Official KSH numbers In 2023, you could live in Budapest [in NE Hungary] very well: from $1535 /month [$921] well:…
Time to Say Goodbye
After our dear Éva passed away nearly two years ago I started Hungarian News as platform for publishing reports about Hungary written by a broad group of her readers. With very few exceptions I was the only one who wrote posts. After the further radicalisation of the Orbán regime following to the 2022 elections I took the decision to leave Hungary and this required my full attention. Since that time not a single suggestion to publish a post on Hungarian News was made. After renovation of my new house and arriving in the new country I thought about writing for Hungarian News again. But I knew that it would be my task only. Hungarian News as platform for several authors clearly failed and I don’t want to do everything alone. I am not Éva – and I never wanted to be.
In December the registration of this website will expire and I decided not to renew it.
Goodbye.
At USD/HUF = 360
Average (not median) net monthly salaries in Hungary, 2023. Highest: Budapest $1286 Lowest: Szabolcs county $754 https://www.ksh.hu/docs/hun/xftp/megy/234/index.html
On top of the arrests at Chicago’s prestigious Art Institute yesterday we had this development in Chicago https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/05/05/chicago-cinco-de-mayo-parade-canceled-due-to-gang-violence-police-say/ . The…
This development here in Chicago of arrests at Chicago’s Art Institute over pro Palestinian demonstrations sort of stunned me. (See…
Your disappointment and your wish to disengage from the nasty reality of Orbán’s Hungary is very understandable! However, I think that even if it failed in your original configuration, this site has been quite useful in its spontaneous self-arrangement as a place to debate and share information in an informal way. I consulted it often as one of my go-to places to keep updated on the subject. I will miss it, and I thank you very much for hosting it!
Yes it reveals really how much of her life Eva devoted to her postings. Thanks for your efforts.
Thank you so much istvan for your efforts!
I’ve also commented and tried to get a feeling for the current situation in Hungary so I somehow understand your frustration.
Wish everybody here the best!
Is there any site where we could meet again to somehow continue our dear Eva’s work?
Of course I know we can never get on her level but …
Yes, thank you István for all your good work on this, it is much appreciated. I too will miss this small space of critical dialogue and thought. I also hope that we might find a way of continuing…
István, it’s amazing how time flies and how everything changes. I met friends 25 years ago. They were open and curious, always ready for a conversation when they had time. They were also all a good 20 years older than me and almost all spoke Swabian. All but one died, the fewest of old age. The only one who didn’t die of cancer and made it to the nursing home had become demented. He was a nursing case, but not bedridden, he had to be fed. The home was short staffed, so he only got to eat when someone from the family was there to guide or feed him. So he got weaker and weaker and died. Hungary and everything lovely went the same way. I wish you health and a long life, see you soon.
I check cancer on the CV.
We all get older and move toward the end of the road, no matter what route we take.
Thank you István, you made a difference, and all the best to you, wherever you live now!
I live on an island north of the continent, but not in Britain.
Documenting Hungarian politics and official relations is an undertaking that takes extraordinary dedication, mainly because of the dead-end nature of official sources, but also because so little credible material comes out of Hungary, for public view.
As of now, we see that the regime works hard on building an “Illiberal alliance”, possibly through the expansive EU, but definitely with a center in “The Stans and Balkan” – The ex-Soviet world of infinite corruption and operetta-styled political drama, with blood flowing at regular intervals.
How Hungarians really see themselves in that realm is not very clear – they love their Viktor and cherish the KoolAid he administers before his sermons, but after that, they get on with their daily lives, as always.
These times, the Viktor is very busy, implementing a classic cult leader trick:
Removing his congregation from influences that challenge his ideas.
By focusing on the East, the Orbán-KoolAid will have a new effect. People will hear a familiar, yet new, song of progress and old-world family values. White-Christian culture,
peace and quiet .
Disregarding realities in Hungary and Europe, that’s good enough for celebration by the faithful.
Or what?
Thank you István. Tonight, the far right was beaten in Poland, a far more important result than Slovakia’s election (the right wing is still not certain to lead there). And Orbán must be shaking! His rule will come to a bad end, perhaps sooner than most realize.
Looks like I was in error regarding Slovakia.
That was the news I was looking for first this morning – so not all hope is lost!
Yes.
The votes are almost counted by now and the news from Poland is that although Pis has the highest number of votes (38%), it won’t be able to front a majority coalition. So far, so good!
A Tusk-led government will be a step in the European direction. Still very conservatve, though, and not very progressive or Green, but a step away from the present government, which functions much like the old Communist governments used to do.
Orbán will probably want to try and see if he can get more EU leverage by supporting Tusk in the EPP, through the KDNP partnership.
The expected Tusk led government in Poland will be much welcomed by the EU. After all, it marks a return to EU values by a big European country – It is also expected to become a source of complications over the Ukrainian expansion plans.
Although Poland is the front runner par excellence about supporting the war against Russian aggression and taking in the many people who seek refuge from it, Poland is the weightiest EU adversary to Ukraine on agricultural matters.
The reason for that is the EU policy of agricultural subsidies. The shared money is a fixed percentage in total, and the weaker agricultural economies have a prioriority over the more competitive and stronger ones.
Poland has one of the (very) weaker agricultural economies in EU, recieving a lot more in subsidies than they contribute, but when Ukraine enters the equation, they stand to lose a substantial amount in subsidies by order of proportion. Although Ukraine is among the strongest and most competitive agricultural economies in Europe, their entré on the EU market would proportionally,reduce the Polish cut of subsidies to a level that changes polish agricultural net turnover to red figures, and Tusk’s survival in Polish politics depends on rural votes.
An agricultural modernisation is not just around the corner in Poland, and neither is a conversion from coal/lignite to greener energy
Thanks István, it was great that you were able to step in and offer this platform for our continued discussion.
Good luck to you, you deserve it!
Romania overtakes Hungary in terms of GDP. 😀 and – Bulgaria charges high transit fees for Russian gas – Perhaps Orban is not as clever as many Hungarians think.
Thanks, Istvan, I am sorry to read this.
An article in the Atlantic describes one of today’s US problems:
And remember that voting matters. Poland on Sundayturned back an authoritarian challenge with an approximately 73 percent voter turnout. Meanwhile, the state of Louisiana just elected the far-right-wing lawyer Jeff Landry as governor with a turnout of about 35 percent, meaning that Landry will walk into office as the choice of 18 percent of Lousiania’s eligible voters.
See the difference?
German chancellor Scholz right now visits Israel, had to go to shelters several time.
Hungarian Prime minister meets Xi and Putin in Bejing …
István, I fully understand your decision. Thank you for having given us the chance to keep in touch after Eva’s passing. Wishing all the best to the authors/readers/commentators of hungarian.news.
Look at that picture of two friends:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/oct/19/russia-ukraine-war-putin-hungary-viktor-orban-lavrov-north-korea
I can’t eat as much as I want to throw up!
And there is more:
https://hungarytoday.hu/putin-remarks-about-viktor-orban-after-summit-meeting/
While Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó talks in Bejing about the wonderful friendhip with the Chinese …
Even nicer – the whole gang united and smiling:
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/versammelt-hinter-autokraten-19252256.html?
If Hungarian agriculture has a voice, now is the time to commence talks with Polish associates.
The expected Tusk-led govt. will probably initiate negociations for a better EU-subsidy deal for the Polish agricultural economy. Many Polish votes depend on that, and the Ukrainian EU expansion negotiations warrant reductions in the subsidies for the agricultural economies, presently benefitting. That puts Hungarian in peril of losing subsidies.Qestion remains: Does Hungary have an agricultural representation capable of negotiation at EU-levels?
„Does Hungary have an agricultural representation capable of negotiation at EU-levels?“ Yes, it is the first and only breeding bull that dictates in Hungary.
Ok well, it might be difficult to get permission to free-range cattle in Brussels, even if it wears a tie.But there are some nice cities in Spain that are well equpped for this sort of thing!.
Hungarian politicians climb naked down the gutter in Brussels at night with a backpack full of drugs to escape from the police. There was nothing about rape in the report, Orban is entitled to that, he is known for it throughout Europe. Everything without permission … 🙂
Orban’s friend and spiritual brother: Netanyahu
It seems easier to agree with the Israelis and keep quiet about the murder of Palestinians by fanatical Orthodox settlers that has been going on for years. Netanyahu, who can be described as a right-wing nationalist and who has allied himself with the Israeli extreme right for power, has set the course for an apartheid system in which ethnic Palestinians in Israel are denied equal rights. Murder and destruction by Israelis have not been and will not be prosecuted. Palestinians are shot at random. Such a policy is tantamount to apartheid in South Africa, and those responsible and those who support it are guilty. I cannot agree with Israel and Mrs Baerbock that Israel is innocent and only defending itself. Ukraine did not kill or expel Russian citizens before the war, so Ukraine has every moral right to defend itself. It was not only in the Nazi era that the Jews were systematically expelled and murdered, I hope that the Israelis will not follow in these footsteps, where the Palestinians replace the Jews in the Nazi era.
How much a yearly subscription to WordPress cost ?
Can’t we chip in and continue the site ?
Correction:
How much does a yearly subscription for WordPress cost ?
I would transfer this site if one of the regulars is interested to continue. WordPress is free. The domain’s price is 22.90 € yearly and hosting as it is currently 24.60 € per six months.
Trump is likely a Putin agent and a wannabe dictator of AmeriKa, so I voted for Biden in 2020.
But Biden and his administration are catastrophic in their foreign policy.
#1
Biden let Afghanistan go Islamist in 2021.
#2
Biden did not want to make Putin too angry, micromanaged the Ukrainian military by delaying the delivery of important weapons systems.
He made sure Ukraine cannot recover the territory it lost in 2022.
#3
He did not say a word when the Muslim-Turkic Azeri dictatorship was blockading the Christian Armenian enclave of Mountainous Karabakh for 9 months from December 2022 and then occupied it in September 2023. The entire Armenian population (cca 140,000) had to flee, The territory is “cleansed” from Armenians for the first time in history.
#4
Biden has been pressuring Israel not to defeat Hamas since day 2 of the October 7 massacre.
He just demanded that the incompetent Israeli war cabinet permit “continuous supply” to “the people of Gaza”, i.e. the Hamas. (Who checks the trucks whether they contain missile parts or other weapons?)
Qatar, a de facto slave-holder state, has been the chief financial sponsor of Islamist terrorists (ISIS-Da’esh, Hamas, Iran) in the last 10+ years, while permitting a US base on its soil.
.
Biden has elevated this Qatar to the level of neutral hostage mediator, a friend.
Biden demands a .”two-state solution”.
But there has already been a 2 and a 1/2 state solution since 2005.
The West Bank (zone A & B) is Juden-rein according to the 1993 “Oslo” accord.
Israel forced out the Jews of Gaza in 2005, erased their villages and handed over Gaza entirely to the Palestinian Arabs to build a full state.
In reality, the “two-state solution” is a coded expression for the elimination of Israel.
So if not a 2-state solution, what do you suggest?
Do Palestinians also have the right to their own country?
Thought for food:
Do the 40 million Kurds have the right to a state?
Do the Armenians have the right to a second state, the now cleansed and empty Artsakh ?
The Arab League has 22 members. If I take away the Comoros, Djibouti and Somalia, the Arab people can claim 18 states.
To my recollection, the word “Palestinian” in the meaning of “Palestinian Arab” was first used in the international media in 1970.
The Arabs of Western Syria, Lebanon, Israel (except the Negev), West Bank, most of Jordan speak the very same dialect.
TransJordan granted citizenship to the Arabs in the West Bank around 1950 and became Jordan..
Israel seized the West Bank from Jordan in 1967.
Jordan renounced its claim to the territory in 1988.
This could become interesting:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/oct/23/viktor-orban-hungary-eu-parliament-funding-europe-latest-news
“Europas schmutziger Deal mit Orbán”
Billions to Ukraine for billions to Orban
https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/finanzstreit-in-der-eu-europas-schmutziger-deal-mit-viktor-orban-a-a48ae04c-a5dc-4789-9116-3650d815f2e8
https://www.portfolio.hu/unios-forrasok/20231023/kuszobon-a-magyarorszagnak-szant-eu-s-penzek-feloldasa-cserebe-egyetlen-fontos-dologban-engedhet-a-kormany-647323
There’s nothing official about this.
After the EP vote, we will know what is on the table.
Orbán/Fidesz made a very unconvincing figure today, about meeting the requirements for unlocking the EU-funds.
Unconvincing? Let’s see what the Council and mostly the Commission will say…
Here is the Spiegel article without paywall.
Don, nothing new here.
Already in 2013 Fidesznik loonies used “EUSSR” in the fight against the rule of law after Fidesz changed its constitution.
https://hungarianspectrum.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/viktor-orbans-ongoing-fight-with-the-european-union-its-time-to-end-it/comment-page-1/#comments
Fidesz realtions to the EU are still the same:
We’re only in it for the money!
PS:
It feels kind of strange to read the comments on our dear Eva’s articles so many years ago …
Yes, Wolfi, it was strange even back then. Orban was always a person driven by instincts and never open to arguments. That’s why the articles are strange for me, as long as I don’t put on the Hungarian glasses. But what good would it do …
Keeping up the same rhetoric (on repeat) abroad while fine-tuning the grooming of youth at home, might be the sort of thing that eventually brings the regime to the next level – and Hungary self-isolated in Europe.
From there, a Belarus scenario comes much closer.
Yes, if you think further, Belarus II orbanstyle will be the light in the Hungarian tunnel.
It would make sense to the faithful! – And the (uncontaminated) genetic basis for future generations is secured over a large area.
Next comes breeding more minority in the neighboring countries.
Putinstyle …
Orban compares the EU to the Russian occupation of 1956, which is pretty sick, but you don’t expect anything normal from the mentally ill.
Right now I had a real laugh!
Fidesz is whining about Bulgaria raising the fee for transporting gas to Orbanistan from its friend Putin – and who is to blame???
George Soros and US President Joe Biden want to punish Viktor Orbán by turning off the tap on the gas pipeline, and thus remove him from power.
https://hungarytoday.hu/bulgaria-could-have-yielded-to-outside-pressure-in-raising-gas-transit-fees/
Back to the initial post from our host and in the perspective of hungarian.new ending in December, has anyone been following hungarianperspective.com? Articles are more frequent and deserve to be read. I saw Misi bácsi commented, anyone else following that blog?
I’ve been following it from the start and I find it really valuable, though I’m not an expert on the stuff they are describing/discussing.
It seems to be one of the lonely critical voices in the Orbán jungle ,,,
Clearly spoken:
Hungary can no longer be counted among the group of democratic countries. This is, however, a fact that too few admit or understand – despite calls from the European parliament, academics and experts.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/25/orbans-chumminess-with-putin-isnt-just-shameful-it-is-a-threat-to-europes-security
Yesterday, the “wise” Trump called Orbán the prime minister of Turkey in context of applauding Orbán’s great leadership!
I believe he studied very hard to learn that!
Thank you. As always you give us great cartoons which are both wise and funny, a great combination! And your comments are also very helpful.
Thanks Misi.
I’m not good at taking compliments – because of self-criticism and the need to survive in a professional environment – but coming from you, I take that to heart!
Most news media today, have the power to shamelessly canonize average tavern-talk to global headlines and write up-and-down about it, but only few have the resources to resist that temptation.
From KyivPost
“”Nobody is forcing Hungary to stay in the EU,” EU High Representative Josep #Borrell said in his address to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor #Orban. “To be honest, I don’t see any similarities between the Soviet occupation of Budapest and what is happening in Berlamon [the headquarters of the European Commission]. I didn’t see a single tank there. Nobody obliges Hungary to be a member of the EU,” Borrell said.” well said.
This is a fine writing from one of Hungary’s most talented politicians.
“Liars cannot be defeated by lying” – Anna Donáth declares war on DK – Reply Online (valaszonline.hu)
Donáth Anna is brave in a narrow-minded environment but she has a point.
Katalin Cseh is quite good too. The sad thing is I can count on the fingers of one hand (and still that’s too many fingers) Hungarian opposition politicians who manage to get some coverage in the international press.
Hungarian Parliament passes resolution condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel and mix terrorism with migration like stupid.
Theestampe, what an opposition, they make themselves the puppet of Fidesz. These zombies are no different from the Fidesz scum. I apologise for my jargon, which is only due to the boundless disappointment that Hungarians are Biedermann und die Brandstifter von Max Frisch, and that many here, I won’t name them, have proclaimed that if Orban doesn’t get EU money, Hungarians will vote for the opposition. What’s the point of that? Even the ‘independent’ journalistic work is third-rate objective and could be printed in the regime’s media without discussion. Momentum, Ákos Hadházy and Előd Novák are not enough to form an opposition against the general degeneration.
Cant find that in English, are you sure it’s available?
With google or microsoft translate, it’s a good translation.
Hmmm… I’m less than convinced that evidence exists of her being as talented as you suggest, perhaps I’ve missed something. She’s certainly bright, and of course it’s difficult to disagree with either the proposition above or some of what is contained in the article. However, I’m not clear what she thinks her article will achieve politically at this point. Publishing it now doesn’t strike me as the mark of ‘one of Hungary’s most talented politicians’.
Perhaps, the lack of public media dialogue with the opposition and their EU representatives has resulted in a Hungarian vacuum.
King O must be proud – Hungary is last in the EU regarding the rule of law.
https://dailynewshungary.com/new-research-hungary-ranks-73rd-out-of-142-in-rule-of-law-index-last-in-region/
Do they really believe this?
In a recent interview for the independent German news portal, Tichys Einblick, the Hungarian Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office spoke about his hopes for a right-shift in the European institutions after next year’s elections and about his views concerning reporting in Hungary in the German media.
In this Gergely Gulyás emphasized that the EU election in June 2024 will set the direction for the future and predicted that conservative MEPs could have a “much stronger voice in parliament” in the future.
Actually Tichy is a kind of AfD suüpporter, in other words a real fascist!
https://hungarytoday.hu/minister-on-the-german-press-this-is-a-charade/
Hi Istvàn,
As you may have noticed I = Observer faded away from this site soon after you created it. I had the intention to participate with posts as before,. However after my busy period of liquidating everything in Hu and arranging to spend as much time in Spain, Greece, etc I felt the weight of the Hu reality crumbling off and I felt ever lighter and happier, so I went in full detox avoiding any news from or about that unfortunate place. Feels great, the palm trees, balmy weather, beach and good reds help too.
Thanks for your work and enjoy your new, more humane life!
Yours
Observer
Obs – The detremental effect of trying to appeal for reason in the HU political spectrum is something we all recognize – with irony, at first and resination at last.
Being abroad is a priviliged position, I can attest to that.
Is nothing, worth reporting on happening in Orbánistan?
The main focus is on Israel/Gaza right now, and Western observers warn of the possible WW1 scenario, but what happens in Hungary?
Surely Orbán’s free of charge peace” rhetoric must be contested – or what ?
Nobody in the West really cares about what happens in the sh*thole countries in the Balkan (which for them begins east of Vienna).
Only a few points are of interest:
Managing migrants – which Hungary seems to be unable to do.
Supplying cheap production facilities (nobody cares for the environment there …) and cheap workers for some industries.
A third point might be cheap holidays though the Balaton and the Eastern Adria are no longer as cheap as 40 years ago.
Anything else?
Maybe serving as examples for how democracy can go wrong.
Is this part of Halloween or Mindenszent?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/01/hungary-anti-lgbt-law-under-18s-barred-world-press-photo-exhibition
Under 18 you are not allowed to watch thos devilish pictures showing drag or gay people!
The funny side of this:
At the same time Hungary’s “best pictures” are shown – of course no LGBT just old castles …
https://hungarytoday.hu/hungary-365-thousands-of-photos-submitted-for-the-most-outstanding-competition/
I’m sorry I just found this site today. Though I wouldn’t be writing anyway because I don’t have the skills to write or knowledge of Hungary to contribute and help. I found this site from pulling up Eva’s who I can tell was very beloved. I would’ve contacted her for help as she was also in CT, USA and to me, probably the only other Hungarian here. Thank you for your contributions.