About Hungary beta

    • Let’s see who is really allergic to critical thinking

    So reasonable administrative requirements that they resemble those in Spain...

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    Let’s see who is really allergic to critical thinking

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    FM: The UN is making the same mistake with its Global Migration Compact as the EU made with mandatory migrant settlement quotas

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    PM Orbán on the double-standards of Brussels: ‘Democracy is stronger today in central Europe than in western Europe’

    “Whoever comes after Hungary, or tries to bite Hungary, had better brandish sharp teeth because we do not tolerate that”

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    Brace yourselves! The progressive elite of The New York Times editorial board is so woke about Hungary

    The Manhattan media clique is so woke

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    FM Péter Szijjártó: Hungary backs Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence, but we’re watching the minority issues closely

    On minority rights, "the ball is in Ukraine’s court,” said Minister Szijjártó

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    PM Orbán in Prague: On the rough terrain of European politics, only the brave ones survive

    Following his stop in Bratislava to attend the Friends of Cohesion summit, PM Orbán met Andrej Babiš in Prague

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    Blog

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    Blog Prime Minister

    PM Orbán on the double-standards of Brussels: ‘Democracy is stronger today in central Europe than in western Europe’

    Dec 07, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “The Hungarian national economy has become a powerful and shock resistant economy, one that is able to provide jobs for the people,” Prime Minister Orbán said this morning, commenting on Q3 GDP growth topping 5 percent. In his regular radio interview, the PM talked about the reasons behind Hungary’s economic success, the ongoing national consultation and the affronts coming from Brussels.

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    Brace yourselves! The progressive elite of The New York Times editorial board is so woke about Hungary

    Dec 05, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    The editorial board of The New York Times, a veritable Wikipedia gold mine of names from America’s left-wing elite, has once again turned its indignant wrath on Hungary and Prime Minister Orbán. The editors and publishers who make up the board are hot and bothered about the prime minister’s “right-wing, nativist, nationalist politics.” They’re so woke.

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    Q&A on the latest developments in the case of former PM Nikola Gruevski’s asylum

    Nov 23, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    Hungarian authorities on Tuesday granted asylum to former Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski. Since announcing his request last week, the government of Hungary has emphasized that the case is one of a purely legal nature, where international protocols on asylum and Hungary’s laws dictate procedure. Some questions have been raised about how the case came about, how Hungary followed the rules and how the decision was reached. Here are a few of those questions and the responses.

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    PM Orbán: Forbidding the people to talk about something will only backfire

    Nov 23, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “The issue of the migrant debit cards came as a surprise even for weather-beaten veterans like me,” Prime Minister Orbán said this morning, adding that handing out anonymous debit cards to “people we don’t know” is a direct threat to the lives of Europeans. In his regular Friday morning radio interview, the PM talked about migration, Brexit, former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and relations with neighboring countries.

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    Here’s why family policy is important and how this national consultation seeks to make a difference

    Nov 23, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    Europe’s demographic decline comes as no surprise to anyone even superficially acquainted with current birthrates around the continent. Although some in western Europe have already decided that immigration offers the only way to make up for the loss, the Orbán Government pursues another solution -- make it easier for the nation’s own citizens to have bigger families – and in this national consultation, we’re asking citizens for their input on how to do that.

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    Q & A on former Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski’s asylum request in Hungary

    Nov 16, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    The government of Hungary confirmed on Wednesday that the former prime minister of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, has submitted an asylum request to Hungarian authorities in Budapest and his request is under evaluation in the Immigration and Asylum Office in accordance with both Hungarian and international law. Since that announcement, a number of questions have been raised. Here are some of those questions and the responses.

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    National consultation on family policy to kick off soon

    Oct 31, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    National consultation has become a powerful tool in recent years to invite citizen participation in major decision-making processes between election cycles. Since 2010, the government has solicited citizen input on a number of high-profile policy choices including the new Fundamental Law, economic issues, social security, conditions affecting pensioners, and immigration. This time it’s about family protection and it gets underway in just a few days.

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    PM Orbán: Nation states gave Europe its strength

    Oct 23, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “We would have never thought,” Prime Minister Orbán said, that 29 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, Europe – once again – has to face a massive challenge. This time, it’s not “an external military threat, American or Russian endeavors that put Europe’s future in jeopardy,” but it’s Europe itself. This is why “we have to vote for the future of patriotism and national pride,” the PM said.

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    Brussels just keeps turning out more pro-migration plans

    Oct 13, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    Brussels has just published its latest plans, and it’s a “collection of horror stories for the Hungarian people.” In his regular Friday morning radio interview Prime Minister Orbán touched on a number of topics, including Brussels’ intention to take away from member states their authority to protect the border, the global conflict between globalists and nationalists and the main driving force behind Hungarian foreign policy.

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    Q&A on Hungary’s plan to establish independent, administrative courts

    Oct 03, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    The government of Hungary is planning to establish independent, administrative courts that would have the authority to adjudicate disputes in matters of public administration. While independent administrative courts are common to many EU countries, the move to create these courts in Hungary has raised some of the usual questions about judicial reform and independence. This brief Q&A offers some answers.

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    Commissioner Avramopoulos speaking on migration doesn’t represent the whole of Europe

    Oct 01, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    Last week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, an unelected public servant who is charged with representing our common EU standpoint, presented his own views as if they were the common, European policy. That’s a problem. “This man is our employee,” said Prime Minister Orbán. “It is his duty to represent us.”

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    No surrender: Hungarian borders must be protected by Hungarians

    Sep 21, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    PM Orbán has been saying it for years. Europe must make border security the top priority, before any discussion of quotas or anything of the kind. Now, as we heard in Salzburg this week, some are finally coming around to the stark reality that protecting Europe’s border is serious business. That’s generally a step in the right direction, but some of the proposals out there take things off track.

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    PM Orbán in Moscow: Hungary values its good relations with Russia

    Sep 19, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “It is in Hungary’s national interest that cooperation between the two parts of Europe are as good as possible,” PM Orbán said following his meeting with President Putin, adding that Hungary-Russia connections play a special role in this relation. During his joint press conference with the Russian president, the prime minister talked about the expansion of the Paks nuclear plant, future natural gas shipments, economic relations between the two countries and the protection of the persecuted of Christians.

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    FM Szijjártó: Sargentini Report adopted through voting fraud

    Sep 12, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    News from today’s vote in the European Parliament report that the Sargentini Report proposing an Article 7 procedure against Hungary has passed with the necessary “two-thirds majority.” Passage, however, relied on voting fraud, a violation of clear voting procedures, and the Hungarian government is currently evaluating possible avenues for legal remedy, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said during this afternoon’s press conference in Budapest.

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    The debate over the Sargentini Report, Part 2: Are they really this desperate?

    Sep 08, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    As I wrote in Part 1, the European Parliament will convene in plenary next Tuesday to debate a resolution to trigger an Article 7 procedure against Hungary for alleged violations of the rule of law. Following the debate, it could be put to a vote on Wednesday. According to sources in the EP, liberals and leftists have become so desperate to push through the Sargentini Report that they would resort to an underhanded voting trick.

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    A stronger, more rigorous Stop Soros bill is now in front of the Parliament: here’s a look at the details

    May 31, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    On election day nearly two months ago, the voters of Hungary sent a clear message. They made it clear that they don’t want Hungary to become an immigrant country and that the country’s security comes first. To serve the will of the people and meet this obligation, the Orbán Government has put forth the Stop Soros legislative package. What’s in the new package? Let’s take a look at the details.

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    PM Orbán: Christian democracy defends us from migration, it helps protect our borders and support families

    May 25, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “We can’t carry out the work of the next four years without inserting it into a long-term plan,” said Prime Minister Orbán this morning in his regular interview with Hungary’s public Kossuth Radio. The PM shared specific plans, touched upon the emptiness of liberal democracy, talked about an upcoming national consultation and explained how the Stop Soros package will bolster Hungary’s security.

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    The LIBE draft report on Hungary: a masterpiece collection of fake news

    May 07, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    Speaking at last Thursday’s session of the European Parliament’s LIBE committee, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó reiterated Hungary’s strong opposition to any pro-migration plan. The draft report – which would call for the nuclear option of an Article 7 procedure to be launched against Hungary – is “a collection of compounded lies” and takes a stance far removed from facts and reality, he said.

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    PM Orbán: A mandatory migrant quota is out of the question, external borders must be defended

    Mar 22, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    They’re not giving in, those who see quotas and pro-immigration policies as Europe’s answer to the migration crisis. We’ll see a “decisive showdown” in June, said Prime Minister Orbán this week, when the EU’s heads of state and government will gather in Brussels again. Immigration will feature as one of the overriding issues on the agenda.

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    PM Orbán addresses crowd of unprecedented numbers: “Our biggest battle is about to begin”

    Mar 15, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “They want to take our country away. Not with the stroke of a pen like they did a hundred years ago in Trianon,” said Prime Minister Orbán in his March 15th address before a crowd estimated in the hundreds of thousands to commemorate the 170th anniversary of Hungary’s 1848 Revolution and War of Independence, “but that we voluntarily hand it over to others in the decades to come.”

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    Here’s what we mean when we talk about Orbanomics

    Mar 09, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “I believe in simple things – work, homeland, families,” Prime Minister Orbán said earlier this week in his address to the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce. He then reiterated the four pillars that define Hungary’s economy policies: competitiveness, a workfare society, good demographics and identity-based politics. “All decisions made by this government could fit into these categories.”

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    PM Orbán in Welt am Sonntag: ‘We cannot help the world while destroying our own people’

    Jan 16, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    Syrians running for their lives have every right to enter the first safe state they reach, but the EU shouldn’t let them march through Europe. Schengen, one of the EU’s greatest achievements has to be protected because if we fail to defend our external borders then the internal ones will have to be closed again. Prime Minister Orbán in Welt am Sonntag on migration, Europe, Germany and the mutual lack of understanding between East and West.

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    Here’s why that report is an embarrassment to the US Senate

    Jan 14, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    This week’s shameful example of anti-Hungary bias and ignorance comes to us – I regret to report – from the hallowed halls of the United States Senate. On January 10th, the minority staff – I’ll come back to that in a moment – of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee published a report entitled, “Putin’s Asymmetric Assault on Democracy in Russia and Europe: Implications for U.S. National Security.”

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    PM Orbán in Bild: We didn’t want migrants, you did - now accept the consequences

    Jan 11, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    “We didn’t want migrants, you did,” Prime Minister Orbán said in an interview published this week in the German daily Bild, adding that Germany and Angela Merkel’s infamous Wilkommenskultur were at the forefront of support for immigration. Prime Minister Orbán, however, has pushed for a different approach, insisting that the borders of Europe must be protected to preserve the freedoms achieved within the EU and that illegal immigration has a direct impact on security.

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    Security and defense among top priorities makes Hungary one of the world’s safest countries

    Jan 05, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    In a Europe that has experienced acts of terrorism with increasing frequency in recent years, Hungary stands out as an island of security at the heart of the continent. The reasons are many, but important among them is the political will to keep it like that. In addition to the border fence securing an otherwise vulnerable stretch of the European Union’s southeastern border, the Orbán Government bolstered defense forces through the Zrinyi 2026 program.

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    People need work not welfare checks to escape poverty

    Jan 04, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

    When the Orbán Government entered office in 2010, the prime minister said that Hungary would offer employment over welfare checks. Critics quickly denounced it as inhumane. Seven years on, 741 thousand more Hungarians have jobs. Tens of thousands that suffered from long-term unemployment have rejoined the active labor force, reclaiming their dignity and self-respect, and it has helped many out of poverty.

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    The Soros media blitz to convince the world there is no such thing as a Soros plan

    Nov 23, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    As I wrote last week, the European Parliament approved a regulation that would introduce a permanent and mandatory migrant quota system without an upper limit on the number of migrants to be admitted. What’s more, it says that the evaluation of asylum claims will no longer be carried out by the country of first entry, and all member states will have to accommodate migrants on an involuntary basis. Countries that don’t cooperate would be politically and financially penalized.

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    The European Parliament has decided to carry out the Soros plan

    Nov 17, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Hate to say we told you so, but that moment that Hungary has long been warning against has arrived. The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) has approved a regulation that would introduce a mandatory migrant quota system without an upper limit on the number of migrants. If this regulation is enacted, the European Parliament has approved the permanent quota system and is carrying out the plan of billionaire financier George Soros, seemingly point by point.

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    When the Washington Post, and its anti-Hungary echo chamber, refuses to run my response

    Nov 13, 2017

    Echo chambers – the lack of different opinions on a certain issue – are threatening people’s right to information in the modern age. In today’s world of social media saturated with fake news and sensational, online media fighting for page views, the echo chamber effect is growing, and those media outlets that pride themselves on professional journalism have a special obligation to restore a little reason to the discourse.

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    The irrational Orbanophobia of Anne Applebaum

    Nov 08, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Under Soviet occupation, November 7 was a compulsory holiday in Hungary. Since the end of communism and the re-birth of a free Hungary, we remember the one hundred million victims of communism. In her recent piece in the Washington Post, Anne Applebaum uses November 7 as an opportunity to disparage democratic political parties and leaders – including Prime Minister Orbán – whom she dislikes, bizarrely comparing them to Bolsheviks.

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    Ethnic Hungarians: a nation in a united Europe

    Nov 02, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    As a result of wars and the re-drawing of borders that have taken place in recent centuries, today’s borders in Europe rarely correspond to the physical location of the continent’s national groups. About one third of the 15 million-strong, ethnic Hungarian community, lives outside the borders of Hungary, mostly in the Carpathian Basin. These Hungarian communities, just as much as any other European national minorities, have the right to maintain their thousand year-old culture in the European Union.

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    Deadline on administrative rules extended: So why all that hyperventilating about CEU and academic freedom?

    Oct 27, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Last spring, media and opinion leaders all over the world pilloried Hungary for what they claimed was an attempt to ‘shutter the Soros-funded Central European University’ and ‘crack down on freedom of education,’ following the introduction of administrative requirements in the amended law on higher education. The new rules imposed an impossible deadline, they argued, that could not be met.

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    What do globalists and communist collaborators have in common? Orbánophobia

    Oct 26, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    As a sometimes vocal critic of certain EU policies and a leading figure in the move to strengthen borders, limit immigration and oppose pro-migration forces, Prime Minister Orbán has become a target of some sharp criticism. That’s to be expected, but among Prime Minister Orbán’s detractors, there is a special group on the extreme end of the spectrum that harbor an irrational fear and contempt.

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    PM Orbán on the anniversary of the 1956 Revolution: “If we lose our freedom, if we lose our national independence, we will be lost, too”

    Oct 23, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    October 23rd is a national holiday in Hungary, marking the anniversary of the beginning of the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight when our compatriots defied the Communist regime and stood up to Soviet military might. For decades, we were forbidden to celebrate it, to even talk about it, but today it’s among our most important national holidays.

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    Honoring the freedom and bravery of the 1956 Freedom Fighters

    Oct 23, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    On October 23rd, Hungarians celebrate the brave women and men who stood up to Soviet communist oppression and fought for their freedom against one of the world’s biggest armies. After a few glorious days of victory, the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was eventually overpowered by overwhelming military force, but the freedom fight drove the first nail into the coffin of communist oppression in the world.

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    Letting the people have their say on the Soros Plan

    Sep 28, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    On Wednesday, the government published the national consultation on the Soros plan, one of a series of national consultations in which the government turns to the people in the form of public surveys to ask their opinion on subjects important to their daily lives. This seventh national consultation addresses the Soros Plan to resettle one million migrants in Europe per year. The consultation’s fundamental question is: should Hungary become an immigrant country or not?

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    EUObserver wins ‘fake news’ award for reporting Hungary backing Catalan independence movement

    Sep 19, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Earlier this week, I took a question from a journalist about the referendum on the independence of Catalonia. The government of Hungary has not taken a position on that, and I gave a general answer emphasizing precisely that point – that it is a matter of the internal politics of Spain, adding that the will of the people should be respected within the bounds of the rules.

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    These Western leaders are beginning to sound like PM Orbán on migration

    Sep 05, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Recently, following his meeting with Irish PM Leo Varadkar Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau ‘sounded the alarm’ on the growing number of immigrants entering Canada. Although “Canada is an opening and welcoming society,” Prime Minister Trudeau said, “we are also a country of laws” and “there are rigorous immigration and customs rules that will be followed. Make no mistake”.

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    St. Stephen’s Day in Hungary: What makes it special and what to look for this year

    Aug 20, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    King St. Stephen, or Szent István Király, was the beloved first monarch of Hungary who lived during the turn of the first millenium. He was canonized August 20, 1083, by Pope Gregory VII for bringing Christianity to Hungary and later deemed the patron saint of Hungary. In 1771, Queen Maria Theresa declared the day a national state and church holiday. The celebration has been observed annually on the saint’s feast day ever since and commemorates the foundation of the Hungarian state.

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    Growth in tourism in Hungary tops leading regional competitors, Austria and the Czech Republic

    Aug 11, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Hungary welcomes more than 35 million tourists annually – 21 million from abroad – and the number is growing rapidly. The year 2016 was another record breaker with foreign tourists adding an estimated eight percent of revenue to the federal budget. The summer’s international sporting events, FINA and Formula 1, 2017 are expected to boost the numbers even higher.

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    PM Netanyahu to PM Orbán: ‘Thank you for standing up for Israel’ at the forefront of opposition to this new anti-Semitism

    Jul 18, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    During a historic visit – the first of a head of government of Israel in 30 years – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for “standing up for Israel in international forums,” and the Hungarian prime minister delivered a sharp rebuke of the failure of Hungary to defend its Jewish citizens during World War II, saying the country had sinned.

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    FINA World Aquatics Championships begin with grandiose show on the Danube

    Jul 17, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Hungary’s biggest ever sports event, the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships commenced last Friday with a breathtaking opening ceremony. The 3 thousand square meter floating stage near the Pest side of the famous Chain Bridge welcomed world-class musicians, artists and dancers who took the audience on a cultural-historical journey into Hungary’s deep connection to the Danube, water and aquatic sports.

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    Soros ‘undermines democratically elected governments’ and criticizing his agenda has nothing to do with anti-Semitism

    Jul 12, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    The heritage of a particular American billionaire speculator is not relevant to his agenda. Criticizing the radical policies he’s pushing all over the world – completely lacking any democratic mandate or accountability – is not anti-Semitism. Suggesting otherwise amounts to a cheap tactic to silence his critics and support the far-from-mainstream Soros agenda.

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    FINA Aquatics Championships taking over Hungarian cities this week

    Jul 12, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Thousands of athletes, a record-breaking fast-track preparation for the international event, and the most picturesque diving background ever. The 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships, Hungary’s largest sporting event to date, will overtake the cities of Budapest and Balatonfüred for over two weeks. As a nation with exceptional watersports traditions and accomplishments, Hungarians can barely wait, although it is not just our athletes who are setting the bar high.

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    NATO is shifting gears and Hungary has a plan to stay apace

    May 31, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Late last week, leaders of the 28 members of NATO gathered in Brussels to send, in the words of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, a strong message of the unity of the transatlantic alliance and its commitment to collective security. NATO finds itself in an increasingly challenging environment due to the rise of complex security threats that require responsive capabilities. Grappling with terrorism, migration, cybercrime and more, every one of the member states must step up its game.

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    Myths and Facts about Hungary and George Soros (Part 1)

    May 30, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Browse the international media coverage of Hungary over the last several weeks and a handful of keywords stand out: migration crisis, NGOs, transparency, media, Central European University and George Soros. While much of the coverage lacks balance, the keywords themselves can be instructive, shedding light on a far-reaching, ideologically driven and wholly undemocratic network that pushes George Soros’s “open society” agenda.

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    Hungary Helps: 2 million USD to re-build community in Iraq

    May 29, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    The Hungarian government has been a strong advocate for allocating resources to aid and reconstruction efforts in communities impacted by war, rather than importing the problems to Europe. In its global initiative to bring help where it is most needed, the government of Hungary aims to do more than its fair share and has recently allocated 2 million USD toward the reconstruction of a Christian community near Mosul.

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    Here’s the scary part of the Article 7 nuclear option pursued by European Parliament leftists against the Hungarian government

    May 22, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Once again, Hungarian left-wing politicians have taken domestic affairs to the stage of the European Parliament, hoping to gain traction in their political campaign against the Hungarian government. Their timely intervention intersects neatly with the interests of an American billionaire whose extreme ideas about an open society aim to undermine Europe’s external border.

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    Frans Timmermans must respect the dignity of Holocaust victims

    May 10, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Political debates can get nasty. A certain amount of give-and-take comes with the territory, and as a spokesperson, I’ve experienced it firsthand. There are red lines that should not be crossed, though, and assailing the dignity of the victims of mass genocide crosses the brightest of them. Every reasonable person, including European Commission Vice President Timmermans, should know that no matter how deep the political disagreement, Holocaust victims should not be exploited as weapons in such a fight.

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    GDP growth and fiscal discipline mean more tax cuts in Hungary’s 2018 Budget

    May 09, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    Back in 2015, the government decided to put the following year’s budget up to vote in the spring session of the Parliament, an important decision to increase predictability and improve planning. This year is no different. Though 2018 will be an election year, the government has held to a tight fiscal policy in the new budget. Continued stability and growth make possible a boost in competitiveness and tax cuts for families.

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    Hungary says, families first!

    May 08, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    A nation’s strength lies in its people. Declining demographic trends throughout Europe pose a worrisome problem, including in Hungary. The trend has been declining into a vicious circle for decades and governments have struggled to break it. Recent demographic statistics in Hungary, however, show that with some ingenuity – like housing incentives and other breaks for families with children – a carefully selected mix of family policies can make a difference.

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    Myth: If they want EU funds, Eastern European members must tow the line on Brussels' migration dictates

    Apr 25, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    In today’s information-saturated world, we encounter a number of arguments and story lines that become popular and oft-repeated despite having almost no basis in fact. They sound compelling and have many people who would very much like to believe them, but they’re not true. The longer they linger, however, the more they get in the way. These myths deserve to be busted.

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    Conservatives should take on “fight with the Left” to save Europe, says PM Orbán

    Mar 30, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    In the face of a political adversary that wants to transform Europe by allowing unbridled immigration, casting aside subsidiarity and encumbering the labor markets with bureaucratic rules, the center-right political forces of Europe must summon the confidence to “accept the intellectual and political fight with the Left,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, addressing the European People’s Party Congress in Malta today.

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    Commemorating the life of the “happiest prisoner of the GULAG,” a great witness to the 20th Century

    Jan 18, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

    If we have any hope to understand the present day and have some sense of where we’re headed, we have to know where we’ve been. If we’re to understand where we’ve been, we have to listen to history’s witnesses. Father Oloffson Placid, Benedictine monk, teacher, GULAG survivor, passed away at age 101 on January 15, 2017. The testimony of his life, however, will remain a cornerstone for our understanding of the turbulent 20th century and an invaluable touchstone for us for the future.

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    Frontex prepares for everything but border protection

    Nov 21, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    “These people aren’t involved in border protection,” said Prime Minister Orbán of the newly established Frontex unit proposed to the management board. Frontex, of course, is the EU agency that was set up to manage cooperation among national border guards and help secure the EU’s external border. The problem with the proposed, new unit is that it is for anything but guarding European borders and coastlines. Plus, it is ridiculously weak in numbers.

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    The amendment gives voice to the people’s will

    Oct 19, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    “In 2015, a migratory wave of unforeseen proportions reached the borders of Europe,” according to the text presenting the proposed amendments to the Fundamental Law of Hungary. “One and a half million people crossed Schengen borders illegally. The cultural and economic integration of the masses of newcomers has made Europe face an unsolvable task, and uncontrolled border-crossings have significantly increased the danger of terror.

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    No, the Hungarian refugees of 1956 are not the same as today’s migrants

    Oct 11, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    It was a Tuesday, that October 23rd in 1956. The whole thing began as a peaceful, student demonstration, young people with a manifesto asserting the right to be independent from all foreign powers and that all Hungarians should enjoy the rights of free people in a democratic system. The crowds grew as the demonstrations moved throughout the city. By nightfall, State Security Police had fired on a crowd of unarmed demonstrators outside the state radio building, killing many.

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    With another credit rating upgrade for Hungary no more talk of “unorthodoxy”

    Sep 26, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    In Thursday’s print edition of the Financial Times, following Standard and Poor’s decision to restore Hungary’s credit rating to investment grade, a commentator praises Prime Minister Orbán’s “economic miracle.” Once a staunch critic of Hungary’s “unorthodox” measures to restore its technically bankrupt economy, the British daily’s admiration is the first sign that S&P’s move closes an era of doubts over whether Hungarian reforms are working.

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    With unemployment at record lows, Hungary’s economy on Europe’s leader board

    Sep 01, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Prime Minister Orbán’s economic program sets out a number of ambitious goals. It demands fiscal discipline to keep the budget deficit not only under the three-percent Maastricht threshold but low enough to reduce nominal state debt. It calls for GDP growth to increase from the current level between 2 and 3 percent to a more robust output above 3 percent and sets a longer term goal of five percent. And it aims to create jobs to bring the labor market to full employment.

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    Premier Orbán in Bad-Tuschnad-Rede: „Ungarn bleibt ein Ort der Sicherheit in einer unsicheren Welt“

    Jul 23, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Die alljährlich stattfindende Grundsatzrede von Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán an der Sommeruniversität von Bad Götzenburg (Bálványos) mit Studentenlager im siebenbürgischen Bad Tuschnad (Tusnádfürdő) hat sich über die Jahre zu einem wichtigen Ereignis entwickelt, das weltweit für Schlagzeilen sorgt und manchmal sogar zu Kontroversen rund um die herausfordernden Ideen des Premiers führte.

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    Das ungarische Referendum dient der Wiederherstellung einer starken Europäischen Union

    Jul 12, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Der Termin steht fest: Am 2. Oktober 2016 wird in Ungarn eine Volksabstimmung über das verpflichtende EU-Quotensystem zur Ansiedlung von Migranten stattfinden. Dass das Datum nur einige Tage nach dem Brexit bekanntgegeben wurde, hat zu Mutmaßungen geführt, das ungarische Referendum handle ebenfalls vom Austritt aus der EU. Natürlich war das aus dem Munde mancher Kritiker eine absichtliche Verwechslung aus politischen Gründen.

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    PM Orbán: Hungary brings order to a disorderly Europe

    Jun 30, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Speaking to graduating class of police and border patrol officers last weekend, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had a simple message. It emphasized the outstanding achievement of Hungary’s uniformed services and how they have shown Europe that, if a country so wishes, it can uphold both the Dublin Protocol and the Schengen Treaty. And if everyone does their duty, Europe’s borders can be protected and mass migration can be controlled.

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    New budget: Hungary scores another fiscal goal in the European cup of financial stability

    Jun 23, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    While Hungary’s national football team continues to surprise at the UEFA European Championship, Hungary surprises in another European competition. For the second year in a row, the country accepted next year’s budget during the spring parliamentary session to build on Hungary’s favorable economic prospects in today’s Europe. Next year’s budget is Hungary’s secret formula to advance on its debt-slashing, GDP growth path.

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    Hungary is proud to stand with the UK as a member of the European Union

    Jun 20, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    “The decision is yours, but I would like you to know that Hungary is proud to stand with you as a member of the European Union.” Signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, this is the text of a full-page advertisement that appeared in the British print media today. This is Hungary’s prime minister taking a stand, like many other European leaders, on an issue that’s important to Europe and important to Hungary.

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    Ungarn ist stolz, gemeinsam mit dem Vereinigten Königreich Mitglied der Europäischen Union zu sein

    Jun 20, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    „Es ist Ihre Entscheidung, doch ich möchte, dass Sie wissen, dass Ungarn stolz darauf ist, mit Ihnen gemeinsam in der Europäischen Union zu sein.“ Das ist der von Viktor Orbán unterzeichnete Text einer ganzseitigen Annonce, die heute in den britischen Printmedien erschienen ist. Ungarns Premierminister setzt sich, wie viele andere europäische Staats- und Regierungschefs, für eine Sache ein, die für Europa und Ungarn gleichermaßen wichtig ist.

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    Fußball-EM 2016: Der ungarische Fußball lebt wieder!

    Jun 15, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Was für eine Nacht! Nach 95 Minuten als dominierende Mannschaft, nach zwei wunderschönen, wohlverdienten Toren (und vielen schön gehaltenen Bällen) besiegte die ungarische Fußball-Nationalelf die favorisierten Österreicher 2 zu 0. Durch den Sieg der Außenseiter steht Ungarn nach dem 1:1 Unentschieden zwischen Island und Portugal an der Spitze der Gruppentabelle. Ein jahrzehntelanger Fluch wurde gebrochen.

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    Ministerpräsident Orbán: Europa braucht ein stabiles Ägypten

    Jun 03, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Nach seinem Treffen mit dem „sunnitischen Papst“ sprach der ungarische Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán diese Woche in seinem regelmäßigen Radio-Interview über Europas katastrophale Interventionen in der islamischen Welt sowie über die Notwendigkeit eines stabilen Ägyptens und der erneuten Stabilisierung Libyens. Er sprach auch vom Brexit-Referendum und den Gefahren des wachsenden demokratischen Defizits in der derzeitigen Europäischen Union.

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    Here’s why this major credit rating agency is bullish on Hungary and why the others should be too

    Jun 01, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    In recognition of Hungary’s successful efforts to revive its economy, Fitch Ratings upgraded the country to investment grade recently. Although the upgrade came earlier than statistics might suggest, it was no surprise as markets had already priced Hungary’s widely anticipated return to investment grade at multiple credit rating agencies this year. Fitch’s upgrade signals important recognition that Hungary’s reforms are working.

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    PM Orbán Demands Democratic EU, Exposes Soros-Clinton Ties and Political Agenda

    May 20, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    While elites will inevitably maneuver to shape politics in a democracy, it is up to the people to decide on a country’s direction, Prime Minister Orbán emphasized in his regular radio interview this morning. Every thirty years or so, Hungary finds itself in the spotlight on the stage of international politics, he said, but people should not allow themselves to be deterred by the blinding spotlights.

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    Elections in Hungary: Where are the ‘free but not fair’ critics now?

    May 18, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    A week ago Sunday, something interesting happened on the elections front that went largely unnoticed outside of Hungary. On the 8th, Hungary had a Super Sunday of sorts with nine by-elections taking place in municipalities around the country. Some of the elections turned out as the polls predicted, but others produced a few surprises. Some brought mandates for the governing party, some to the left-wing and right-wing opposition, and a couple of independents were also successful.

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    Hungary’s big increase in funds for research and innovation

    May 17, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Research and innovation are key factors in many countries’ strategy to boost economic growth, add value to their economies and attract more foreign direct investment (FDI). Hungary has long recognized the importance of its research and development (R&D) sector and, as announced by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his speech at the Hungarian Academy of Science, is planning to invest some 1.2 billion HUF (3.8 billion EUR) for R&D until 2020.

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    Will Brussels Ever Wake Up?

    May 12, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    Jaws dropped across the European Union last week as the Eurocrats revealed their latest proposal. Whether it was in the way they dehumanized refugees by putting price tags on their heads or accused elected prime ministers of being undemocratic, the tendentious actions of the Eurocrats seem to be deliberately intended to alienate friends and supporters of the European idea. With the Brexit referendum just around the corner, Eurocrats would do well to exercise more restraint.

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    Here’s the golden question in the story about the Hungarian Central Bank

    May 09, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    The media is always quick to reach a verdict. “Scandal” and “corruption” appear as frequently in sensationalist headlines as “good day” at a busy newsstand. But there is one, golden question that media coverage has missed in the story of the Hungarian Central Bank and the foundations it established, and that golden question is this: How far does a national bank’s independence extend?

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    Forbes: Hungarian reforms are working

    May 05, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    A recent installment of the Global Investment Guide, a series published by Forbes, writes on the recovery of the Hungarian economy, noting that Hungary has reported even better than expected results in stimulating economic growth, reducing unemployment and cutting the GDP-to-debt ratio for the first quarter of 2016. Thanks to savvy reforms that work, Hungary’s bonds, equity markets and currency have recovered and are healthy again.

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    Why so many competing proposals to protect Europe and its borders?

    Apr 25, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    European member states are exceptionally busy these days. Although some critics suggest that they seem asleep at the wheel in the wake of the biggest migration crisis the continent has seen for decades, the European Commission and some individual member states have drafted proposals to respond to the crisis. These plans are currently vying with one another, all in preparation for the upcoming European Council Summit.

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    Blog Prime Minister

    PM Orbán: Differences between Hungary and Germany on migration are now over

    Apr 22, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    “When I visit southern Germany, I always find time to visit Mr. Chancellor [Kohl],” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán about his latest meeting with former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, adding that they discussed the future of Europe and bilateral relations between Germany and Hungary. Today, in his regular biweekly radio interview, the prime minister had several interesting things to say about both. A few things that may surprise you.

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    PM Orbán: Hungary celebrates paying off debt, will propose alternative to EU’s quota system

    Apr 08, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    In his regular, radio interview on Friday morning, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that, on the EU’s quota system, “it cannot be the case that one member state alone makes a decision and the others suffer the consequences.” He also spoke about the symbolic significance of paying off the loan and that Hungary has good reason to celebrate this weekend.

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    PM’s “Tough Love” is an International Youtube Success

    Apr 07, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    A fan’s tribute to Prime Minister Orbán’s March 15 speech has enjoyed remarkable success on Youtube. After the user posted the speech with subtitles in English and called attention to some of the very direct language in the prime minister’s address, the video post garnered more than 200 thousand views within the first week of being published. When I last checked yesterday, the video had 6,000 likes, 100 dislikes and over 3,000 overwhelmingly positive comments.

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    PM Orbán on the referendum: ‘The question is not what we think, but what the people think’

    Mar 06, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    “Here, there will be no breaking through of the [border] fence, no immigrant uprisings, no refugee camps set on fire and all kinds of gangs will not be out on the hunt for Hungarian women, our wives and daughters. This is impossible, it cannot happen,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. “From this perspective, we will not make Europe out of Hungary. This will remain a safe place.”

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    ‘None of Us Wants a Europe That Surrenders,’ Says PM Orbán

    Mar 05, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    “As I see today,” Prime Minister Orbán said, “there are so many problems – and you know it too, that problems don’t just mean trouble, they mean an opportunity as well – within the European Union that many countries have taken up with or are taking up with the idea of creating a deeper form of integration after the common currency. And that puts us, every country, which is not a part of the Eurozone, up to a challenge.”

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    As the EU Moves to ‘the Hungarian Solution on Migration,’ Says PM Orbán, Hungary Must Let the People Decide in a Referendum on the Quota System

    Feb 28, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

    European leaders gathered in Brussels earlier this month for a European Council meeting on Britain’s proposed reform plans and again on the migration crisis. Though often heated and sometimes personal, the debate took Europe closer to the solution that Hungary and others have been proposing for months on migration: restore order at Europe’s borders before anything else.

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