About: illiberal democracy
Orban puts hopes in new anti-migration European Parliament
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday (10 January) said he hoped the next European Parliament will be dominated by anti-immigration forces. He also criticised France and Germany in blunt terms, saying he "must fight" French President Emmanuel Macron.
Hungary protests spark opposition coalition – but will it last?
Week-long protests in Budapest have forged fragmented opposition parties into a rare coalition against Viktor Orbán, drawing young Hungarians into the streets to demonstrate against what they see as his increasingly authoritarian rule.
Opposition MPs ejected from Hungary state TV after protest
Security guards ejected two independent lawmakers from Hungary's state television building on Monday (17 December) after they tried to read out a petition, a day after police used tear gas against pro-democracy protesters in Budapest.
Belgian PM suggests Visegrad countries should be ousted from Schengen
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Friday (14 December) EU countries that show no solidarity in the management of migration open the debate about whether they have a place in the Schengen area.
Chaos as Hungarian MPs pass ‘slave law’ and government-controlled court
Rare scenes of chaos gripped the Hungarian parliament Wednesday (12 December) as it passed a controversial judicial reform, as well as labour legislation that critics call a "slave law".
Orbán exempts pro-government behemoth media group from scrutiny
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has exempted a mammoth pro-government media group from scrutiny by the national competition watchdog, according to a decree published late on Wednesday (5 December).
Hungarian opposition denounces Gruevski’s case ‘disgrace’
The leaders of three opposition parties represented in the Hungarian parliament published on Sunday (2 December) an open letter in which they call a “disgrace” the granting by Viktor Orbán of asylum to former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
Hungary persists in row with Soros-founded university
Just days from a deadline to settle a legal dispute with a university founded by US billionaire George Soros, Hungary's foreign minister indicated Wednesday (28 November) his government will not back down.
Macedonia’s ex-PM fled in Hungarian diplomatic car
Former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who fled the country to avoid prison, used a Hungarian diplomatic vehicle to escape through Albania, police in Tirana said on Thursday (15 November) after Budapest formally denied any involvement.
Wanted former Macedonian PM seeking asylum in Hungary
Macedonia's former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, who has been sentenced to jail for abuse of power, said on Tuesday (13 November) he was in Hungary where he has requested political asylum.
Macron warns Europe of a return to 1930s
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Europe of a return to the 1930s because of the spread of a nationalist "leprosy" across the continent, in an interview published Thursday (1 November).
Macron warns Visegrad Four not to leave EU values behind
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (26 October) warned eastern EU members not to fall out of step with the bloc's principles, singling out Hungary and Poland whose nationalist governments have clashed with Brussels.
Soros university says it being forced out of Hungary, mulls move to Vienna
Hungary's Central European University, a graduate school founded by US financier George Soros, said it was being forced out of the country by the nationalist government and would switch to enrolling new students in Vienna.
Hungary takes fight against NGOs to EU level
At a Luxembourg meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday (15 October), Hungary called on the EU to stop funding for NGOs that undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring countries such as Israel and Egypt or states that contribute to illegal migration.
Hungary’s foreign minister lashes at UN rights experts for ‘spreading lies’
Hungary's foreign minister lashed out at what he called "biased, pro-migration" UN human rights experts on Wednesday (19 September), accusing them of spreading lies about his country and saying Budapest had the right to keep out illegal migrants.
Hungary media sale fuels new press freedom fears
The latest shake-up in Hungarian media since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's election win in April sparked fresh fears Tuesday (18 September) about increasing government control over the sector.
Orban vows to oppose EU border-guard plan at Salzburg summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday (17 September) vowed to oppose an EU plan aimed at bolstering the bloc's external borders, accusing Brussels of wanting to take away Hungary's control of its own frontiers.
EPP unsure about retaining or expelling Orbán’s party
The European Parliament's vote to censure Hungary presents the assembly's dominant centre-right bloc with a dilemma over whether to retain its populist Hungarian allies or expel them months before elections.
Orbán divides EPP ahead of crucial European Parliament vote
The European Parliament held a highly incendiary debate about Hungary on Tuesday (11 September), ahead of a vote on whether to trigger Article 7 against the country, exposing serious internal divisions in the European Peoples’ Party, which includes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's party.
Austrian far right invites Orban to form joint bloc
The leader of Austria's far-right party raised the prospect Monday (10 September) of forming a common bloc in the European Parliament with the party of nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
Macron takes election dig at Merkel and EPP over Hungary
French President Emmanuel Macron took a rare public dig at German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday (6 September) by questioning her party's ties with Hungary's right-wing leader as the EU prepares for an election next year.
Hesitant MEPs advised to ‘go for a coffee’ during Hungary vote
Next week's vote in the European Parliament on whether to trigger punitive Article 7 against Hungary will be a moment of truth for the EPP political group, whose behaviour will largely determine its outcome, an influential MEP said on Thursday (6 September).
Hungarian NGOs say Article 7 vote is also about alerting other EU members
The European Parliament will vote next week on a proposal to trigger Article 7 against Hungary. Hungarian civil society leaders threw their weight behind the proposal on Wednesday (5 September), saying it was the last chance to defend democracy in Hungary.