editorial partner Liberte! Friedrich Naumann Foundation

Articles

Hungary Shoots Itself in the Foot
Politics
Hungary Shoots Itself in the Foot
In the first half of 2023, almost weekly protests were held over the education system in Budapest, Hungary. In some cases they were organized by teachers\' unions, in others they were planned by students. Based on the study done by the Republikon Institute, 62% of the Hungarian population rate the education system as \"bad\" (Republikon, 2023).
Antisemitism Became Cool
Society
Antisemitism Became Cool
Europe has been built on the liberal values of democracy, rule of law, liberty, tolerance, and free markets. Yet it seems Europeans are forgetting what these values mean. \"Know thyself\" is a famous ancient Greek maxim, which Europeans do not seem to take to heart. A series of aggressive actions from Russia over the past decade were not enough for the EU to properly distance itself from Russian energy, until it invaded Ukraine.
Public Versus Private Trains
Economy
Public Versus Private Trains
The railway line between Budapest and the West-Hungarian town of Győr is being renovated to breathe new life into the struggling public railway system. Győr, incidentally my hometown, features two university buildings connected by a skybridge shaped like a railway car. As of recently, these few meters are the only reliable means of long-distance transportation that railcars can carry passengers in the country.
The Way Forward for the EU Green Deal and Green Ambitions in Europe
Politics
The Way Forward for the EU Green Deal and Green Ambitions in Europe
The EU’s Green Deal is a package of policy proposals introduced in 2019 by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The aim of the package, which President von der Leyen described as \"Europe\'s man on the Moon moment\" is making Europe the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050, decoupling economic growth from resource use, while ensuring that \"no person and no place is left behind in the transition.\"
Punitive Policies Only Hurt Smokers, Including Those Trying to Quit
Politics
Punitive Policies Only Hurt Smokers, Including Those Trying to Quit
Recently, lawmakers across the European Union have begun to take a great interest in tobacco products. While their motives might be sound, the policy approach they have adopted towards cigarettes is likely to be counter-productive. Politicians seem determined to take new steps to restrict the use, sale and advertising of tobacco products and directly limit the civil liberties of smokers.