Hungary
Hungarian activist András Istvánffy: ‘permanent protest culture since 2006’
While the Hungarian government has been closing popular venues, the 4K! or fourth republic! movement has been attempting to reclaim public places through flash mobs and other actions. We meet András Istvánffy, the platform's coordinator of the platform
hungary, civil society, budapest, interview, politics, viktor orbán
(Don’t) occupy Budapest: the right to protest in Hungarian streets
Something is rotten in the state of Hungary. The Hungarian government has reserved the entire city centre for celebrations on the upcoming national holiday, effectively blocking potential demonstrations. An overview of the opposition’s reaction
Nikola Djukic: 'Bosnia may have to wait until 2022 for EU membership'
Croatia’s citizens overwhelmingly voted to join the European union on 21 January. Meanwhile, its neighbour Bosnia-Herzegovina has not yet gained candidate status. We talk to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s ambassador in Hungary about what Croatian membership would mean and why Bosnia is different
hungary, balkans, bosnia and herzegovina, enlargement, europe, budapest, european union
Salami strategy: the art of ‘wullfing’
With its Hungarian origins, this sausage of a saying provides European inspiration to help the German head of state Christian Wulff worm his way out of the current corruption scandal
hungary, corruption, tower of babel, germany, languages, christian wulff, multilingualism
Twins who row – more East Germany than The Social Network in ‘Westwind’
The German 'new wave' theatre director and filmmaker, 37, broaches the history of a divided Germany by moving away from cliches and concentrating on the importance of interpersonal relationships in his third feature film. Released on 19 November, it is based on a true story and set in Hungary in 1988
hungary, nazism, germany, reunification, robert thalheim, auschwitz, film festival
'Our School' documentary: segregated Roma schools despite EU funds
When directors and producers Mona Nicoară and Miruna Coca-Cozma followed three Roma children in a small Romanian village for four years, their film initially about a success story of integration became one about the realities of ethnic segregation. Interview
hungary, minority, children, documentary, gypsy, emir kusturica, racism
City planning in Budapest: making poverty invisible
Since the new conservative majority came to power in Budapest in 2010, the local council's anti-poverty strategies include putting a ban on begging in public spaces and reversing an old tradition: the 'social' management of bulk refuse collection known as 'lomtalanitás'
hungary, civil society, discrimination, budapest, poverty, society, homeless
Hungarian singer Erzsi Kiss: ‘My language is based on musicality’
It’s much more meaningful gobbledygook, says the singer in the Hungarian band 'Egy Kiss Erzsi Zene' about her lyrics. The musician and puppeteer talks to us about singing 'in no language'
hungary, culture, budapest, music, interview, theatre, culture calendar
Rock band Turbo: ‘absence of taste’ an ‘incurable disease’ in Hungary
When it comes to psychedelic-progressive rock music, Turbo is Hungary’s number one. Bass guitarist Jero and singer Balázs Tanka on genres, role models and taking different viewpoints on music tastes and truths in general
hungary, bands, festivals, rock, bulgaria, culture, budapest
Hungary's new constitution from 1 January: undemocratic or just weak?
The extremely ‘unified’ structure of the Hungarian constitution is among the major causes of inefficient governance during the past two decades, says one philosopher from Budapest
hungary, fidesz, europe, constitution, politics, viktor orbán, jobbik
Roma and Hungary’s extreme right: the hunt in Gyöngyöspata
In Hungary, a village of 2, 500 inhabitants outside Budapest embodies tensions between the Roma (gypsy) community and the extreme right. Since March, paramilitary militia have been arriving in Gyöngyöspata to march the town's streets. On top of that, Oszkár Juhász, a member of the extreme right-wing party Jobbik, has been elected as mayor
hungary, discrimination, human rights, right wing extremism, roma, society, violence
Hungary introduces tax on crisps
Prime minister Viktor Orban’s government has set itself the task of driving unhealthy eating habits out of Hungary. They are now trying to do this with the help of the so-called crisps tax which came into effect on 1 September
hungary, public health, health, food, yum nyam, childhood obesity, viktor orbán
Gravity Co: 'We shy away from traditional Bulgarian limelight’
They have scooped practically all the music awards in Bulgaria, such as the national music channel MMTV's 'band of the decade' gong in 2008, like magnets deftly reinvigorating progressive music in a post-socialist country. The four-piece Sofia-based rockers stand out from the Bulgarian musical landscape like liquorice-black aliens - and a fourth album is promised for 2011. Interview
Double discrimination: roma women in central and eastern Europe
Romania has recently announced plans to evict roma from the northern town of Baia Mare, in a move which could leave hundreds homeless. The move emphasises the continued urgency of the theme ‘roma women in central and eastern Europe’, discussed during the European women's lobby’s conference in Budapest on 7 April this year. The lobby aims to bring the double discrimination that roma women endure to the attention of European decision-makers. Interview with Brigitte Triems, the lobby's president
hungary, men and women, discrimination, roma minorities, budapest, right wing extremism, society
Hungary youth: 'I stay out of politics but am Facebook friends with Viktor Orbán'
The new controversial constitution, the first to be created on an iPad, was voted into law by the national assembly on 18 April and signed by the president on 25 April. Hungary’s youth remain apolitical, even to a new rule which would violate human rights. cafebabel.com Budapest interviewed fifty young Hungarians
hungary, fidesz, protest, gay rights, lgbt, discrimination, youth
Laszlo Tengelyi: the problem of being a philosopher in Hungary
On 8 January Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban launched an investigation into the use of grant money awarded to five philosophers. Questions to a Hungarian-born philosopher who spearheaded an international petition, 'Protect the Philosophers!' from Germany, where he is based
hungary, eu presidency, fidesz, corruption, money, philosopher, germany
Why would you learn Hungarian?
I could be daydreaming on the soft sand with a women’s magazine at my feet and a little sunburn on my shoulder. Unfortunately, it’s my Hungarian grammar book in the room I am sharing with two other students. They, too, decided to sacrifice their holiday month of July to improve their Hungarian
hungary, university, languages, europe, debrecen, society, vacation
Post-communist underground: Budapest 'ruin pubs' threatened with closure
For two decades the Hungarian capital's delapidated yards have become its hottest alternative venues in the form of retro gardens and pubs. That's about to come to an end thanks to a stricter law set in place after a tragic episode at the beginning of 2011 by local right-wing authorities, and dutifully followed by conformist residents
hungary, fidesz, underground, berlin, culture, budapest, left-wing
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