editorial partner Liberte! Friedrich Naumann Foundation

Hungary

Hungary’s Manufacturing Dependency: Economic Vitality or Achilles Heel?
Economy
Hungary’s Manufacturing Dependency: Economic Vitality or Achilles Heel?
Recent economic shocks and the European Union’s focus on competitiveness have directed the spotlight on the dangers of global value chains. With its unique politics of  ‘eastern opening’ and latecomer position to the globalized market economies, Hungary’s strategy in the geopolitical theatre raises many questions. In the following, I will use an interdisciplinary approach to explain the Hungarian manufacturing industries’ global value chain exposures.
Your “Dream” House – Affordable Living Prospects in Hungary and Budapest [Conference Summary]
Think Tank News
Your “Dream” House – Affordable Living Prospects in Hungary and Budapest [Conference Summary]
On December 11, Republikon Institute held an event entitled \"Affordable Housing - Dream or Reality\", which explored the issue of housing in Budapest in a panel discussion with politicians and experts. The panelists of the first panel, all mayors of an individual city district of Budapest, are aware of the housing issues, but there is no universal solution.
Fighting Back against Populist Scaremongering on Immigration and Gender
Politics
Fighting Back against Populist Scaremongering on Immigration and Gender
Populist parties raise important questions but offer terrible answers, a weakness others should exploit. Populism is by no means a new phenomenon, but recent years have seen a clear rise in parties turning to a more authoritarian, populist strategy of winning over voters. Now, the populist movement has managed to establish a strong position in Europe, and although its popularity is not currently rising, it is not diminishing either.
Disparity in Campaign Financing in Hungary’s 2024 EP and Municipal Elections
Politics
Disparity in Campaign Financing in Hungary’s 2024 EP and Municipal Elections
The 2024 EP and municipal elections in Hungary, held on the same day, provide a complex and illuminating study of how financial resources, legal frameworks, and media control shape electoral outcomes. The Fidesz party\'s overwhelming dominance in campaign spending, both directly and indirectly, highlights significant imbalances in the democratic process.
Parallel Realities in Hungarian Public Discourse
Society
Parallel Realities in Hungarian Public Discourse
For most of us, it becomes a frequent, increasingly common, everyday experience that causes anxiety, tension, or simply a bad feeling when a politically charged public topic is discussed during a conversation. We can also say that this phenomenon has become an integral part of Hungarian reality. In most cases, this sentiment is triggered by the fact that we find it increasingly difficult to contrast our opinions or narratives with other points of view.
Voting Reforms Are Needed in Hungary
Politics
Voting Reforms Are Needed in Hungary
On June 9, Hungary held the elections for the European Parliament along with its local elections to choose mayors and councilors. The elections saw a record turnout of 58.1 %, but the most interesting election, the Budapest mayoral election with a turnout of 60.51%, resulted in a very high number of spoiled ballots, at 2.98%.
Who Should Punish Orbán?
Politics
Who Should Punish Orbán?
Hungary has been fined an unprecedentedly large amount for the severe violation of EU law over the rights of asylum seekers. However, this is not about Hungary\'s stance against the oppressive EU as the Hungarian governing party Fidesz wants to depict but about the party coming at odds with its ever-swaying populist positions. Yet the Hungarian voters, rather than EU activists, should punish the Hungarian government.
Migration Crisis in V4: Discourse and Policies
Politics
Migration Crisis in V4: Discourse and Policies
After the rising number of immigrants in 2015, the implementation of the Common European Asylum System became a priority for EU member states. Nevertheless, it has been documented by many studies that the V4 group countries drifted away from these intentions. During 2016, the members of the Visegrad group worked together as a united bloc on migration issues in Brussels.