fidesz’s suspension was orchestrated by the EPP or whether the party “unilaterally” chose to temporarily stop “exercising its rights.”

Each party has used the opportunity to spread its own narrative. While the EPP claims it suspended Fidesz’s membership and withdrew its rights, Fidesz insists it solved the problem by recommending its own suspension.

Was it possible to please everyone?

Prior to the Political Assembly, it was difficult to determine the vote’s outcome as the political interests of the various parties and political figures were dizzyingly diverse.

For those who called for Fidesz’s expulsion – a total of 13 parties from ten, primarily liberal, nations – demanded Fidesz be punished for its actions.

Several member parties waited for the German Christian Democrats to make a decision before voicing their support in either direction. Additionally, Fidesz’s expulsion could have split the EPP just months before the EP elections, seeing as several member parties were against the act. Slovenian Democratic Party member Janez Jansa, for example, said he would follow Fidesz out of the EPP. The exclusion would also alienate parties that receive votes in line with Orbán’s anti-migrant message, such as those from Bavaria, Austria and France.

Before the vote, several Fidesz politicians made statements demonstrating the party’s desire to remain in the EPP. PMO Head Gergely Gulyás confirmed that the party wants to remain in the center-right bloc, under certain conditions: “We want to see a strong, united, Christian democratic EPP which opposes illegal immigration, and as long as there is a chance this could happen, we want to be a part of the EPP.” At the same time, Fidesz-friendly Hungarian media repeatedly called on the party to leave the EPP of its own accord.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too

The process leading up to the decision was tedious and rife with indecision. Both the EPP and Fidesz tried to play it safe, often attempting to ‘have their cake and eat it too.’ The EPP walked a fine line in its mission to satisfy every party involved. Such an early compromise was an attempt at placating both those threatening to follow Fidesz out of the EPP and those calling for its expulsion in the first place. Other European party families – the Socialists and greens – believe Fidesz is merely testing the EPP’s boundaries. Meanwhile, the press has spent so much time focused on Fidesz’s EPP predicament that it has barely breathed a word about the European Parliament Elections, two short months away.

For EPP Spitzenkandidat Manfred Weber, it is vital the party family has access to as many votes as possible. Therefore, the importance of Fidesz’s 11 votes is undeniable. However, maintaining a close relationship with the liberal parties from Northern Europe is also essential.

Although several Fidesz politicians – including Gergely Gulyás, MEP József Szájer and even the Prime Minister himself – have stated that Fidesz “cannot be ejected or suspended” due to its popularity with Hungarian citizens, it still needs the backing of the family party. For instance, when it comes to allocating resources, it is highly important which family Fidesz belongs to. Currently, to this end, the EPP has the German CDU, the strongest EU and EPP member.

A masterful compromise?

The aim of Wednesday’s vote was to arrive at a solution that satisfies all. The EPP wished to keep both sides of the spectrum to secure as many votes as possible for the party family. While the German parties did not want to see Fidesz expelled, the 13 parties who initiated the proposal expected Fidesz to be ousted, or at the very least, hit hard by sanctions.

The vote on Fidesz’s membership was inevitable and punishment was highly likely. However, the result is something of a masterful compromise since it enables both parties to ‘have their cake and eat it too.’ The “decision of the EPP Presidency together with Fidesz” states that

the EPP Presidency and FIDESZ jointly agree that FIDESZ suspends its membership in the EPP until the report of the evaluation committee is ready.

The decision’s wording alludes to the possibility that Fidesz had a word in its own suspension. The EPP can now keep both its liberal members and its more radical members, including Fidesz. Also, Orbán and his party have been given a way out of the situation that leaves them relatively unscathed by the whole ordeal.

Different political interests, different communication

Weber argues that “his proposal” was “necessary” because the EPP’s “values are not negotiable” and Fidesz needs to understand that and begin to “rebuild trust.”

Although Gergely Gulyás, the Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, previously claimed that Fidesz would rather terminate its membership than see it suspended, this obviously has not turned out to be the case. Orbán insists that Fidesz has decided to suspend its rights as long as

the three wise men complete their report, then we will have talks again with the EPP.

EPP leader Joseph Daul declared that “internal democracy has spoken,” and tweeted the following after the announcement of the verdict:

We cannot compromise on democracy, rule of law, freedom of press, academic freedom or minorities’ rights. And anti-EU rhetoric is unacceptable. The divergences between EPP and Fidesz must cease.

EPP liberals have welcomed the decision as they consider it a step closer to their ultimate goal: Fidesz’s expulsion.

What is next?

The suspension has kept the party family intact while also giving each party a chance to sing the tales of its “victory.” “The European People’s Party made the right decision because it kept its unity. The EPP also made the right decision in the sense that the grouping will now be able to tackle the EP election campaign as a cohesive unit and because Fidesz can continue to support Manfred Weber as the EPP’s spitzenkandidat,” Orbán stated.

It is important to keep in mind that the final decision has only been postponed. Orbán confirmed that Fidesz’s place within the EPP is still in question:

We have made an adequate, temporary decision, but we have not settled anything. After the elections, we can freely decide on the terms of our relationship.

As of now, it is unclear how long it will take for the EPP’s “three wise men” to produce a report. As many have rightfully pointed out, the committee is comprised of politicians from three countries (Belgium, Germany and Austria) of which two (Hans-Gert Pöttering and Wolfgang Schüssel) are known for being lenient towards Fidesz.

However, the May 23-26 EP elections will determine the votes cast for each party and with that, Weber’s future and Fidesz’s place in the European People’s Party will be decided.

Source: hungarytoday.hu

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March 15th is a special day for Hungarians, no matter where they reside in the world. In honor of the anniversary of the 1848-49 Revolution and War for Independence, we have collected some of the many celebrations and commemorations in the Hungarian Diaspora as part of our regular Week in the Life of the Hungarian Diaspora series. You can read about the March 15th celebrations organized by the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Program, which targets Hungarians outside the Carpathian Basin, and the Petőfi Sándor Program, which focuses on dispersed Hungarian communities beyond the borders of Hungary.

Make your own cockade! – March 15 in Finland

In Espoo, Finland the celebrations in honor of March 15th began early on March 10th. The Association of Hungarians in Finland organized an educational cockade making crafts workshop in the city. At the beginning of the session, the children learned about the history of the 1848 revolution and the events of the 15th of March. The historical lesson ended with a listen to Petőfi’s National Song. Afterward, everyone made their very own unique cockade from ribbons, felt or cardboard. Thanks to this special exercise, come March 15th, everyone will be able to celebrate while wearing their own cockade.

Vancouver: Remembrance of Surrender at Világos

The Hungarian House in Vancouver commemorated the 1848-49 Revolution and War for Independence on March 10th. This year’s events focused on and celebrated the 170th anniversary of the War of Independence, the Spring Offensive and the Surrender at Világos. The program featured figures Bem Apó, György Klapka, Áron Gábor and János Damjanich, and the martyrs of Arad, whose stories were performed by the scout team and actors from the Vancouver Hungarian Society (János Párkányi, Miklós Párdányi). During the event, Emma Demeter recited a poem by Endre Ady, and Gabriella Pór performed Nyergestető by Sándor Kányádi. Attila Ollé Jr., Péter Zathureczky and Balázs Horváth performed Kormorán’s cover of the National Song.

March Youths Remembered – March 15th Scout Activities in Rimaszombat

This year, the new Mókus Scout group from Rimaszombat also took part in the celebration. The day began with a themed game about the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-49, and continued with a discussion about the “March Youths.” The little scouts and scout candidates discussed Sándor Petőfi, Lajos Kossuth, what cockades looked like and what their colors represented: red for strength, white for loyalty and green for hope. Finally, they made their own cockades and sang songs related to the Hungarian Revolution. The completed cockades will be placed in front of Sándor Petőfi’s statue during Friday’s commemoration.

On your feet now! – March 15th Commemoration in Szolyva

After a nearly decade-long hiatus, Szolyva will host a city-wide event for the second time commemorating the events of March 15, 1948. The event was organized with the help of the newly founded KMKSZ organization in Solyva. The commemoration will open with a concert, where Jenő Canykó, a member of the Ungvár Philharmonic Orchestra, will play the accordion accompanied by violinist Mária Percsi. The concert will be followed by a 35-minute performance put on by students from the local Hungarian school. The show will consist of poetry, dances and music depicting the events of 1848-49, spanning from the outbreak of the revolution and the war of independence to the surrender at Világos.

Source and photos: hungarytoday.hu

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In the Garden of the National Museum in Budapest on Friday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that “We want the scales to fall from the eyes of the peoples of Europe, and for them to realise and understand this: that without Christian culture there will be no free life in Europe; and that if we fail to defend our Christian culture we will lose Europe, and Europe will no longer belong to Europeans.”

At a ceremony marking the annual commemoration of the 1848–1849 Revolution and Freedom Fight, the Prime Minister stressed that without Christian culture there is no Hungarian freedom, and neither is there a free Hungary, “regardless of one’s personal belief in God, or lack of belief.” Mr. Orbán stressed that “We want the scales to fall from the eyes of the peoples of Europe”, so that they realise that in a liberal European empire everyone loses their freedom.

He said that “To be truly free one cannot be the subject of an empire: one must be the child of a free nation,” adding that “A European can only be happy if they are allowed to freely decide their own fate and the fate of their nation.”

He observed that we know that the Hungarians of the first millennium chose to adopt Christianity from their own free will, and later Hungarians fought tooth and nail for the right to freely choose – against the will of the Ottomans, the Habsburgs and the Soviets.

The notion of freedom, he said, is rooted in Christianity, because before God everyone is equal. He added that the Fundamental Law of Hungary also recognises the role of Christianity in preserving nationhood. The Prime Minister said that “we are preparing for a spectacular Central European ascent, and restoration of our former greatness, [and] a Central European renaissance of overwhelming power”.

Mr. Orbán went on to say, “The Poles are with us here today. They are with us here again, just as they were always with us: in 1848 and 1849, and then in the twentieth century. […] Without Poles, Hungary would not be free today, and Europe could not have been reunified.” He pointed out that Poland is the largest and leading country in Central Europe, and that “When Poland is attacked from Brussels, the attack is against the whole of Central Europe – and against us Hungarians.” His message to “empire-builders who seek to cast their shadow over Central Europe” was that they will always have to reckon with the strong bonds between Poland and Hungary.

The Prime Minister declared that “every year we have vowed by the God of the Hungarians that we shall stand up for our freedom and reject the role of slaves. This shared national avowal means that every Hungarian will stand up for every other Hungarian, and that all Hungarians will stand united for Hungary.” He described 15 March as the promise of national unity, quoting the first line of “The 12 Points”: “Let there be peace, liberty, and concord”. Mr. Orbán stated that this “reminds us that amid life’s hurly-burly and quarrels there should be a shared national goal that unites us.”

“As varied as they are, with their myriad disparate desires, Hungarians are still united by the shared will that in Hungary a free nation should live in its own independent state,” the Prime Minister said. He noted that, since 1848, time has decided what is true and what is not, and “Everything found to be worthless has passed through the sieve of time, and only truth has remained. The truth is that Hungarians have a right to their own homeland, and they have a right to their own Hungarian lives, as they see fit.” He added that “There was never, is not, and never will be an empire – however strong and cunning – that could change this.”

According to Mr. Orbán, “Our freedom fights have repeatedly ended in occupation, but we have never been truly defeated. Here – in the shadow of empires and at the crossroads of civilisations – in the end we won all our wars for the survival of the homeland and the nation, and for Christian culture.”

“We were, we are, and we shall continue to be. The word ‘Hungarian’ will once more be exalted, and worthy of its great fame of old. This is how it shall be, again and again, until the end of time. This is the greatest triumph that a European nation like ours can achieve over empires.”

The Prime Minister stressed that in the Europe of 1848 it was the Hungarians who fought the longest, and in 1956 it was also the Hungarians who turned to confront the Soviet army: the world’s largest. “And, at the southern borders of Hungary, it was also we who halted the migrant invasion launched against Europe. It is also we who want a strong Europe, strong nation states and strong leaders at the head of Europe – not bringing problems here, but taking help there, to where it is needed.”

He spoke of the desire for a new beginning, in order to halt the decline of Europe, “to end the fever dream of a United States of Europe, and to enable Europe to once again belong to Europeans.” He said that to love Hungary is to unify Hungarians again and again, and Hungarians can only be unified under the flag of freedom. According to the Prime Minister, if there is freedom there is everything: “happy times of peace, security, many children, a flourishing country, a strong nation.”

He highlighted that “For us freedom is not a goal, but the route to our goals.”

Mr. Orbán declared that “We Hungarians want simple things, just as in 1848: our own homeland, good neighbours, understanding partners, loving families, and work that has worth, meaning and results.”

The Prime Minister stressed that “Because we are free, life holds wonderful things for us Hungarians. The years ahead will prove that we Hungarians did not come into this world to suffer in life, but to give life meaning.”

In closing, Mr. Orbán said: “Hungary before everything, and God above all! Go for it Hungary, go for it Hungarians!”

Source: kormany.hu / MTI

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You can learn nearly anything on the internet, and singing and dancing are no exception. There are endless materials to choose from, but not everything is reliable. I Dance Hungary is taking steps to solve this problem by providing tutorials led by dance experts and original footage for those wanting to learn Hungarian folk dance. The website is supported by Friends of Hungary Foundation, also the publisher of Hungary Today and Ungarn Heute.

It’s easy to feel like a Hungarian when you are living in the country, speaking the language and are surrounded by other Hungarians. For those residing in other countries, however, it can be hard to preserve their national identity. Folk dance and singing have always been vital parts of Hungarian tradition. As E. Sylvester Vizi, President of the Friends of Hungary Foundation, puts it: “Dancing and singing represent the soul of the Hungarian people.”

But I Dance Hungary has more to offer than merely reaching out to the Hungarian diaspora. While it doesn’t require knowledge of the Hungarian language, it can definitely help Hungarians too. After all, not everyone in Hungary has the chance to master these dances, despite them being part of the custom. People with no Hungarian roots can also benefit from the platform by using it to foster an interest in the culture. It’s more common for foreigners to take an interest in Hungarian culture than you may think.

As the video shows, people from all over the world are practicing Hungarian folk dance. For example, Edi Bonapartian’s parents immigrated to Argentina around the second world war. Thanks to his grandmother, a group in Buenos Aires has been performing the Hungarian “Regős” since 1958. He highlighted the importance of a middleman in helping with language difficulties and other matters. I Dance Hungary serves as such a middleman.

Alejandra Brum from Uruguay called attention to a common problem everyone faces when using the internet: some sources are good, some are not so good. It’s not always easy to determine which is of quality. Originality and reliability are especially important in terms of tradition, and I Dance Hungary has paid special attention to this.

Rocio Rodriguez Blum from Buenos Aires spoke about her first encounter with Hungarian folk dance and stressed that it can be started at any age:

You really only need a Hungarian heart.

Folk dance serves as an “important bridge and linking medium,” says Orsolya Karlócai, Managing Director of the Friends of Hungary Foundation. The discipline brings people from a plethora of different backgrounds together and that is a bond not easily broken.

One of the reasons Hungarian folk dance is popular among foreigners and people of Hungarian origin is its use of creativity. Yuki Hara shared that the “kalotaszegi legényes” is his favorite type of dance to perform because everyone is free to “construct their own unique dance with different moves.” As a result, no matter your nationality, you can insert your own special flavor into the dance and create something new and inspired.

Unlike the teachers, the students in the videos are not experts. Not only are the dances explained, but so are the “customs, history, peasant culture, and residents of the region.” According to Szilárd Szabó, the teacher of the “Szék” and “Somogy” courses, this enables learners to find out why and by whom a certain dance was performed.

Mihály Rosonczy-Kovács, the innovator behind I Dance Hungary, explained the logic behind the choice of the regions represented on the site: Szék is the mecca of the dance house movement, so it had to be included. The other dance is from Somogy, which is easy to learn for beginners, unlike other styles.

Of course, learning on the internet has its limits too, as Norbert Kovács, I Dance Hungary’s leading folk expert, admitted. Nevertheless, the basics can surely be acquired through this website. After all, it offers a stable foundation for future studies and the start of a new hobby that has the power to bring communities together, as seen in the video above.

Source: hungarytoday.com / featured image: via idancehungary.hu

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Budapest has been voted first on the European Best Destinations contest for 2019, from a list of 20 locations that made the finalists’ list of this year’s competition, organized by European Best Destinations (EBD).

For the tenth edition of the competition, more than half a million travellers voted for their favourite European destinations between January 15 and February 5, and Budapest won first place, preceding Praga, Portugal, which took the second and Italy’s Monte Isola, which took third place.

EBD writes on their website about Budapest that “the pearl of the Danube is not only the best European destination, it is also one of the most beautiful and safest cities in the world. Budapest offers the elegance of Paris, the architectural heritage of Vienna, the charm of Porto, Stockholm’s gentle way of life.”

The Hungarian capital received a total of 62,128 votes. According to the statement of Mayor István Tarlós, posted on budapest.hu on Tuesday, no other previous winner received as many votes from abroad as Budapest, with 77 percent submitted from other countries.

This year’s list also included Athens, Florence, Bratislava, Metz and Paris. The trendiest destinations in Europe will be promoted throughout the year to millions of travelers – and will be authorized to display the title “European Best Destination” in their marketing. The cities receive year-long promotion on the European Best Destinations website, in the international press and on numerous social media platforms and travel portals.

According to EBD, winning the competition has a significant impact on growth of tourists with +16 percent in growth of tourism for Porto rewarded in 2017, and +13 percent for Bordeaux, which was rewarded in 2015.

Author: Fanni Kaszás
Featured photo: Botond Horváth/European Best Destinations
Source: hungarytoday.hu

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Budapest Mayor István Tarlós on Thursday received the European Best Destination 2019 Award, granted to Budapest earlier this year, from Maximilien Lejeune, head of the European Best Destination (EBD) agency.

In his speech before the ceremony, Tarlós cited the letter of the EBD as saying that the award was a result of “ten years of work to make Budapest one of the most attractive and most liveable cities, drawing investors, companies and tourists from all over the world.” Budapest received the most votes ever in the history of the award, Tarlós noted, to leave Paris, Athens, London and Florence behind, he said.

Budapest “is the gateway between the East and the West”, a city with an outstanding heritage, a unique spa culture, and high-quality festivals and gastronomy, Tarlós said. Budapest is also one of the safest cities in the world which becomes increasingly important in times of terrorism and political unrest, he said.

Lejeune said at the ceremony that the prize, which has been awarded annually for ten years, has a significant economic impact and media coverage. Budapest has won with a record number of votes from outside Hungary, Lejeune noted.

On the featured photo: Maximilien Lejeune and Mayor István Tarlós. Photo by Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI

Source: hungarytoday.hu

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Balassi Summer University 2019 – Call for application

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Call for scholarship application for the Balassi Summer University, 2019

Based on the 241/2016. (VIII.16.) Government Regulation the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (hereafter MFA), the Ministry invites applications for a Hungarian State scholarship for the BALASSI SUMMER UNIVERSITY PROGRAMME.

The objective of the scholarship is to improve, broaden and strengthen the Hungarian language skills and cultural knowledge of the participants in the programme. The four-week long course takes place in the MFA in Budapest with the cooperation of the KKM Oktatási és Rekreációs Kft. (KKMOR Kft., a background institution of the MFA).

Individuals entitled to sumbit their applications are:

– of Hungarian descent, citizens and residents of the Western diaspora communities, and of minimum 18 years of age, or
– of non-Hungarian descent, citizens and residents of other countries, and of minimum 18 years of age.

Volunteer work, references from their Universities, and any other activities related to the Hungarian culture are taken into consideration in the selection of the applicants.

Description of the programme

During the four-week long programme the students attend 80 Hungarian language classes, and they can participate in Hungarian studies lectures and extramural activities. Outside of class they will visit museums, have field trips and various programmes during which they can experience the Hungarian culture. At the end of the course they will take an oral and a written exam.

For scholarship-holders class attendance is compulsory. Should a participant miss classes without any cause, or violate the Disciplinary Guidelines, the individual will lose the right to continue the programme and the right to dormitory placement.

Programme duration: 4 weeks (22 July, 2019 – 16 August, 2019)

The scholarship includes:
– Tuition fee
– Course materials
– Student residence (2-3 persons per room)
– Three meals a day
– 30-day pass for public transportation
– Attending the cultural programmes in the afternoons
– Attending the excursions

The scholarship does not cover the following expenses:
– Travel to and from Hungary
– Fee of type “Other” visa, if necessary
– Health Insurance (the participant has to cover the expenses of any medical treatment that might be necessary during his/her stay; as well as the participant must arrange his/her Health Insurance.)
– Cost of personal expenses

Maximum number of scholarships to be awarded: 60

Deadline for electronic application: 3 April, 2019, 24:00 (CET)

Decisions about the applications are made by the MFA Board. All decisions are binding.

MFA–Balassi Institute will not consider applications submitted after deadline and/or incorrectly and/or incompletely and/or illegibly.

Applications will be evaluated by 30 April, 2019 and applicants will be notified about the results within 7 work-days afterwards via e-mail. Successful applicants must confirm the acceptance of the scholarship via e-mail.

Steps of application:

The call for application is published in English at
https://balassischolarship.kormany.hu/balassi-summer-university-2019

1. Filling in the application form

Download the English-language application form (Excel document) at https://balassischolarship.kormany.hu/balassi-summer-university-2019

The application form and the questionnaire are two different sheets in the same Excel document. Fill both of them electronically (no handwriting!).

2. Obtaining required documents

Required documentation and references for the application:

• CV (.pdf format);
• An essay of about 200 words about why you would like to study in Hungary and how you will use the knowledge you gain here in your home country (.doc format);
• Copy of your passport (.pdf format);
• Not mandatory but recommended, a reference letter from a volunteer organization (scouts, school, foundation, church etc.) or a recognized individual (.pdf format).

  3. Printing and signing the application form

Print the application form filled in electronically, then sign with blue ink and scan in colour.

NOTE! The questionnaire is not to be printed, signed and scanned.

4. Submitting the application material via e-mail to apply-balassi@mfa.gov.hu

To submitting the application the following documents have to be sent:

– Application form and questionnaire filled in electronically (Excel document),
– Signed and scanned application form (.pdf document),
– CV (required format: Word document)
– An essay of about 200 words about why you would like to study in Hungary and how you will use the knowledge you gain here in your home country (required format: Word document);
– Copy of passport (required format: .pdf)
– Not mandatory but recommended, a reference letter from a volunteer organization (scouts, school, foundation, church etc.) or a recognized individual (.pdf format).

WE ACCEPT ONLY ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS.

For further information please contact Krisztina Szalánczi at MFA’s Department of Trainings and Skills Development.

In person: H-1016 Budapest, Somlói út 51., room 242 / Telephone: +36-1-550-2303 / E-mail: balassisummeruni@mfa.gov.hu

Further information at the webpage of MFA–Balassi Scholarship Programme: https://balassischolarship.kormany.hu/call-for-application-balassi-summer-university

For information please use this e-mail: balassisummeruni@mfa.gov.hu

Submitting the application material please use this e-mail: apply-balassi@mfa.gov.hu

All Hungarian speakers should fill in the form in Hungarian. Use the English form only in case you do not speak Hungarian.

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The high-speed railway to connect Budapest, Bratislava, Ostrava and Warsaw will be one of the most ambitious projects the Visegrad Four countries have ever launched, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, said after talks with Vazil Hudak, vice-president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), in Budapest on Thursday.

The feasibility study is already in the pipeline, with the four countries expecting the EIB to part-finance the project, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Both sides expressed pleasure over the recent establishment of an EIB V4 platform.

Szijjártó assured Hudak that Hungary would continue to support the EIB’s lending operations in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries.

Source: hungarytoday.hu

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State Secretary for International Communications Zoltán Kovács commented on the European Commission’s critical response to the government’s campaign on migration at a press conference on Tuesday. Kovács announced that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán plans to send a letter to all voters to inform them about Brussels’ plans.

Kovács said that Brussels has confessed to the existence of the migration concepts highlighted in the Hungarian government’s campaign. He added that the government “won’t be dissuaded from communicating plans that it disagrees with.” “We don’t want Hungary to be a country of immigrants, but Brussels’ bureaucracy is intent on Europe becoming a continent of immigrants.”

444.hu reported today that one of their colleagues has already received the aforementioned letter. Orbán writes that Brussels has learned nothing from the terrible terrorist attacks of recent years and wants to bring more immigrants to Europe.

The bureaucrats are now preparing to encourage immigration with new measures. After the introduction of the migrant visa and the migrant bank card, more money would be given to George Soros’ organizations, supporting immigration. They still want to distribute immigrants with obligatory quotas.

The PM continues the letter by claiming that Hungarians do not want their country to become an “immigrant country”:

We want to protect our security and our Christian culture. That is why we have built a fence and we are protecting our borders. However, the bureaucrats in Brussels do not want to respect our decision. In order to achieve their goals, they want to break the resistance of countries that stand against immigration.

The letter ends with words from the recent information campaign, stating that people have the right to know “what Brussels is up to.” According to the letter, there is an information package detailing Brussels’ measures attached.

Source: hungarytoday.hu

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The European Commission (EC) said productivity increases in Hungary have been “modest”, adding that strong economic growth has created favourable conditions for policies that would support improvements in a country report released on Wednesday.

“Productivity growth has improved, but remains below pre-crisis rates, limiting the possibility for income convergence,” the EC said in the report.

[Productivity growth] has been slow for a decade compared to Hungary’s regional peers. Large productivity differences persist between larger, more capital-intensive foreign firms, and smaller, more labour-intensive domestic counterparts. Only few firms innovate, reflecting weaknesses in the entrepreneurial culture and product market competition.

The EC acknowledged that policy stimulus has supported productivity-enhancing investment, but noted that labour costs continue to outpace productivity growth.

“In the course of the last decade, the mobilisation of labour market reserves has helped income per head catch up with the EU average, while output per worker has barely grown,” the EC said. As labour reserves have diminished and the working-age population is set to decrease in the medium term, higher productivity is “essential if living standards are to be brought closer to the EU average”, it added.

The EC said Hungary’s economy is enjoying a “strong cyclical upswing”, but warned that economic growth is set to level off after pent-up consumption unwinds.

The external environment is also providing less support to export growth, while the major role played by the car industry creates a vulnerability to trade disputes and to regulatory and technological change.” The EC said a big increase in public investment is aggravating capacity shortages in construction, leading to cost overruns and project delays, and contributing to rapid house price increases.

The EC said Hungary had made “limited progress” overall to address 2018 country-specific recommendations. While it acknowledged “some progress” in reducing the complexity of the tax system, cutting the number of fostered workers and reducing the tax burden on pensioners who return to work, it said “limited progress” had been made in improving the public procurement framework.

The EC said “no progress” had been made to address recommendations on reinforcing the anti-corruption framework and strengthening prosecutorial efforts.

“The regulatory environment in services has not improved. The quality and transparency of decision making and social dialogue has not advanced,” it added.

Source: https://hungarytoday.hu/ec-hungary-productivity-gains-modest/

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The Busó Carnival and its many festivities kicked off yesterday in Mohács, a town in Southern Hungary. The event began on February 28 with the Kisfarsang (Little Carnival), will continue on Sunday and is scheduled to conclude with a program on Shrove Tuesday, March 5.

The six-day carnival marks the end of winter and the start of spring and fertility. During the Busó Carnival (or busójárás in Hungarian) costumed people — traditionally men — wearing big woolly cloaks and frightening masks carved out of wood march through the city of Mohács. The festival is multifaceted and includes a children’s costume contest; an art display showcasing the works created by mask carvers and other craftspeople; the arrival of more than 500 busós in rowboats on the Danube for a march through the city alongside horse-drawn or motorized vehicles; the burning of a coffin symbolizing winter on a bonfire in the central square and feasts and music throughout the city. Self-organized groups of busós of all cultural backgrounds still pass down mask carving techniques and rituals to younger generations. The Busó Carnival was included on the representative list of the UNESCO Cultural Heritages in 2009.

For more pictures CLICK HERE.

Source: hungarytoday.hu

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The Hungarian government’s ad hoardings campaign on “Brussels’ plans” contains accurate, true and tenable statements, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, told a regular press briefing on Thursday. European public officials, the European Commission (EC) and the European People’s Party (EPP) should all be capable of self-criticism, he said. The five-year EU parliamentary cycle about to end is best described by failed attempts to keep migrants outside the EU and the UK within the bloc, he said.

Gulyas added that EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, who is featured on the ad hoardings, had done “all he could” to have Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party expelled from the EPP, and publicly declared this intention recently, during the EP election campaign. “Fidesz has always been loyal to the EPP,” he said. In response to a question about the billboard campaign, Gulyas said the government will reach out to every voter by mail to inform them about the details of the campaign.

On Thursday, Juncker and several other EPP politicians rejected the campaign. At the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels, Juncker said that he is “totally unable to hate someone” and very surprised to see “these posters now spread around in Hungary full of hatred”.

Swedish EPP MEP Gunnar Hökmark urged group leader and spitzenkandidat Manfred Weber to “address the question of Mr. Orban and Fidesz at the next group meeting and at an extra meeting with the Bureau of the group already next week,” according to Politico.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a press conference on another subject that Juncker has her “full solidarity.” Meanwhile, Merkel’s successor as chair of the CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, did threaten Fidesz on Thursday with halting bilateral cooperation between the two parties, unless they could find common ground on the EPP’s broader aims, DW reported. “It’s up to the Hungarians to clearly prove that they still belong in the EPP,” Kramp-Karrenbauer told Der Spiegel.

Source: MTI, Hungary Journal
Photo: MTI

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Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén expressed “outrage” on Thursday over references to “migrants” in Hungarian media in connection with Hungarians living in Venezuela who have been brought to Hungary by the government.

“We object to the liberal press calling Venezuela Hungarians migrants. They’re not migrants,” Semjén told MTI.

All Hungarians, wherever they may be in the world, can count on the motherland

Several Hungarian media outlets reported recently that the Hungarian government has decided to take in hundreds of Venezuelan refugees with Hungarian ancestry.

DK: the government is taking in refugees in secret after having “waged a hate campaign” against them for years. Meanwhile, the leftist opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has called on ruling Fidesz to register as an organisation that supports migration which would oblige the party to pay a special 25 percent tax.

Citing news portal Index’s report on the government’s admission of Venezuelan Hungarians, DK managing director Csaba Molnár accused the government of taking in refugees in secret after having “waged a hate campaign” against them for years. Molnár said DK’s problem was not with the government’s decision to admit refugees, but that “it has been campaigning for the opposite for a long time”.

By taking in the refugees from Venezuela, the government has admitted that its anti-refugee campaign “is just about fueling fear”, Molnár insisted. The cabinet, which is rhetorically against migration, “has become one of the most prominent supporters of migration”, he said.

On the featured photo: Deputy PM Zsolt Semjén. Photo by Balázs Mohai/MTI

Source: Hungary Today

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The government commissioner for Hungarian communities abroad has hailed the success of Hungarian Weekend Schools, a forum established last year for diaspora Hungarians that operates in parallel with the Hungarian Diaspora Council.

In an interview to Magyar Nemzet on Wednesday, Péter Szilágyi noted that the weekend schools forum held its first meeting last year. The second meeting is taking place on Friday.

Like the government’s Kőrösi Csoma Sándor scheme, which aims to strengthen ties between Hungary and Hungarian communities worldwide, the new programme has helped to “revive” Hungarian diaspora communities, he said.

“Families are willing to travel hundreds of kilometres to take their children to study at the weekend in [different] schools,” he said, adding that it was the parents themselves who had taken the initiative before the custom became an official programme.

The secretariat for the policy for Hungarian communities abroad maintains contact with 200 such Hungarian schools around the world, Szilágyi said, adding that it is expected that some 110-120 participants from all over the world will attend Friday’s event.

featured photo by Károly Árvai/kormany.hu

Original article: Hungary Today

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