dictature
Hey diddle diddle, Viktor Orban and the fiddle
The people jump over the moon. 'Hungary is bewitched by Orban - as if he were the pied piper of Hamelin,' commented the Berlin-based Hungarian nobel laureate Imre Kertez in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde in February. The populist flute tones are mainly directed against threats from the outside: the USA, Europe, IMF but Roma and Jewish people too. 'Orbanistan' is the new nickname given by the international press to the Hungarian republic. Europe’s bad boy is Viktor Orban. His ruling fidesz party has a juicy two-thirds majority, bringing a new constitution and media law criticised by international human rights organisations. As the gang at cafebabel Budapest describe it, 'Our prime minister wakes up in the morning, has an idea, and by mid-week it's passed'. He restructures 'on the qt': alternative locations close down, right-wing extremists become theatre directors, state television is censored. Meanwhile international media sound the alarm and sparks often fly against ‘Mr. Viktator’ in the European parliament. But other than financial pressure, the EU didn’t play many of their human rights cards against the country. An ever politicised youth are fighting for a place to protest on 15 March, a national holiday, in Budapest (Image: ©Kristof)
- Read the special edition Hey diddle diddle, Viktor Orban and the fiddle
- Activist András Istvánffy on ‘Hungary's permanent protest culture since 2006’
- Hungarian theatre director Istvan Marta ousted by far-right successor
- Hungary, ‘Orbanistan’ and French media sensationalism
- (Don’t) occupy Budapest: the right to protest in Hungarian streets
Ladies what oppose Belarus in Vilnius
Belarus is just 40 kilometres away from the Lithuanian capital. Belarusian human rights campaigners use Vilnius as an asylum and distribution centre - yet the Lithuanian president keeps up a good relationship with the Belarusian despot
dictature, exilio, lithuania, vilnius, winter, belarus, alexander lukashenko
Europe's new 'Germanophobia': Who's afraid of big bad Germany?
Tones of anger against German chancellor Angela Merkel's lack of action over the eurocrisis and a 'Germanophied' Europe, are getting louder and more intense
dictature, economical crisis, angela merkel, german chancellor, national socialism, nicolas sarkozy, monetary union
Bosintang: North Korea's 'healthy' dog soup
Halal or not, it seems that puppy is the prize meat on the menu. Dictator Kim Jong-il knew this before his death on 17 December 2011: dog soup is good for your health, your dictatorship and international relations
dictature, north korea, korea republic of, yum nyam, dictator, kim jong-il, politics
Catarina Botelho on crisis, arts and just everyday life in Portugal
The visual artist and photographer from Lisbon focuses on the relationship between close friends, family and objects, as well as doing the odd stint working abroad. We talk about the arts in Portugal, culture during a crisis and staying forever amateur
dictature, economical crisis, lisbon, portugal, lisbon, art, culture
Austrian, Czech and Iberian press after Tunisian dictator’s fall
There's a 'Jasmine Revolution' and plenty of optimism from abroad, but the European media doubts that there will be a 'domino effect' in other Arab countries. The military controls the streets of Tunis after the self-imposed exile of dictator Ben Ali on 14 January
dictature, zine el abidine ben ali, youth, tunis, hosni mubarak, arab spring, muammar al-gaddafi
Albania: polit-tourism between coves and concrete beach bunkers
At the confluence of the Adriatic and Ionean Seas lies Albania, Europe’s last undiscovered paradise is now looking to tourism to stimulate its economy and is hoping for a better image in the west after having joined Nato and put in an EU bid. 20 years after the fall of the dictatorship, Albania is developing into a hidden gem for independent travellers
dictature, tirana, balkans, nato, tourism, albania, enlargement
Visit to the EHU: Belarusian elite university exiled in Vilnius
The decision was taken: the European humanities university, created in Minsk, Belarus in 1992, packed up to join Vilnius (and democracy) in 2004. In this oasis of free education, Belarusian youth have been exiled further and further to the west
dictature, university, russian federation, best of cafebabel.com, democracy, education system, eudebate on the ground
German cinema: Die Welle, wanting to belong
The German remake (‘The Wave’) by Dennis Gansel describes the emptiness felt by the globalisation generation, and premiered in the UK in summer 2008
dictature, jürgen vogel, die welle, germany, filmkritik, film, culture
György Dragomán: 'one can really see how a dictatorship functions through the eyes of a child'
The Transylvania-born Hungarian author, 34, uses an unconventional narrator to express the horrors of a totalitarian system
dictature, literature, brunch, hungary, romania, warschau, nicolae ceausescu
Carlos Malamud: 'Europe’s policy is ‘wait and see'
In Cuba, the Castro administration is on the verge of ‘going to a better place’
dictature, cuba, latin america, foreign policy, world affairs, human rights, communism
Olga Karatch: 'Lukashenko takes EU leaders for great lumps'
The German presidency of the EU judged the local elections on January 14 in Belarus ‘undemocratic’. The country’s opposition has already announced its intention of contesting Lukashenko
dictature, belarus, poland, warsaw, vitebsk, media, interview
Spain confronts Franco's legacy
On July 18 1936, civil war broke out and opened the way for decades of repression. Today, 70 years after, the memory of the past still haunts Spanish politics
Belarus, Europe’s last dictatorship
In this open letter, Václav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, and other important public figures bring attention to the situation in Belarus, where Alexander Lukashenka rules with an iron fist.
“Has Africa ever been ready for dictatorship?”
If Africa remains underdeveloped, it is in the interests of the former colonial powers. Will Europe’s policies on Africa steer clear of neo-colonialism? François-Xavier Verschave, the recently deceased expert on Franco-African relations, responds.
Europe supports the dictatorship in Togo
The bodies are piling up following the rigged presidential elections in Togo. Germany’s cultural centre there has been firebombed. And yet Europe remains silent.
Future of Iran: Oppression or Democracy
A major rally, scheduled for February 10th in Paris, to protest against the flagrant violations of human rights in Iran has been banned from taking place
East Germany: a stumbling democracy
The breakthrough of democracy in East Germany was choked by economic problems. However, in the 15th year since reunification, it is not only East Germany that is gaining in confidence, but democracy itself.
A domino effect in Belarus? Brussels must play its role
After, Kiev, might Minsk be next? The Belarusian opposition are hoping so. But this time the European Union cannot just emerge from the shadows at the last moment. Here’s why.
