About: Viktor Orbán
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).
Host migrants or pay, France and Germany propose
European Union governments that refuse to host refugees could instead pay to be excused from the bloc's system of sharing out migrants, France and Germany proposed on Thursday (6 December) as they sought to end a long-running EU feud over migration.
Juncker Commission gives up on Dublin asylum reform
Faced with the opposition of member states from the Visegrad group, the Juncker Commission made it plain on Tuesday (4 December) that it has given up on one of its declared goals: completing the reform of the Common European Asylum System.
Soros-funded university says it is being forced out of Hungary
Hungary's Central European University, founded by George Soros, said on Monday (3 December) it has been forced out of the country in "an arbitrary eviction" that violated academic freedom, and confirmed plans to enrol new students in neighbouring Austria next year.
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.
Electrifying Europe to win over populists
Some years ago, Europhobes were a few solitary but loud people who said they wanted to wipe out the European Union. Things have changed: now they are many more and became more ambiguous about their wishes, writes Beatriz Becerra.
EPP warns Orbán, but Fidesz still influences the line
The European People's Party handed an implicit reprimand to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party in a special resolution voted on Wednesday (7 November) but took no formal action.
Syriza in quest to unite progressive forces ahead of EU elections
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his close ally, senior Syriza MEP Dimitris Papadimoulis, are launching a number of initiatives to build bridges among Europe's fragmented progressive political forces and create a broad alliance ahead of the EU elections.
Hungarian police drops Orban-linked corruption probe
A police decision to close a corruption probe linked to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's family "strengthens doubts" about the independence of Hungary's law enforcement bodies, an EU official said Wednesday (7 November).
Weber: EPP has answers to populism and extremism
European People's Party leader Manfred Weber, a potential candidate for the top Commission job, says his party is loyal to its Christian Democratic principles and has solutions for populism and extremism. EURACTIV'S media partner Euroefe reports.
Commission regrets Austria’s decision not to sign the global migration pact
Austria will follow the United States and Hungary in backing out of a United Nations pact on migration over concerns that it will blur the line between legal and illegal migration, the right-wing government told media on Wednesday (31 October). The EU Commission regretted the decision.
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.
Orbán sends ‘take it or leave it’ message to the centre-right EPP
Hungary’s maverick Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took the gloves off and challenged his European People’s Party (EPP) at a pre-summit meeting on Wednesday (17 October), saying he wanted to remain an EPP member but should be accepted as he is, sources close to the issue told EURACTIV.com.
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.
A silver lining in ‘illiberal’ Hungary
The looming decision on whether to close the prestigious Central European University (CEU), a symbol of the resistance in Hungary, is bringing together the opposition to forge an innovative plan to end the ‘Orbánian’ state, EURACTIV.com reports from Budapest.
Hungary’s Orbán thanks Greek far-right Golden Dawn for its support
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has formally thanked the Greek far-right Golden Dawn party for their support during last month's vote on the activation of Article 7 against Hungary in the European Parliament. The move is likely to cause new frictions in the European People's Party, Orbán's political home in the EU.
Erdogan gets warm welcome in Hungary
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was given a warm welcome in Hungary Monday (8 October) just weeks after Ankara's strained relations with other EU nations were thrown into sharp relief in a tense visit to Germany.
EPP: ‘Hysteria’ with Orbán seeks to divert attention from S&D, ALDE mess
Socialists and liberals are crying wolf about centre-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán because they want to cover up problems in their own political families, a European People’s Party (EPP) source told EURACTIV.com, in an indication that jockeying for positions ahead of 2019 European elections had truly begun.
The biggest lesson for Europeans from Brexit
The biggest lesson of all for Europe to learn from Brexit is the importance of mobilising young Europeans to vote, writes Roger Casale.