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  • Orbán-Putin meeting focused on energy, investments

    East-west cooperation is an essential national interest for Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Putin said Hungary is an important and reliable partner of Russia, Origo reports.

    At a joint press conference following the Moscow meeting Putin said that the two countries’ bilateral trade has increased by 25 percent to $5 billion, capital investments to $1 billion and joint innovations are being developed in the high-tech sector. Putin said Russian companies did the renovation work and supplied the carriages for the Budapest metro lines and Hungary’s OTP Bank (with subsidiaries in nine countries) is one of the largest banks in Russia with almost four million customers.

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    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin during an official visit to Moscow, September 18, 2018. (Image: Viktor Orbán, Facebook)

    Putin also said Russia supplies 60 percent of Hungary’s natural gas needs and Hungarian gas storage units also contribute to supplying other countries in the region. Russian state corporation Rosatom will shortly begin the capacity upgrade of Hungary’s only nuclear power plant in Paks (originally built by the Soviet Union in 1982) with two new blocks.

    The two sides, according to Orbán, also concluded an agreement regarding Hungary’s gas supply for the year 2020. The price and amount of gas supplies by Russia to Hungary are subject to annual contracts.

    Responding to a question, Putin said that the migration crisis must be solved at its source and politics should not encourage immigration, but the issue was not Russia’s, it “must be solved by our European colleagues”.

     

  • Ministry sides with subtitles in movie debate

    Barely a week goes by in Hungary before social media regulars run into yet another “subtitles vs dubbing” discussion, like the one pictured above. But now the Ministry for Innovation and Technology has made it official that the government favors subtitles, news portal Mandiner writes.

    The ministry said in a statement that this was part of a comprehensive drive to increase Hungarians’ language skills as proposed by the National Council for Competitiveness. Looking at language skill statistics, the ministry may have a strong case: according to Eurostat data, among the 28 member states of the EU Hungary is second-to-last, only trailed by Ireland.

    Language

    But with a long tradition in movie dubbing – giving work to small studios and many actors – the battle is far from over. The professional groups are understandably lobbying in favor of dubbing.

    Also, the majority of Hungarian adults have grown up with Hungarian actors lending their voices to such iconic characters as the detectives Columbo and Kojak, agent Fox Mulder or – for a more recent example – locally well-known Károly Rékasi as the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch.

    Dubbing, however, does not only prevent Hungarians from at least hearing a foreign language: mistranslations and length constraints often lead to strange results. For instance, the famous last line of Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” translated back from the Hungarian dubbed version slightly differently: “Louis, you are just as sentimental as I am”.   

  • Delegation from Brussels has concerns about Slovakia

    During the two-day visit, the delegation also monitored corruption cases, which they believe undermine the principles of the rule of law. In’t Veld also indirectly criticized Tibor Gašpar because the former police chief was employed as an adviser of the ministers of Interior in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic following his resignation.

    The murder of the journalist Ján Kuciak was the main subject of the delegation’s fact-finding tirp. Kuciak was killed along with his fiancée in a double homicide, and at the time of the murder, the investigative journalist was working on cases indirectly connected to former Prime Minister Robert Fico. In’t Veld believes that Slovakia is actively pursuing the case but not visibly moreso than other cases. The MEP also express concerns about the fact that those state official who were removed from posts following the crime quickly found other positions in the state apparatus.

    In ‘t Veld also made mention of the kidnapping of Vietnamese businessman and communist official Trinh Xuan Thanh who traveled from Berlin on a plan provided by then Minister of Interior of Slovakia Róbert Kaliňák.

  • Šefčovič is not a favorite with the public

    From the viewpoint of a Slovak sceptic Šefčovič’s chances are low. The vice-president for Energy union acts serious but he also seems artificial. Energy politics is important and geopolitically interesting, but few people can understand it. Still, the presidency selection of the European Committee is a serious process and depends not necessarily on domestic popularity but rather on the knowledge of Brussels mechanisms. While Šefčovič is seemingly speaking a language of a different tribe, one that seems false in Slovakia, this could be his advantage in Brussels.

    The ambition of Šefčovič is symbolical. While Slovakia is occasionally taking part in movements concerning the future of the Union with other countries of the V4, this is a sign that the country doesn’t want to distance itself from the European project. However while the nationality of a candidate is attractive for Slovaks, for others it could be seen as a warning sign.

    If Šefčovič would be successful, it wouldn’t happen due to Fico’s lobbying. It’s no surprise that Šefčovič’s communication is so much different from his hatching place in Slovakia. Surprises could happen, probabilities are critically low, and what can be done is to wish him good luck.

  • Orbán is in his element when fighting EU

    Hungarian officials are labeling the vote on sanctions as a pathetic revenge of pro-immigration forces. Fidesz’s government is the most popular in Europe and Fidesz is the most successful party of the EPP group. That said, it’s important to distinguish between a punishment for Hungary and for Orbán’s government. Despite Orbán often identifying himself with the Hungarian nation, the EU slapped his government not the Hungarians.

    It is safe to say that this “atomic bomb” is not going to explode, because at least Poland’s veto is almost certain. Also, both Prague and Bratislava are hesitating to let Hungary sink this way. Let’s call it a Visegrad solidarity.

    Orbán even had to become confrontational against his own European group. But he cannot really leave the EPP, he has nowhere to go. Although far-right MEPs are praising him, joining them is not an option. Would it be enough to keep saying that the country is being punished for rejecting migrants? Maybe in Hungary, hardly on the European scene.

  • Do we really share Sargentini’s far-left values?

    The tone of the Sargentini Report was set from the very beginning. She knows for sure what European values are and she is naturally disgusted by an idea of adding a “marriage is about a man and a woman” line to the Hungarian Constitution. However, comrade Sargentini won’t be the one dismissed from the Parliament. There are too many Sargentinis to make that happen, and all of them have the right views.

    In her CV, one may find experiences ranging from anti-nuke demonstrations (backed by Soviets) and Pacifist socialist party youth to her current engagement with the Greens. It is symptomatic that she didn’t even bother to visit Hungary. Sargentini is really not the most trustworthy person to make judgements over any country.

    Reminiscence of Czechoslovakia 1968 isn’t as extreme as it sounds. Oppression of Hungary may also lead to an irreversible loss of confidence in the EU. Current European political garniture already brought us Brexit and it is really unfortunate to see clouds gathering over the EU.

    Divisions among politicians are alarming. In the Czech Republic as well – we have three foreign ministers, views on the Hungarian case varied even inside parties.

    As long as we will be arguing over every single boat in the Mediterranean, unrest across Europe will grow and extremists will gain strength. The migration crisis has to be solved and European attitudes and laws updated. Until then, any outcry about 50 orphans is just a hypocrisy.

  • Klaus: The EU is evil, it needs a revolution

    Former President Klaus is more worried about mass migration destroying the European “face” and culture than he fears terrorism. The massive influx of people from different civilizations is fatally changing Europe, as one can see in Western Europe. It is a destruction of Europe as we know it.

    He claimed that European elites are trying to change Europe and water it down because they hate liberal and democratic Europe. Political, cultural and academic elites can’t stand the current status quo, Klaus added.

    However, Klaus doesn’t believe there is an alternative to the EU and NATO. Thus, we must try to change these organizations in the image we desire. The AfD and alike are far from Klaus’ political ideal, but he agrees with them on the need for a change of European reality.

    Klaus wishes that the Czech Republic would be among the countries strongly opposing mass migration. However, given the current situation, he remains doubtful it can happen. We are openly against quotas, but on the other hand we are luring foreign labor.

  • Klaus Jr. banned from Facebook for Chemnitz post

    According to Klaus, groups of activists on social media are targeting people that advance different and inconvenient views. In response, he is preparing a draft law that would make it more difficult for the networks to block users for their posts.

    Just hours before the ban, he said in a debate that everybody should have a right to speak openly despite controversies, and there shouldn’t be any authority defining what is progressive and what is not.

    Klaus believes it may come as a reaction to his Chemnitz post because the author of a picture he shared has also been banned. However, it is more likely a reaction to the draft law and a recent television appearance. It is easy to find a stick to beat a dog, said Klaus.

    Klaus won’t be seeking any compensation, doubting that there is any real way to mount a proper defense against this. Voices are being systematically ostracized from the public space by the state or private companies. But the companies are under the state’s pressure, so it is usually not the network’s decision to ban someone. For example, according to this source, Angela Merkel has negotiated with social media companies several times.

  • Babiš praised V4 cooperation and called Frontex useless

    According to PM Babiš, we must be clearly identifying our views and speak our minds on Frontex, which we don’t need at all. It is directly contradicting the European Commission’s plan to strengthen Frontex and employ 10,000 people by 2020.

    PM Babiš agreed with PM Pellegrini to cooperate on arms tenders and to mutually purchase military equipment manufactured in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. There are items that one country may buy from the other like the Czech armored vehicles and Slovak howitzers. This cooperation can be extended in the future across the whole Visegrad region.

  • Women rule Polish cinema

    The 2018 Gdynia Film Festival is underway. This is the main and most prestigious Polish film festival in which the best movie is awarded the Golden Lions. This year’s nominees include “Cold War” and “Fuga”.

    The movie “Cold War” by Paweł Pawlikowski, awarded the Palme d’Or in Cannes for directing, is at the helm of this female revolution in Polish cinema. The lead female role of Zula played by Joanna Kulig is perhaps the director’s favorite and the actress filled it with something more than simple acting – with charisma and her self. Kulig’s acting intuition was masterful, hinting that what seemed obvious was not so obvious on the screen.

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    (Zimna Wojna, photo: Łukasz Bąk, Kino Świat)

    “Fuga” directed by Agnieszka Smoczyńska is home to another strong female role. Here, Gabriela Muskała plays into the spiritual aura of the movie with anger, rage and finally empathy. The actress is unrivaled in her creation of character depth. Although much was expected from Muskała, she had exceeded all expectations.

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    (Fuga, photo: Jakub Kijowski)

    Interestingly, the movie “Odnajdę Cię” (“I’ll find you”) by Beata Dzianowicz was not nominated. Despite the well-played role of a hardened police officer by Ewa Kaim, genre cinema remains a deadly sin in Poland. Such roles win Oscars in Hollywood, but in Poland it is not so.

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    (Odnajdę Cię, press stock)

  • How can you criticize a country for religious freedom?

    Palko believes that the hysteria surrounding the document is evident after reading the points about Hungary’s mistakes. The twelve areas of criticism suggest that in Hungary everything is wrong. Many of the criticisms can also be attributed to other countries of the European Union as well, but that was not recognized by the MEPs.

    Many of the statements are refutable, like the claim about the Hungarian election “atmosphere”, immigration and terrorism, or the state interference in the judicial system, which is characteristic in many Central European countries.

    Regarding the area of corruption, the report mentions no direct cases and the European Parliament was not dealing with corruption-related activities in other cases, like Italy in the nineties. Finding a scapegoat is not a solution.

    “If a common reader finds the claim that religious freedom is problematic, he can ask the question whether somebody in Hungary could be persecuted for his beliefs. Of course, it is not like that,” Palko points out.

    Some of the minor religions are not registered by the state and one of them was able to prove in the European Court and Hungary that this is unconstitutional. However, in many other states it happens that religious communities are not registered automatically. In the meanwhile, in 2004 the Italian candidate for president of the European Commission, Rocco Buttiglione was criticized for his views on homosexuality, which were identical to Catholic beliefs. “Who is actually trying to give lessons about religious freedom?,” asks the former minister.

    Palko claims that the report is about dividing the European Union. The document proves that the mainstream of European politics by socialists, liberals and flawed Christian democrats are moving to the role of the sole interpreter of European treaties and international documents. “This is about Europe and about those, who are talking about saving the European Union are also able to destroy it. And these people should be stopped,” he points out.

  • Punishing Orbán is a serious mistake

    Orbán knows that in the European Commission there will be no consensus regarding Hungary, also the content of the report was able to hide the Hungarian authoritative criticism under the agenda of migration. In the eyes of the European public he became a hero who defends Europe.

    Although the Sargentini Report names a couple of violations of European values in the area of jurisdiction, protection of privacy and the freedom of media, it also mentions gender politics which is rather a legitimate ideological orientation from the side of a state than a violation of values. And first of all the report is emphasizing the state approach in the area of migration and immigrants rights.

    Even if somebody does not agree with the opinion of intellectuals like Thilo Sarrazin and Václav Klaus about Europe’s suicide, nobody could deny that mass immigration, primarily from Muslim states is one of the most serious problems Europe is facing. This is a serious crisis which divides the continent, causes social and political changes in member states and in the Union itself. Even in countries, which are not directly affected by immigration, like Slovakia, it is the same. These are really the values the European Union is based on?

    Today it is evident that many governments committed serious mistakes even besides Angela Merkel. Promoting the concept of multiculturalism for years is one of the roots of the recent crisis. This motivated some states to support immigration and neglect the real integration while encouraging the immigrants to keep their culture and lifestyle, in the case of Muslim communities and radical Islam. Multiculturalism was being seen for many years as one of the European values. But those, who don’t defend multiculturalism are not racist.

  • Nord Stream 2: A race against time

    They have already started to build the NS2 pipeline in Finland due to formal reasons but the position of Denmark is crucial. There is still no clearance from Denmark for the pipeline to cross its waters, nor has the project been given environmental clearances.

    The start of the NS2 construction precedes the reactions of parties opposing the project – the USA and its possible sanctions and the European Commission working on amendments to the EU gas law, which would place EU laws over NS2. It is also meant to pressure Denmark, whose clearance is necessary, however, not only to complete investments but to actually build the pipeline in the majority of the Baltic Sea.

    Denmark is pressured by supporters and opponents of NS2 alike

    Therefore, Denmark is pressured by supporters and opponents of NS2 alike.

    The start of the construction, despite the protests in Europe and the US will result in stronger divides from opponents of the project, mainly Washington. That’s why it started in Finland and not Germany, whose relations with the US are much worse.

    The only thing that could stop works on NS2 or at least halt investments are American sanctions. If they were to happen, then the majority of European companies involved in the project would pull back financial support for the project.

  • Hungary must defend rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine

    European politics tends to think in terms of individual rights, but in the case of ethnic minorities this is an absurd concept, as no one wants to speak their native tongue alone, Zoltán Kántor, director of the Institute for National Policy told Magyar Hírlap.

    Kántor said that despite opinions to the contrary, Hungary is justifiably taking a more active stance in offering both political and financial support to the ethnic minorities living in neighboring countries (Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine).

    Collective autonomy for these Hungarian minorities is by no means against the host states, he said and questioning a minority’s loyalty to the countries they are citizens of makes little sense. Western European examples also indicate that ethnic minorities stand a better chance for survival if granted collective rights. But this hinges on whether any given country actually recognizes collective minority rights as such. This is ultimately a matter of survival. It is interesting that European thinking regards the survival instinct of the majority as legitimate and natural but seems surprised that a minority has similar ambitions.

    But this collective autonomy cannot be achieved against the majority of the country in question, only through cooperation. Protecting already existing rights is also important, and that is why Hungary had to accept the conflict with Ukraine as there was nowhere to back off.

  • 17.09.39: The final solution to the Polish Question

    September 17th, 1939 is a date tragic not only for Poles, but that day was the beginning of the end of the whole of Central Europe and how it existed and functioned up to that moment.

    It was then, when the process of the final destruction of the great, centuries-old culture of the lands between the Bug river and the Dnieper river had begun (the Bolsheviks started the devastations soon after the October revolution.) To achieve that, it was necessary to destroy the Second Polish Republic and conduct ethnic purges throughout the Eastern borderlands.

    Poland’s allies betrayed her when the USSR attacked. Not only France and Great Britain, but also the Baltic States and even Finland possessed intelligence concerning the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact. What is more important, is what Polish state services knew about it and what was the government aware of?

    If Polish intelligence held information about the Nazi-Soviet pact, then why did they not inform the government and who was responsible? If the government and the military knew, why did they not act accordingly? 

    It was then, when the process of the final destruction of the great, centuries-old culture of the lands between the Bug river and the Dnieper river had begun. To achieve that, it was necessary to destroy the Second Polish Republic 

    Unfortunately, answers to these questions will not be found in documents available to the general public. Finding any concrete information is difficult due to the censorship during the Communist regime in Poland. The II RP was despised by the communists and many historians avoided the subject altogether. The period after the fall of communism in 1989 was deemed not the right time for such debates.

    The anniversary of September 17th is an opportunity to discuss to ask ourselves another question – are we mature enough to incisively and with cool heads analyze the situation before and during September 1939? To look for answers, it is somewhere in-between the indiscriminate approach to the policies of the II RP and anti-Polish Soviet propaganda.

     

  • Political season kicks off in Hungary with mud-slinging

    Coming fresh on the heels of last week’s vote in the European Parliament against Hungary, the opening session of parliament began with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s short speech in which he said Hungary will not yield its border controls to the European Union and the EU agency Frontex, Magyar Idők reports.

    Immigration is not a party politics issue, but a primordial national interest

    He said the European elite made historical errors by failing to keep the UK in and immigrants out of the European Union. The Sargentini Report condemning Hungary is the continued work of those attacking the anti-immigration forces and Hungary will seek legal recourse to the vote that could only be passed through trickery.

    Predictably, the plenary session then descended into accusations flying from both sides. Former Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány – caucus leader of the opposition Democratic Coalition –  said Orbán needed medical attention and that he was building a cult around anti-Semitic figures of the Hungarian past.

    Socialist caucus leader Bertalan Tóth said Orbán was governing the country against the people’s will. (Viktor Orbán’s conservative coalition won this April its third consecutive election with a two-thirds majority).

    Péter Harrach, caucus leader of the junior coalition partner Christian Democrats said all Hungarian opposition members who voted against Hungary in the European Parliament were guilty of treason.

    Orbán, however, did not brand the opposition as traitors, quoting instead the words of King Leonidas of Sparta to those who argued to surrender to Xerxes in the battle of Thermopylae from the movie 300: “May you live forever”. This was the ultimate insult in Sparta, as dying in battle was considered the only fitting death for a hero.

     

  • Duda: Three Seas is a European and Transatlantic initiative

    At the inauguration of the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum, Andrzej Duda expressed his pride at how far the Initiative had come: “We haven’t stopped. We haven’t just ended on talks and we’re not stopping in terms of political theory. We want to be, and already are to an extent, the co-creators of Central Europe.”

    The president also emphasized that the EU and NATO are the two cornerstones for the Three Seas Initiative. “I cannot imagine working outside of their [EU and NATO’s] borders or more so, against these organizations and their values.”

    Duda also added that the presence of the president of the European Commission and other EU officials “is proof that EU – Three Seas relations are based on synergy and symbiosis and not competition and rivalry.”

    We haven’t stopped. We haven’t just ended on talks and we’re not stopping in terms of political theory. We want to be, and already are to an extent, the co-creators of Central Europe

    It is also important for Central Europe to be a developed and well-integrated part of the euro-Atlantic world, said Duda. That is why Three Seas focuses on integrating transport, energy and digitalization.

    The president was also happy to host United States Secretary of Energy Rick Perry at the summit. He deemed cooperation with the US a “key and necessary area.” He also expressed satisfaction at having the Three Seas become a strategic instrument for building relations between the US and Central Europe.

    Duda promised to continue discussion of the Three Seas Initiative with American officials during his visit to the White House on the 18th of September.

  • PM Orbán meets Deutsche Telekom leaders

    Orbán met Deutsche Telekom CEO Timotheus Höttges, deputy CEO for Europe Srini Gopalan and Tibor Rékasi, CEO of Magyar Telekom, the Prime Minister’s press office said. The discussion centered around Hungary’s recent digital achievements and challenges for the near future.

    Both sides said that reinforcing the digital economy is key to the competitiveness of Hungary and Europe and this could be achieved through flexible regulations, encouraging investments and a proper management of frequencies and bandwidths.

    Due to the government’s Digital Welfare Program launched at the end of 2015, Hungary is well-placed to be a successful player in the digital era. Höttges said Deutsche Telekom will continue to do its part in further developing Hungary’s information infrastructure and through its role in developing the 5G wireless communications standard it intends to make Hungary a regional hub for 5G technologies.

    Srini Gopalan said the Hungarian subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom is a strategic component of the group and the German company is committed to its further development.

  • Childless leaders don’t care for the future

    Péter Hoppál, Fidesz MP for the southern Hungarian city of Pécs and former state minister for culture posted a meme showing the images of nine childless European leaders, accompanied by the following comment:

    “They don’t care for the future, the homeland, Europe, Christian culture. All they have is Carpe Diem… That’s it”

    The hundreds of comments to the post and subsequent, mostly liberal media coverage, mirrored both sides of the arguments in what is a legitimate debate about Hungary’s demographic situation.

    Since the fall of communism in 1990, Hungary’s population fell by 604,000 to 9.77 million, below the psychological 10 million threshold while the ratio of under-15s is the lowest since the first Hungarian census in 1870.

    After winning a third consecutive term with a two-thirds majority in April, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has pledged to make demography one of his government’s top priorities. Hoppál’s post of childless European leaders is also in stark contrast with the fact most Hungarians are aware that Orbán himself has five children.

  • Babiš: We won’t be accepting migrants, not even orphans

    Why should we accept 50 Syrian orphans? There are orphans in the Czech Republic and we need to prepare them for life. I got into politics to take care of Czech citizens. And what about Ukrainian orphans affected by war, why not take care of them? Babiš said in an interview for Právo.

    Babiš mentioned that since 2015 the Czech Republic sent 2.5 billion euros in aid to foreign countries and treated 2,500 patients at home, including children. We’ve been expressing solidarity, he added.

    Regarding Chemnitz, Babiš believes it is an internal affair, however Germany’s migration policy apparently failed. Europe has to send a clear message that the gates are closed – no more migrants, no more ships. It’s unacceptable what President Macron is saying – that we must distribute migrants from a ship that set sails among member states.

    I’ve found a way how to tackle migration and I’ve also found 75 billion euros in the European budget proposal for it, claimed Babiš. We have to give more money to Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain for an external border protection. Deals with North African countries are essential, there also needs to be a Marshall plan for Africa and Syria.

    Babiš didn’t forget to mention it was mainly his and PM Orbán’s efforts, which have ended quotas. “We fought at 4 AM in the morning and made them give up on that pointless system,” he said.

  • Klaus: Vote against Hungary is an act of arrogance

    It is an evident act of arrogance of those who rule against the smaller ones, particularly post-communist countries, said Klaus. Nobody tackled the situation in Spain nor the serious violation of European agreements by Germany during the migration crisis.

    Czech voters should remember who acted like Juncker’s collaborator against Hungary. The sole fact that some of the Czech MEPs supported sanctions against our V4 ally is indeed unacceptable and despicable for them.

    However, no one who voted against it surprised me, all of them are the ‘usual suspects’ with Mr. Poche as an infamous icing on the cake. Unfortunately, PM Babiš hasn’t been very lucky when selecting people to represent ANO in a public office. His personal support for Orbán is of course right though.

  • Migration among topics for Zeman-Merkel meeting

    Zeman and Merkel have a lot to discuss. Relations with Russia, EU affairs and the current political situation in both countries, bilateral economic collaboration and of course migration.

    The president will also sit down with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. A part of his visit is reserved for a meeting with representatives of German companies that are investing in the Czech Republic.

    Zeman’s state visit is scheduled from September 19th to 21st. President Zeman will address the media later once his visit is over.

  • Orbán to unify Eurosceptics in the European Parliament

    Rumor has it that Orbán will try to create a new alliance in the European Parliament and weaken the largest group, the European People’s Party. “We need a new European Parliament and another future,” Orbán told Hungarian state radio on Friday.

    Budapest also claimed the vote at the European plenary is “invalid” because it did not take into account abstentions. Orbán said that Hungary is ready take this vote to the court.

    According to Foreign Policy, eurosceptic and populist parties would have about 1/3 of the seats in the European Parliament, which simply does not lead to any dysfunction or changing statements in parliament. Last but not least, Fidesz, the party of Viktor Orbán, is still a member of the European People Party, which is the strongest party in the European Parliament at the moment.

    Last week, the European Parliament voted for a recommendation to the EU member states to begin proceedings against Hungary, which could theoretically end up with the withdrawal of its voting rights. The EU also expressed concerns about the Hungarian situation in the area of freedom of expression, the state of justice, the treatment of minorities, including gypsies, Jews, and corruption in the country.

    According to recent speeches of politicians from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary can rely on support of Visegrad Group member states.

  • Remix team details V4-focused mission

    The Remix editorial team consists of seasoned, multi-language professional journalists from Central Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia). They have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of their own countries’ political, economic and cultural scene, up-to-date perspective on domestic and foreign current affairs and are thus well-equipped to select the most pertinent news and commentaries for those interested in the region, writes Origo.

    Origo turned to Grzegorz Adamczyk and Dénes Albert who cover Poland and Hungary respectively.

    Adamczyk, whose previous media experience includes working at the Polish language section of the BBC World Service said

    Remix is a unique initiative that could serve as reference to the European target audience regarding news of Visegrád cooperation.

    Until now, Central Europe did not have a news portal conveying events and comments about the region from a conservative perspective. Thus, the main mission of the portal is to serve up the region’s conservative views from the larger Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak perspectives.

    Dénes Albert, covering Hungary – previously with the BCC, Reuters and Hungarian national news agency MTI – said Remix also aimed to debunk negative stereotypes regarding Central Europe vehiculated by many international news outlets by

    providing authoritative and professional information about the region.

    The portal is published in English in order to reach the widest possible audience. Another goal of Remix is to present the seven-hundred-years cooperation of the Visegrád Four countries from a fresh, common perspective.

    “Remix will focus on presenting and aggregating the political and economic events and leading comments of the Visegrád countries and provide a regional perspective on topical European issues such as migration,” he said.

    The Slovak section is led by politologist Géza Tokár, a Slovak national of Hungarian ethnicity, previously with “Új Szó”, Slovakia’s only nationwide Hungarian language newspaper.

    “The perspective goal of Remix is to be considered as a reference point for regional news in general and V4 news in particular.”

  • Twitter battle over Sigismund III Vasa in a “Constitution” t-shirt

    Members of the Committee for the Defense of Democracy (KOD), Citizens of Poland as well as politicians of the Civic Coalition (KO) presented their dressing of the Sigismund Column in Castle Square in the Warsaw Old Town on twitter. “WE ARE THE CONSTITUTION,” they tweeted.

    Polish twitter users were quick to point out that Sigismund III would not support their cause: 

    “Sigismund III was an extremely Catholic king who fought against atheists and supporters of the Reformation as well as the rights of the Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.”

    https://twitter.com/bartoszniemiec3/status/1041344702182838272

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    User Jack Sparrow commented: “Oh, be wary because the king might come down from his pedestal and cut you up into tiny pieces. He was an arch-Catholic. That doesn’t bother Nowacka?”

    https://twitter.com/MarcinKot5/status/1041389153366274054

    Barbara Nowacka, a leftist politician and member of the KO posted a photo with the t-shirt subtitled “King Sigismund and the Constitution J”. Twitter user Kot_prezesa replied:

    “You are barbarians, devoid of basic civility, class and intellect. Shame on you.”

    https://twitter.com/Kot_Prezesa_/status/1041339743278120960

    “You are the Constitution and no one can take that away from you,” wrote user “Ocalić od Zapomnienia” and posted a picture of Jerzy Urban in a “Constitution” t-shirt. Urban was the infamous military junta spokesman during martial law in Poland in the 1980s.

    https://twitter.com/JanuszKowalsk11/status/1041364464048787456

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  • Polish handballers cover Nord Stream 2 logos on jerseys

    Wisła Płock and VIVE Kielce are sponsored by Polish energy companies PKN Orlen and the Polish Energy Group (PGE), who are in direct competition with Nord Stream 2. The taping over of the logos may become a thorny issue for the Polish clubs, as NS2 is now the main sponsor of the EHF Champion’s League (EHFCL) to be held in August. 

    Krzysztof Berenda, RMF FM journalist, posted on Twitter pictures showing Polish handballers of Vive Kielce with taped over NS2 logos and Hungarian players of MVM Veszprem KC with uncovered NS2 logos:

    https://twitter.com/k_berenda/status/1040994270398885895

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    Both Orlen and PGE have given their support to the handball clubs. The CEO of Orlen, Daniel Obajtek promised to protect his brand in handball sponsoring on twitter:

    “As the main sponsor of SPR Wisła, we understand the difficult situation concerning the sponsoring the EHFCL by Nord Stream 2. We will do everything to protect our brand in the context of handball sponsoring.”

    https://twitter.com/DanielObajtek/status/1040957884195106817

    Maciej Szczepaniuk, the spokesman of PGE expressed hopes that the European Handball Federation (EHF) will address the brand conflict with understanding:

    “PGE happily accepts the decision of the club [VIVE Kielce] to cover up the Nord Stream 2 logo. In this tough situation, the company supports and will support VIVE Kielce. We hope that the European federation will approach this brand conflict with understanding.”

    https://twitter.com/RzecznikPGE/status/1040963097052282880

    No telling yet how the EHF will react. The Polish clubs may face fines.

    Many have criticized Nord Stream 2 as unfavorable to Poland because it would create a gas pipeline that circumvents Poland and transfers gas directly to Western Europe. Russian Gazprom holds the majority of NS2 shares.

  • “Co-parenting” is a dangerous trend coming to Poland

    “Co-parenting” focuses on choosing the ideal partner to procreate but without any deeper emotions or bonding. This is a search for a parent, not a spouse, lover or partner in the traditional sense of the words. There is no plan for there to be any connection between two people other than the children.

    The idea therefore revolves around eugenics and on the websites dedicated to “co-parenting”, users outline what traits they are looking for in a potential parent. These include but are not limited to: eye and hair of a certain color, a specific type of silhouette, a good IQ score and a sense of humor.

    The key element of “co-parenting” is that the father would not just be there to impregnate. He would take part in the child’s upbringing. Separately from the mother and in accordance with established rules and obligations. The idea is simple: let’s procreate and raise the child separately.

    The idea is simple: let’s procreate and raise the child separately

    This is problematic because it would mean that children would be raised in a split family from the very beginning. Even if a mother tries her best to give her children everything, she will never be able to replace the figure of a father.

    Supporters of “co-parenting” argue, that the traditional family model is idealized and that it rarely exists in nature. Experts such as sexologist Andrzej Komorowski disagree, because if the child is meant to be the most important issue then “people would want both of the parents to be present.”

    “Co-parenting” comes from and thrives on people’s fear that they might not be able to fulfill their dreams of having children in a normal way. A relationship built only on conceiving a child looks better than failed ones commented on by people on Facebook. The bitter moral will come to light, when the grown up child will stumble upon emails sent between the “co-parents”.

  • Trump and Duda to sign “a very important document”

    The Cabinet Chief of the President said that negotiations over a “very important document” have been concluded, in time for President Duda’s visit to the White House on September 18th.

    The document is meant to “broaden the entire spectrum of American-Polish military cooperation” and “give entry to American investment funds into the development of the region.”

    If the presidents were to sign it, since the negotiations were on a working level, then it would be a very serious political declaration concerning far developed cooperation in terms of energy, military and investments.

    The document is meant to “broaden the entire spectrum of American-Polish military cooperation” and give entry to American investment funds into the development of the region

    President Duda will be accompanied by the First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda and the minister of national defense Mariusz Błaszczak. In addition to meeting with Donald Trump face-to-face and holding a joint press conference, Duda will also visit the US Senate and pay respects at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

    This visit to the White House will be the first during the terms of either president.

  • Seven minutes

    In order to realize the historic importance of Orbán’s speech in Strasbourg we really must revisit two previous moments, Magyar Hírlap columnist László Bogár writes.

    April 13, 2002 – Budapest’s Kossuth Square (the location of the Hungarian parliament) saw the largest crowd of citizens ever gathered in Hungary. At the time – for the sake of peace and stability – Orbán was not yet prepared to say what was clearly on everybody’s mind: the “invisible powers” were bent on deposing Orbán and his government to further their liberal agenda.

    Second flashback: May 2010, also on Kossuth square, the day when Orbán announced his party’s electoral victory, again in front of a crowd of several hundred thousand. In his speech that day, he again refrained from stating the obvious and instead celebrated victory. He did not mention the destruction wrought upon the country by eight years of liberal rule, nor did he say that it was time for reconstruction after a successful revolution.

    Another eight years have passed since and with enormous efforts and amid bitter conflicts we managed to at least stave off the deterioration of the community of humans called the Hungarian nation. But the Strasbourg speech, the charade surrounding it and the intent of the global powers to make an example by punishing Hungary has shown that the things left unsaid since 2002 will soon have to be said after all. Not only because these global powers are ready for even more drastic measures, but also because there is no more room for retreat. The past 16 have amply demonstrated what was only a suspicion back in 2002, namely that the malignant growth known as “liberal democracy” is eating up resources at an alarming rate, leaving in its wake ecological and spiritual waste in the form of its poisonous multiculturalism.

    This also means that there is precious little room for further manoeuvring. The hour of truth is approaching. In the months after next year’s European elections, we will finally see whether European nations have any life force left and whether they can realize what Hungarians have realized between 2002 and 2018: that liberal democracy, picturing itself as the only way forward is in fact leading the world – and the whole of Europe with it – towards certain destruction.

    And those seven minutes offer indispensable help and guidance to realize that fact.  

     

  • Expats in Hungary put safety first

    Safety, not lower real estate prices or living costs is the main consideration foreign citizens look for when deciding to settle in Hungary.

    Horváth said that three years ago, when Hungary erected a fence on its southern border to stem the inflow of migrants, the impact of the measure was difficult to gauge, but it has since become clear that it also resulted in a significant “security dividend”.

    “It is also easy to understand why British tourists love Hungary at a time when the Muslim mayor of London says that terrorism is part of everyday life in a metropolis,” he said.

     

    Horváth also said that the majority of Hungarians clearly approved the government’s policy against illegal migration, given that everybody appreciates the safety of their families, everyday life and possessions now as well as looking forward.

    One of the major challenges for Europe in the coming years will be the question of how to handle the increased security risk posed by the masses of illegal immigrants, some of whom will receive citizenship in EU countries and will therefore be allowed free movement within the Schengen area.

  • Hungarian family tax rebate at record high

    The family tax rebate in 2017 amounted to more than 288 billion HUF, Minister Varga said. He added that the same rebate could reach 310 billion HUF this year. This also means that favorable labor, housing and educational conditions could help convince young families to remain in the country.

    He said data from the Tax and Customs Office (NAV) indicated that one in four private individuals benefited from this last year. Overall, since the first full year of the Fidesz government (in 2011) tax and duty rebates to families amount to 2,250 billion HUF, he said.

    Since the beginning of 2011 the family tax rebate system has remained extremely steady, an important consideration for families planning to have children. Last year families with two children were the main beneficiaries of the increased rebate, leaving them an additional 60,000 HUF per year. This could also improve the demographic situation in Hungary, he said.

    Varga also said that a steep rise in real wages also meant that in 2017 over 20,000 people working abroad came home and had no immediate intention to leave again. Competitive wages mean that the young generation only leaves the country for studies and work experience, but is likely to return home.

     

  • Juncker’s years of abhorrence

    When Juncker started his presidency in 2014 he made two promises. The first was about a more political body, which is an equal to nation states instead of being an administrative organ. The second was a promise about a proactive approach with an intention being an architect of a stronger and more resilient Europe.

    After the worst problems of the Eurozone were seemingly solved in 2012 by the European Central Bank, the strengthening economics predicted the fall of unemployment and the rise of the “mainstream” parties. Meanwhile, European politicians were expected to lay less blame on Brussels for their problems. This was very far from the truth, however, as the last five years sound more like a plot from a political thriller.

    The issues of the Eurozone were a bit marginalized but unsolved, Greece nearly left the cooperation in 2015. The banking union is non-existent and probably will never be realized. In 2015 the migration crisis found the Union unprepared institutionally and politically. Up to now there is no common European solution to the crisis and serious doubts are surrounding the two biggest achievements of the integration, the common currency and free movement. Other developments include Brexit, the rise of popularist extremism, the case of Poland and Hungary, the worsening relations with Russia, transformation of Turkey, and the victory of Trump.

    If Juncker would choose his annus horribilis, the year of abhorrence, it would be a hard choice. That doesn’t mean that in the last five years nothing happened towards European unity, but it doesn’t change the fact that the European block is more fragmented now than it was five years ago.

  • Catholic bishop: I fear political Islam

    Neymeyr pointed out that the issue of immigration is very visible in Germany, and the church is emphasizing the fact that the immigrants are also ordinary people who need help. “After this, we determine why they came and what can we do for them to remain in the country of their birth, where they belong. Germany can’t integrate everyone,” the Bishop of Erfurt pointed out.

    Neymeyr believes that Germany cannot integrate the wave of immigrants and it is not possible to accept more newcomers. The issue of immigration is causing conflicts, dividing families and friendships. The principle differences between religions represent a real problem, as an example the Jewish community in Erfurt fears Muslim immigrants and German nationalists as well.

    The bishop sees Muslims as a community with different views. Some of them have no problem accepting the equality of women, others see the issue as a religious topic. “Islam has very traditional forms, the education of women is not being considered a priority. Islam has to evolve similarly to the Catholic Church,” said Neymeyr.

    The catholic leader fears political Islam. He believes that while the Catholics and Protestants had to learn the differences between the church and state, most Muslim states are 200 years backwards in this development.

  • When did you start preferring solidarity over security, Mr. Juncker?

    The nomination of “the top” candidates – Juncker and Schulz – is supposed to boost authenticity and competitiveness. Based on an assumption that when “the top” one wins, the opponent’s camp would be lighting up the fire. So, where is Juncker’s strong opposition?

    With this in mind, we can assess his State of the Union speech. It was his last one as the chief Commissioner, the last one before the 2019 elections and the last one before the UK leave. There were strong symbols, yet nothing that can be considered a vision or a legacy.

    There is a saying that people from the former Eastern block are marked by experiencing totalitarianism and ‘redneckness’, therefore they developed a sense for recognizing ideological hot air. And they sense it from Juncker and even more from the very fact that he has no real opposition.

    In his speech, he only repeated what everybody already knew three years ago – the EU needs to better protect its external borders – adding that Schengen can only survive if the solidarity of all will show. When else should an opposition leap out and ask how is solidarity linked with the protection of external borders? Because when Poland, Slovakia and Hungary accessed the EU, Brussels asked them if they are able to protect the EU’s external border. However, when Hungary was the only country protecting them in 2015, it was chided.

    It is totally understandable why the EU elites fear the 2019 election even more than those in 2014.

  • The fight for Hungarians’ right to decide their own future

    The European Parliament voted to pursue action against Hungary over breaching fundamental values of the EU.

    Unsurprisingly all the TOP09 MEPs voted for, however votes from the ANO and especially one Social Democrat comes more as a surprise. By voting in favor of sanctions, Mr. Poche made sure that President Zeman will never approve him as the Foreign Ministry chief. Well, let’s put aside that ANO, MEPs are usually opposing what the party leader is saying.

    The question remains, is the process itself rightful? First of all, it is Hungarian internal affairs and current governments that gained 50 percent votes in this year’s elections, more than the turnout (29 percent) for the European elections in 2014. Also, public trust in the European Parliament is declining. Not to mention the non-elective European Commission, which should now begin an inquiry.

    “I’m not saying that Orbán is role-model democrat, but he has support of the people and I don’t see them being oppressed by him.”

    So, my advice would be to leave Hungarian citizens, and let government and parliament decide their issues on their own and defend their right to do so against the EU side by side as a V4. It may easily happen that we would be next, because we already belong among the troublemakers who reject the migrant quotas.

  • Babiš to talk to MEPs in January about the Europe he wants

    PM Andrej Babiš will make a speech in the European Parliament in Strasbourg in January. He is going to present his vision of the future of the EU to MEPs in connection with the May European elections.

    Every Prime Minister and every President should successively deliver a speech about the future of the EU. It has been already four years since a Czech politician addressed the MEPs. Last time, Miloš Zeman stood up for European integration, albeit receiving some criticism for his rhetoric. 

    Babiš believes that migration will be the main topic of the upcoming European elections, while stressing that the Czech Republic won’t accept a single migrant.

    According to a source close to the PM, he would have to present a broader vision of the EU in front of MEPs. To be taken seriously by them, Babiš cannot talk only about migration. “He will try to emphasize the European Single Market as something that the Czech Republic strongly support a need,” said a source.

    ANO MEP Martina Dlabajová believes it is important for Babiš to “present his vision and a role that he thinks the Czech Republic can play in the EU.”

    “It is crucial for us to be a strong country in a strong union,” said Dlabajová.

    ANO is a member of an influential liberal fraction ALDE. However, some of the MEPs criticize Babiš for his serious conflict of interests – a high-level politician, owning the media through his holding Agrofert and receives billions in subsidies. Babiš transferred his firms to a trust fund and rejects any criticism.

  • Czech MPs stands on the side of Hungary

    MEPs of the Czech governmental party ANO supported the recommendation that the European Commission should launch proceedings against Hungary. According to Vondráček, this is an unnecessary “deepening of ditches” at a time when Europe needs “respect, trust and dialogue”.

    SPD chairman Tomio Okamura called ANO MEPs vote as a fatal failure. Jan Skopeček (ODS) then called the vote of Czech MEPs against Hungary, the Czech ally, as scandalous.

    Chairman of ODS deputies Zbyněk Stanjura pointed out that the procedure is not about Orban but it is conducted with sovereign democratic Hungary. “The proceeding with Hungary is not in the interest of the Czech Republic,“ he said. According to Jiří Kozba (SPD), it is probably a matter of making Hungary a deterrent example, and if the pressure works, it will be a question of who is next? 

    Representatives of the Pirate Party were fascinated by the compactness of SPD and ODS, and along with representatives of the movement STAN, they opposed them.

    However, chairman of the People´s Party deputies Jan Bartošek considers the punishing of Hungary extremely unfortunate. On the other hand, he added that there is no better project in the world than being a part of the EU.

    Apart from ANO MEPs and Polčák, also TOP 09 MEPs and Miroslav Poche (ČSSD) supported sanction proceedings. MEPs from KDU-CSL, ODS, Free citizens´ Party and KSČM and also Jan Keller from ČSSD voted against the proceedings. Pavel Poc (ČSSD) abstained and his party colleague Olga Sehnalová did not attend the voting session. 

    Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) considers the vote useless when representatives of the member states are those who will have the last call. He will discuss the situation with ANO MEPs. Europe should not be divided, according to him, the problems of the EU are different, for instance Brexit should be addressed.

  • Babiš: ANO MEPs who voted against Hungary are traitors

    PM Babiš has distanced himself from ANO MEPs who voted in favor of the sanctions against Hungary.

    He believes that it’s in 2019 where we can do politics instead of alliances. Sadly, ANO MEPs voted in that way and he said he expected nothing else from the two traitors, Telička and Ježek.

    “Finally, under my lead, the Czech Republic fights for its own interests and the Office of the government isn’t full of people chanting for other countries. Unlike my predecessors, I do active politics. Mainly in contrast to the former PM who doesn’t even speak English,” said Babiš, adding that he kept his promise. “There won’t be any quotas and enforced relocations,” he said.

    Babiš thinks that Orbán was the only one who played by the Dublin rules and took concrete and radical actions against illegal migration. Both in Hungary and Poland live sane people, who vote freely and elected a legitimate government, he added.

  • Duda spoke to Steinmeyer on Kozlovska’s case

    Kozlovska took part in a Bundestag debate titled “Human rights are in danger – the disassembly of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary”. She had been previously deported from Brussels due to her being entered into the Schengen Information System (SIS) with an alert by Polish authorities. Onet.pl reported that she had been granted a German visa instead.

    According to Krzysztof Szczerski, the Chief of the Cabinet of the President, President Andrzej Duda explained to president Frank-Walter Steinmeier that such endeavors do not help build Polish-German relations. “To stigmatize the Polish government in a parliament of a foreign nation just because they are realizing their election program is, in the President’s opinion against European values,” he said. Szczerski also said that Steinmeier promised to look into the issue.

    To stigmatize the Polish government in a parliament of a foreign nation just because they are realizing their election program is, in the President’s opinion against European values

    Polskie Radio journalist Karol Darmoros broke the news on twitter:

    “NEWS: President Andrzej Duda spoke with German President Steinmeier in Latvia about the hearing in the Bundestag concerning the situation in Poland and Hungary, as well as about the people participating in the hearing – minister Krzysztof Szczerski told us.”

    https://twitter.com/KarolDarmoros/status/1040301316080390144

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    Kozlovska, who is a Ukrainian and the head of the Open Dialog Foundation, had been deported from the EU on August 14th. She had been put onto the list of people to be removed from the Schengen Area via an alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS) by Polish authorities.

    Kozlovska had been put on that list due to a negative opinion released by Polish special services (ABW) concerning her status as a long-term EU resident. This decision was explained by the ABW by their “serious doubts concerning the financing of the Open Dialog Foundation.”

  • Hungarian film industry flourishes

    This was the second consecutive year when movie production exceeded 100 billion HUF in Hungary, Origo.hu reports.

    The biggest single production was the American period drama television series The Alienist, based on Caleb Carr’s eponymous psychological thriller. Production cost in Hungary was HUF 20.8 billion. Budapest was also the main location of the spy thriller Red Sparrow, starring Jennifer Lawrence with a Hungarian budget of HUF 11.3 billion and the action comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon with a budget of HUF 9 billion.

    On account of its qualified film professionals and the 19th century architecture of downtown Budapest Hungary has often been chosen for major international productions since the 1990s, but the current boom is mostly credited to Hungarian-American producer Andy Vajna.

     

    Vajna

    Andrew G. Vajna

    Born András György Vajna in Budapest in 1994, Vajna fled Hungary after the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising and studied cinematography at UCLA to later become a well-known producer of mainly action movies. These include the first three Rambo movies, Evita, Red Heat, Total Recall and Air America.

    He returned to his native Hungary and was appointed Government Commissioner for the Hungarian film industry in 2011 and essentially reformed movie production along market requirements, while also establishing the state-financed Hungarian National Film Fund that recently financed such titles as the Oscar-winning Son of Saul. 

  • ACTA2 could spell the end of unlimited freedom on the Internet

    The European Parliament voted in favor of the directive concerning creator rights and protection of intellectual property in the single electronic market. Some believe that politicians care about “just” rewards for creators. Some politicians probably don’t even know what the whole thing was about. It’s about creating instruments which will allow control of content distribution.

    Just like the progressive income tax is more of a pretext for surveillance of taxpayers than some made up “just redistribution” of gross national income. The same goes for RODO, which supposedly wasn’t about not letting parents contact hospitals after a bus crash to know what’s happening to their children. As Murphy’s law states, “if something can go wrong, it will.” And when politicians are engaged with something, with freedom at stake, you can bet that it will.

    It will take some time for us to see that we can’t publish or read something because of “copyright laws”. Therefore, although it’s not yet clear, the hashtag #ACTA2 is adequate

    What’s more, the RODO laws, compared to the now infamous Article 13 of the new directive on copyright, are clearly and succinctly written!

    Article 13 deals with the “usage” of protected content of not only “pieces” but also “other items” uploaded by “users”.

    Let’s look at the laws surrounding: the police, tax audits, and the Intelligence Agency. Based on their operations, special and secret services will have access to everything “legal entities” will want to have. Not on the basis of “cooperation” but under the law. What’s more, we will pay for the development of these “means” and “technology” through payments to internet providers.

    As always, only the short-term positive results of regulations are shown – those who use someone’s content should pay for it. But there are those results, which aren’t immediately visible. It will take some time for us to see that we can’t publish or read something because of “copyright laws”. Therefore, although it’s not yet clear, the hashtag #ACTA2 is adequate.

  • African swine fever spreads in Romania

    Romanian authorities say African swine fever is under control, but the number of infection points has risen by another 120 over the past two weeks and has reached 900, Magyar Hírlap reports.

    According to data from national news agency Agerpres the disease has spread to 207 settlements in the country and 232,722 animals had to be culled in an effort to halt further infections.

    The EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development went to Bucharest on Thursday to discuss the situation and promised EU financial assistance in combating the disease.

    The African swine fever outbreak hit a critical point three weeks ago when it reached the country’s largest swine farm in south-eastern Brăila county, prompting the culling of 140,000 animals. In response to the outbreak, southern neighbor Bulgaria built a 133 km (83 miles) long razor wire fence in four weeks to prevent wild boar movement.

    Swine fever doesn’t affect humans but it can be deadly for domestic and wild boars, and cause massive losses for farmers.

    The swine fever first appeared last June in the north-eastern Satu Mare county bordering the Ukraine and Hungary and has resulted in the culling of 117,000 animals.

    Hungary has ordered fences to be built around swine farms so wild boar cannot infect the animals.

  • EP to fight against double standards in product quality

    The non-legislative resolution was approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday. The resolution claims that many tests and surveys proved that numerous manufacturers are selling identically looking products on the European market with different ingredients.

    Olga Sehnalová (Czech Republic), the referent of the report believes that many European citizens don’t have access to the same quality which in the end undermines the trust of citizens in the markets of the European Union. “We cannot allow the existence of similar products in the European Union, neither citizens of second grade,” Sehnalová stressed.

    The issue of different standards is affecting provisions and foodstuff, cleaning products and cosmetics as well as baby food. The European Parliament believes that the issue should be solved in state legislative and on the level of the European administrative as well. The report suggests intense communication between member states, unified testing, preparing a public database until the end of the year 2018 and creating a blacklist for affected products.

    The leaders of the Visegrád Group have been discussing the issue of different food quality numerous times during the past year and will continue to push for change.

  • Migrant crisis will repeat itself

    Tureček claims that while Europe has the tendency to view Islam as a religious movement, its political form and mobilization potential are also as important. The role of Islam in the Middle East is more important than Christianity in Europe, it is being seen as the cornerstone of society itself which cannot be divided from the principles of the state.

    Islamism is seen as a western concept, and it is true that the masses descending from the Middle East are politically active and their main agenda is being supported by their religious beliefs.

    In the region today, hundreds of thousands are fighting for their survival, while other hundreds of thousands simply want a better life. However, if global warming and temperature changes were to occur then another wave of immigration could start, claims Tureček.

    He believes that a few years of drought can destabilize poorer governments who in oppostition to European countries don’t have the necessary financial resources to deal with agricultural problems.

  • Hungary says European Parliament’s decision is void

    At a press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting, Gulyás said that the Lisbon Treaty is very clear on procedure and the EP went against its own rules by deciding to discard the abstention votes.

    “This is tantamount to any country’s parliamentary rules overwriting said country’s constitution. The Lisbon Treaty is the standard here, which requires a majority of two-thirds of cast votes,” Gulyás said

    “Based on the correct interpretation of the Lisbon Treaty the correct assesment of the decision is clearly that the European Parliament did not pass it.” He added that at the next cabinet meeting decisions will be made regarding concrete legal measures.

    Gulyás reiterated that Hungary has already disproven all points of the Sargentini Report and that the report even blames Hungary for issues in which the country has come to an agreement with the European Commission and rules have been amended accordingly.

  • Legutko: Terrifying spectacle at the European Parliament

    Legutko said on TVP Info that he was terrified by the reaction of MEPs to the triggering of Article 7 against Hungary. “People were screaming with joy, waving their hands. Terrifying,” he said, adding that these “disturbed attacks on Poland and Hungary” are an expression of Brussel’s negative actions.

    “It seems that the leaders of the European Union have a suicidal instinct, or they just want to make the EU implode. Instead of resolving conflicts, they deepen them.” Legutko called the actions of EU leaders “antagonizing” and that there is increasing tension and arrogance from the side of the leaders.

    It seems that the leaders of the European Union have a suicidal instinct, or they just want to make the EU implode. Instead of resolving conflicts, they deepen them

    The MEP of PiS also hopes that the next European Parliament elections will bring about change. “The next elections could be very hurtful for them,” he claimed and added that, “there is no point in worrying about this liberal blackmail.” Instead, one should hope that “this system may yet be fixed.”

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    Along with interviewer Bronisław Wildstein, they determined that if they hadthe same conversation in, say, French public television, they would be facing dire consequences. “You sir, wouldn’t be here tomorrow,” Legutko said. “And I would never again appear in this program,” he concluded.

  • The Germanization of Europe

    Merkel has made her decision. She believes the time has come to openly take the helm of the European Union, thus uniting Europe under a German leadership, influential Hungarian historian Mária Schmidt writes on her blog. This is the same ambition that drove the attempts of Emperor Wilhelm II and Adolf Hitler.

    In World War I, Germany was forced to fight on two fronts. It defeated Russia and had the US not intervened in support of the Entente, it would have defeated them, too. This is why Hitler didn’t want a war on two fronts and after failing to agree with the British, he made a pact with Stalin. World War II again was decided by the Americans, who still had no wish to see a unified Nazi Europe under German leadership.

    We are now witnessing the third attempt at the Germanization of Europe. Last year, the chancellor put an obedient servant at the helm of the Union’s bureaucracy without elections, rule of law, checks and balances or other such niceties. The tottering Juncker would now be out of any decent job, but he is just the man to lead the European Union.

    Merkel_Europe

    He has always been good at serving globalized companies by handing them tax rebates – from which he may also have profited personally. Case in point: Amidst sanctions against Russia, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was somehow deemed compliant with EU rules, unlike the outrageous export of Polish beetroot, Hungarian apples or Slovak cabbage.

    The first phase of the takeover has been completed with the launch of EU proceedings against Hungary with the assistance of a Dutch MEP and Manfred Weber, chosen to be the successor of Juncker.

    But what is the point? Merkel can only escape her uncomfortable domestic position by launching a sweeping occupation of Europe. In order to do so, she must eliminate Viktor Orbán and make it abundantly clear that she is the sole master of Europe.

    The situation has boiled down to Merkel or Orbán. Austrian chancellor Kurz and the above mentioned Bavarian Weber have already declared support for Merkel. In this sense, Macron miscalculated when he deemed Orbán to be the enemy. Should the plan of a federal Europe under German leadership be realized, France would have fought two World Wars for nothing and will submit voluntarily. Brexit and the German Russian alliance behind Nord Stream 2 have considerably reinforced Germany’s position. France can only look to Eastern Europe and the United States, who might also have other interests.

    The current geostrategic push clearly favors Merkel’s ambitions. She is looking to form a grand coalition after the EU elections with the Socialists, Liberals, Communists and Greens, In other words, all those who would be partners in a Europe under German leadership. The common denominator of these forces is the need to annihilate all those in favor of national sovereignty and bring about an internationalist, federalist Europe.

    Yesterday saw Merkel’s victory. But the Germans, of course, have always been good at winning battles. They got as far as Paris and Moscow. But somehow they still lost all their major wars.

     

  • The European spirit of solidarity

    “The Church gave birth to and defended Polish nationality,” said the PM in Poznań. He referred to the support of the Catholic Church during the years of Polish partitions. “The Church was a place where Poland existed when searching for her on a map was in vain,” he said.

    Morawiecki explained that the solidarity which connects Europe and Poland comes from the Church: “Poland, through the Church gives Europe the great gift of solidarity,” he added.

    He strongly criticized communism and Marxist ideology, which although “promised an equal world” showed instead a “criminal world, in which there was no solidarity and only the destruction of society through a regime apparatus.”

    Europe came to Poland through baptism. Poland has always been a part of Europe and will remain so. Polishness, Europeaness and Christianity are connected by the spirit of solidarity and remain our inalienable heritage

    The PM also underlined the important connection between Europe, Poland and the Church. “Europe came to Poland through baptism. Poland has always been a part of Europe and will remain so. Polishness, Europeaness and Christianity are connected by the spirit of solidarity and remain our inalienable heritage,” he said.

    The CCEE associates the episcopates of all 45 countries in Europe. President Andrzej Duda and PM Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as other government representatives took part in the meeting alongside members of other beliefs. This year’s slogan was “the European Spirit of Solidarity.”

  • Teacher from Vienna describes problems with Muslim pupils

    Wiesinger used to be a social-democratic teacher unionist, so she was close to the party that traditionally supported immigration. In Favoriten, she taught for over 25 years. Now she works in a high school with predominantly Muslim pupils of Turkish origin.

    Wiesinger summed up her experience in a 214-page book, The Cultural Fight in the Classroom. How Islam Changes Schools.

    According to Wiesinger, the level of teaching is falling. Muslim pupils often do not speak German and at the same time refuse everything that does not correspond to (radical) Islam. This leads to problems especially in sexual education, but also in biology. The parts prohibited by sharia law cannot be read.

    Pupils often face violent disagreements, and Muslims especially are provocative. In addition, they are often hostile to each other – Turks to Kurds and Chechens to Afghans.

    They often attack their Muslim female classmates for dressing in Western style. This pressure is also subject to non-Muslim girls. “They give up because we have given up as a society,” Die Presse quoted Wiesinger.

    Young Muslims often admire Turkish President Erdogan, which complicates history teaching or political education. Muslim male pupils also have a problem with the recognition of female teachers´ authority due to their gender.

    According to Die Presse, Wiesinger was under pressure. The City School Council had unofficially ordered that the teachers should not talk about the integration issues at the Viennese schools too publicly.

    But the school inspectorate, which has been solving the situation for several years, for example through seminars on deradicalization, also admits the problems. Education Minister Heinz Fassmann commissioned a nationwide study on integration issues in education, based on on-line questioning of principals.

  • Poland does not want a multi-speed Europe

    According to polls, Poland is the most pro-EU country, supporting a large budget and the EU reform. No one in the parliament wants to leave the Union. This threat is real elsewhere – in Western European countries. Poland wants an integrated and united EU, not a multi-speed one, based on four core freedoms. 

    Regarding the 2020 budget, Poland shares a similar position as the rest of Central Europe. We think the budget isn’t a good start for a discussion. We shouldn’t cut the traditional policies like the cohesion policy and we will try to change that with help from other supporters of cohesion. It is the base of the EU, the measure to help weaker new member states allowing them to catch up with the old ones. That’s what European integration is about. I don’t believe the cuts will become a reality, there has to be a consensus.

    Czaputowic also dispels the doubts caused by Deputy PM Gowin’s statements that Poland will continue the judicial reform regardless of the European court. Poland will respect the court’s decision, he said.

    The Polish Foreign Minister regarded the Czech Republic as an extremely important partner. We share the same interests, we are the cornerstones of Central European identity and the Three Seas Initiative after all.

  • V4 have always been able to defend common interest

    Despite its chaotic and intellectual character, the foundation for Visegrad cooperation has been laid. We fought Turks together, we resisted Russians together – we have a lot to build on. And our present cooperation proved itself at least four times over the past 20 years.

    Firstly, we persuaded Americans to enlarge NATO. Then we liberalized our trade, even before the EU market fully opened up for us. We effectively opposed Russian energy and gas games. And most recently, we have been able to bring the whole EU to its senses regarding the migration crisis and a way how to deal with it. The Visegrad Four is important.

    It is idle if not mercenary talk when someone is saying it’s “toxic” just because he or she doesn’t like Orbán and Kaczynski. It is in our vital interest not to give in to such talks, we have to stay firm behind the Visegrad.

    We always looked up to Poles and the Solidarity movement, said Vondra. Travelling to Poland in those times gave us a chance to breathe the freedom. It would be a waste not to build up on our dissident collaboration from the communist era that interpersonally worked great among Czech, Poles, Slovaks and Hungarians. We had to utilize that against our historical grievances.

    Vondra will be one of the panellists of the international conference Poles and Czechs in Europe 1918-2018, which is a part of the sPOLeCZně (‘together’) festival.

  • Czech leaders unanimously reject migrant quotas

    President Zeman, PM Babiš, Foreign Minister Hamáček, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Vondráček and Defense Minister Metnar discussed relations with Israel, Brexit and looming trade wars. In their joint statement, they also addressed the migrant quotas and Russian sanctions.

    Regarding migration, they agreed on the rightfulness of rejecting enforced migrants’ redistribution. They stressed the importance of an involvement in a conflict resolution process in areas generating illegal migration and a need for more efficient development aid.

    However, Zeman was unsuccessful in his effort to limit sanctions against Russia. According to several sources this was the main motivation for the president to convene the meeting. Although he already asserted this agenda before the meeting, there is only a vague phrase in his statement that outlines the reasons for why sanctions should still apply. 

    The question of the relocation of the Czech embassy in Israel wasn’t addressed in the statement, likely on purpose as it is preferred to relocate the embassy only after Jerusalem will be officially recognized as the capital.

    The meeting was held without a Senate representative after Speaker Štěch had to excuse himself and the presence of a Senate VP was rejected by the President, which immediately provoked criticizm.

  • Kozlovska is back in the EU

    Onet.pl reports that on September 11th Lyudmyla Kozlovska landed in Berlin and on the 13th she will take part in a hearing in the Bundestag. The reason for approving her visa is reported to be in the “national interest of Germany.”

    The hearing is titled “Human rights are in danger – the disassembly of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary”. Kozlovska explained that she will be talking about how PiS (Law and Justice), using “disinformation, personal attacks and the whole state apparatus including special services, the prosecutor’s office, police and with the help of customs tried to remove me from the country.”

    Kozlovska also claims that she is the one who is defending the interests of Poland and Europe. “The current regime claims that I am hurting Polish interests. I believe I am defending the interests of Poland and Europe, which are not in line with Law and Justice’s interests.”

    [block:views=related_articles_field-block]

    Kozlovska, who is a Ukrainian and the head of the Open Dialog Foundation, had been deported from the EU on August 14th. She had been put onto the list of people to be removed from the Schengen Area via an alert on the Schengen Information System (SIS) by Polish authorities.

    Kozlovska had been put on that list due to a negative opinion released by Polish special services (ABW) concerning her status as a long-term EU resident. This decision was explained by ABW as their “serious doubts concerning the financing of the Open Dialog Foundation.”

    The head of Open Dialog told Onet.pl that this decision is MP Mariusz Kamiński’s revenge on her husband who took part in anti-government movements.

  • Poles and Hungarians stand closer together

    Opposition politicians are so happy about the triggering of Article 7 against Hungary, but it means as much as when it was triggered against Poland. So, it means nothing.

    But it means something for Civic Platform (PO) and their hardline friends in the EP: the loss of credibility in the eyes of EU member states and that can lead to a catastrophe for Brussels and defenders of “European values”. This catastrophe will be the collapse of the EU, something what Róża Thun, Franz Timmermans, Guy Verhofstadt and Michał Boni are working hard on.

    What these people care about most is keeping their sinecures and being elected once more to the EP. They fight for their salaries and not for democracy. They are utterly indifferent to democracy as they are to the hardworking people who maintain them and 55,000 Union paper-pushers throughout Europe.

    The more you attack the governments of those countries, the more their nations will resist. Nations which defend their long struggles for freedom and dignity. At last, Poland and Hungary stand together!

    PiS and Fidesz continue to have unwavering support due to their policies against accepting economic migrants and the forced relocation of those people pushed by the EU. Polish voters care more about a safe life in Poland than some multicultural ideology. The anti-Hungarian vote in the EP will not change a thing about that. 

    Jean Claude-Juncker, who reportedly loves a strong drink, recently applauded Timmermans’ “defense of the rule of law” in Hungary and Poland. Timmermans, according to Juncker, is excellent at his job. Which is true, Timmermans is doing everything he can to replace Juncker after the elections to the EP and Juncker supports him in that endeavor because to Juncker, it’s all the same what happens in the EU.

    [block:views=related_articles_field-block]

    Those for whom it’s not the same are PO MEPs who have already lost that credibility in Poland. Internet users have condemned these anti-Hungarian and anti-Polish actions. Their happiness due to the EP’s decision will be short-lived as it will lose them votes in the upcoming elections. Their brainless support for Brussels and support for ACTA2 will also lose them arguments in their fight with the Polish government.

    The world is changing and opposition is unable to keep up with the younger generation and modernization. There is no reason to be happy about the anti-Hungarian EP resolution or eurocrat attacks on Poland. The more you attack the governments of those countries, the more their nations will resist. Nations which defend their long struggles for freedom and dignity. At last, Poland and Hungary stand together!

  • Hungary’s MOL Group builds EUR 1.2 billion polyol plant

    The plant’s equipment will be supplied by Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solution AG, MOL President-CEO Zsolt Hernádi said after the signing ceremony. 

    Thyssen_MOL

    Marcel Fasswald, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG (L) and Zsolt Hernádi, MOL President-CEO (R)

    Hernádi said the Hungarian government will contribute EUR 131 million to the project that has also been approved by the European Union. The plant will produce 200,000 tons of polyols per year, “propelling the company to a significant position in the 1.4 million ton European polyol market,” he said.

    The plant is planned to begin production in the second half of 2021.

    Polyols are organic compounds containing several hydroxyl (-OH) groups. They include sugar alcohols used in food sweeteners and polyvinyl alcohols, the main binding agents in resins and oil-based paints.

     

  • PM Orbán’s Facebook flooded with supportive comments

    The ovewhelming majority of the comments – many of them from various countries around the globe – congratulated Orbán and encouraged him to continue his fight against illegal immigration.

    “Sincere greetings from Germany, Mr. Orbán! I very appreciate your efforts for a strong and unite Europe and you defending it against illegal mass immigration and against a growing islamic influence in Europe! Thank you and keep on fighting!,” one comment said.

    Orbán_FB_B

  • Civic Platform’s u-turn on ACTA2

    Pereira is shocked by this sudden change and raised the following questions: “Why did they change their opinion? What sort of arguments were presented to PO MEPs as part of the EPP?”.

    He argues that “it is German interests that are the most prevalent when it comes to pressure and lobbying in the EU Parliament”. He also drew attention to the fact that German “Der Spiegel” even wrote that this directive outright “fulfills the policies of Axel Springer”.

    Pereira claims that German publishers will benefit most from tighter internet control.

    That is a repetition of a certain political scheme: the changes to the law are being forced and are unsupported by the majority of European society

    In July, PO’s official twitter account tweeted: “NO to ACTA2! YES to internet freedom!”:

    https://twitter.com/Platforma_org/status/1015184834623365120

    Now, PO MEPs deny any claims of having opposed ACTA2 and try to explain their votes in favor: “We’ve already heard claims that this is an attack on internet freedom. A bigger lie cannot be made up,” says PO MEP Tadeusz Zwiefka.

    “These are actions which will benefit internet users. It will help them feel safer.”

    The head of TVP Info warns that the newest regulations are much more dangerous than the first ACTA in 2012.

    He underlines that we are seeing a repetition of certain political outlines: “The changes to the law are being forced and are unsupported by the majority of European society.”

  • Poland will not vote EU sanctions against Hungary

    Poland is concerned about the European Parliament’s decision that will launch proceedings against Hungary based on Article 7. of the Lisbon Treaty, the Polish Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website.

    “Every European Union state has the sovereign right to implement any internal reforms it deems appropriate. Proceedings against individual member states only serve to deepen the division between member states and further reduce citizens’ faith in the European institutions”, the statement said.

    On Wednesday the European Parliament approved the LIBE Committee report, triggering a procedure against Hungary while on December 20, 2017 the European Commission launched proceedings against Poland. After the vote on Wednesday Hungary accused the European Parliament of fraud as it did not include abstentions in the tally, which would have changed the outcome of the vote and said it was looking into seeking legal remedy.

  • Defending Duda’s claim that the EU is an “imaginary community”

    On Tuesday in Leżajsk in South-Eastern Poland President Andrzej Duda spoke about how he wants Poles to believe that someone is thinking about them and not some “imaginary community, which is of little importance to Poles.”

    He claimed that a community focused on Polish issues is important for Poland, because those are what matters most. “When our issues are solved, we will then focus on the European ones. Till then, they should leave us alone and let us fix Poland, because that’s the most important,” Duda said in Leżajsk.

    Opposition politicians have criticized the President. Civic Platform’s leader Grzegorz Schetyna said that Duda does not understand how much damage to Poland’s image and position such words can do.

    When our issues are solved, we will then focus on the European ones. Till then, they should leave us alone and let us fix Poland, because that’s the most important

    Krzysztof Szczerski, the Chief of the Cabinet of the President states that “the President’s opinion on the European Union spoken in Lejżask was right and strong”. Szczereski said that he was surprised that it was considered to be controversial. “The EU should be rebuilt from the ground up, based on what are national communities.”

    Szczerski added that “you cannot create a fake community which is then forced on countries. It should be built based on real and true engagement from EU citizens.”

    The chief of the presidential cabinet also underlined that this opinion “stood out” in response to Jean Claude-Juncker’s speech on the future of the European Union. Szczerski argued that Duda’s words should be treated as “an important voice in the context of discussion about the state and future of the EU.”

  • Budapest bomber sentenced to life

    The man, only identified by his first name and initials as Gergely László P. detonated a bomb containing eight kilograms of explosives and six kilograms of nails, timing it to injure or kill the two police officers patrolling the busy downtown area.

    The Budapest Court found him guilty of attempted murder, illegal use of explosives and planning a terrorist attack. The two police officers remained in a critical condition for several days and one of them suffered permanent hearing loss.

    Following the attack, the bomber sent an e-mail to the Ministry of Interior describing the bomb-making process and police also found an unsent e-mail on his computer in which he was asking for EUR 1 million or he would detonate another bomb, Judge József Kalina said at the announcement of the sentence

    The life sentence in Hungary means in practice a minimum of 25 years in prison. Both sides appealed the sentence, with the prosecution asking for a more severe one and the defense for a reduction.

  • Sulík: Juncker’s proposals regarding asylum are unacceptable

    The leader of the liberals believes that Juncker’s comments about the necessity of a united Europe are not reflecting the reality and the European Comission’s president efforts. “In various countries the eurosceptical parties were strengthening, not to mention Brexit, where Juncker was not lifting even a finger to keep Great Britain in the EU. We are more distant of a concept of a united Europe than we were four years ago.”

    Sulík also believes that despite the falling numbers of asylum seekers this mere fact won’t solve the immigration issue. “If the problems are huge because a million people with a different cultural background arrived to a country and the next year the number of the arrivals drops by eighty percent, that means the problem instead of solving is actually 20 percent more actual,” pointed out Sulík who believes Juncker’s concept of asylum politics is unacceptable.

    The leader of SaS thinks that the vision in reality includes Dublin 4 and a 250, 000 euro fine per capita for not fulfilling the quota. “It is the highest time for this mister to end his presidency of the commission because otherwise he would cause a lot of wrong deeds,” Sulík said  

  • Why punish Hungary?

    Anna Záborská (KDH) claimed that while she has certain reservations to a few steps of the Hugarian government she couldn’t support Sangertini’s report and voted against. The document is biased and not objective, it includes issues which were solved in the past and other criticized measures are in effect in other European countries as well. Záborská believes that the report was presented in the parliament because the European Commission was not able to gather enough objective arguments to act as in the case of Poland. “Instead of facts there is ideology and political gestures, which I reject,” emphasized the Christian conservative MEP.

    Branislav Škripek (OĽaNO) believes that the states of Central Europe have a right to formulate a vision of the European project. “The Hungarian government is far from being a similar danger to the European Union as the deformed democracy of left-wing liberalism,” added Škripek who thinks the real danger to democracy is killing journalists, like in the case of Slovakia and Malta, and the Hungarian process resembles a witch hunt.

    Richard Sulík (SaS) was one of the MEPs who opted to abstain as well as Jana Žitňanská (Nova). She claimed that escalating the conflicts will only help those politicians who are trying to enforce their own goals in the European Union. “The further radicalization is not in the interests of the EU neither in Slovakia. The report also contains a few errors and in many places exceeds the purpose of evaluation,” added Žitňanská.

  • EP resorts to trickery to trigger sanctions against Hungary

    The European Parliament passed the report of the LIBE Comittee compiled by Dutch Green MEP Judith Sargentini with 448 for, 197 against and 48 abstentions, news portal Origo writes. After the vote, Szíjjártó said at a press conference that the outcome was the result of trickery in the counting of the vote.

    Today’s European Parliament decision was nothing else but the petty revenge of pro-immigration politicians against Hungary,” Szijjarto said. “The decision was made in a fraudulent way, and contrary to relevant rules in European treaties.

    The minister was referring to the fact that, prior to the vote, the European Parliament decided not to include abstentions in the tally. With today’s abstentions included in the vote count, the yes side falls 14 votes short of the required two-thirds majority.

    Szíjjártó also said Hungary is examining legal options to challenge the measure because the abstentions were not included in the count.

    While the measure does not mean immediate sanctions against Hungary, it does open the possibility for such and also means that the country will likely receive a formal warning for violating the EU’s fundamental values.

    This was the first case in the history of the European Union that the EP voted on triggering an Article 7 process against a member country. Last year, the European Commission, as the executive arm of the Union, launched Article 7 proceedings against Poland for its judiciary reform.

  • Czech MEPs and EU regulation threaten free internet

    After nearly a two-year long struggle, the European parliament is going to vote on the EU online copyright reform. Despite all the difficulties that have been accompanying the legislation from the very beginning, it was approved by the JURI committee and MEPs already voted whether it will be discussed publicly in plenary or non-publicly in trialogue. Back then, only Michalea Šojdrová and Stanislav Polčák voted in favor ur of the trialogue.

    Evžen Tošenovský (Civic Democrats) finds the regulation poorly prepared and he will support only some parts of it – articles 3 and 11, but not article 13.

    Jiří Payne went even further saying that the “EU is doing its best to lack-behind”. Once again it is based on an assumption that the EU knows best, therefore it is hard to fight back. He will vote against the regulation.

    Tomáš Zdechovský said it is unlikely that the legislation will move forward in legislative process because of an extraordinary number of amendments. Thus, he will not support it.

    Michalea Šojdrová (Christian Democrats) does not share their views. According to her it is crucial that authors are being paid for their (copyrighted) works, also for when they are published online.

    However, it is the number of amendments that might overturn today’s voting. For example, Dita Charanzová (ANO) and Pavel Telička (form. ANO) are going to support some of them. Charanzová finds some amendments important and simply doesn’t want to ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’. Telička will vote in favor of amendments that supports his stance and those he helped to prepare.

  • Censorship in Czech Television

    ODS spokesman Jana Havelková says it was not a coincidence or a technical problem. She calls for the publication of a rule on the basis of why Czech Televison decided not to broadcast the Fiala’s speech. Czech Television responded by saying that the news station ČT24 and its editorial board are autonomous.

    “We have come to the stage where Czech Televison decides what the chairman of the strongest opposition party can and cannot tell the citizens of the Czech Republic at the beginning of a plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies,” Petr Fiala wrote on  Twitter.

    Fiala also shared the whole speech on his Facebook page. He wanted to criticize Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who, according to him, is only campaigning but not fulfilling his promises. Fiala also called the prime minister to a debate with his political opponents.

  • Former President Vaclav Klaus sharply criticizes Merkel

    According to Klaus, Merkel is “misusing the German historical guilty conscience, German anti-Semitism, which led to the Holocaust and the Auschwitz furnace, to intimidate citizens.”

    The Chancellor is only downplaying devastating impacts of migration by referring to recent violence as an act of individuals. Klaus, who is openly supporting anti-immigrant AfD, called Merkel’s words a mockery of the reality, while neglected the excesses of the far-right extremist. European democrats cannot tolerate this, he said.

    Klaus reacted to Merkel’s statement on Monday, in which she named three major challenges that Germany is currently facing – rising right-wing radicalism, anti-Semitism and violent behavior of individual immigrants.

  • The sanction process against Hungary is hypocritical

    For years, European institutions have promoted austerity policy and the EU was not in the habit of protesting when rating agencies threatened countries by tightening conditions for borrowing. Now Hungary is to be penalized for being economically responsible.

    Hungary has been accused of breaching fundamental values of the EU and MEPs will vote today over triggering the sanction process, which may lead to the suspension of the country’s voting right in the European Council.

    It is clear that some of the accusations are there only to serve a purpose. For example, Hungary has been accused of having a low basic income rate and low unemployment benefits. The hypocrisy is striking, not to mention that social policies should be decided by each member state.

    Ironically, if Hungary would not be economically responsible, it would be threatened to end up like Greece. It seems so that by being economically responsible the country is only adding fuel to the fire.

    The question is why the EU is not following the same procedures against every right-wing government, which is cutting the social security of employees and benefits for the unemployed.

  • German policy regarding Nord Stream 2 is failing

    The research fellow of Oxford Institute for Energy Studies pointed out that Germany is unable to fulfill its CO2 emission quota and despite its irregularities the European Union should deal with the issue similarly as in the case of other countries – like Greece and its budget deficit.

    Bros is skeptical about Nord Stream, believing the proposed gas pipe between Germany and Russia will not be built according to the plans if it depends on the European Commission.

    “How is it possible that the Commission stopped the South Stream project and will ignore Nord Stream 2, which is completely identical?,” asked the expert.

    Bros also added that “unbundling”, the differentiation between the provider of gas and the transporter thwarted the southern gas project and Brussels is doing everything to stop the northern project based on the same principles. This similarity creates confusion among other states, like Italy and the Visegrad Four.

  • Orbán defended Hungary’s honor, says Fidesz

    The debate itself made it quite clear that this was a conceptual trial and the verdict has already been written, Magyar Idők reported.

    Kocsis – speaking to journalists in Budapest following the EP plenary session in Strasbourg – said that Hungary and its people are being branded for repeatedly standing up against illegal immigration.

    He said the dividing line in the debate was between the pro- and anti-immigration side. He said pro-immigration politicians are for now in the majority in the EP and the Sargentini report is their last-ditch attack against Hungary.

    Kocsis said MEPs paid by billionaire financier George Soros “are attempting to set the tone for the European election campaign.” Referring to Wednesday’s expected vote in the EP, he said pro-immigration representatives will make their choice, but the real decision will brought at the elections next May, where constituents will also express their opinion on migration policy.

    But even so, it is a matter of honor for Hungary to refute the false allegations of the Sargentini report and regardless of the outcome of the vote, Hungarian Parliament is going to condemn the attack of “the pro-migration European politicians against our nation.”

    He said the leftist Hungarian MEPs stance against their own country was tantamount to treason as they know perfectly well that the accusations and slander of the report are patently false. Kocsis also said that there is a divide within the European People’s Party regarding migration policies, while these issues and their handling are not a party problem they are a general European one.

     

  • Czarnecki: We are against any immigration from outside of Europe

    Many questions had been directed at the Polish government concerning the increase of foreigners arriving in Poland. In a series of tweets, PiS MEP Ryszard Czarnecki responded to these concerns and underlined that the position of the Polish government remains unchanged when it comes to accepting immigrants imposed by the EU. 

    “The Polish government and PiS MEPs have not changed their position concerning the influx of illegal immigrants (mostly Muslims) into our country by an inch under pressure from the EU: we are AGAINST it and will be AGAINST it!,” writes Czarnecki on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/r_czarnecki/status/1039464984256962560

    Czarnecki further clarified his comments, arguing that the government is against any immigration coming from outside of Europe to the country. 

    “To be precise; we are completely against any immigration from outside of Europe to Poland! That is the position of the government and the public opinion!”

    https://twitter.com/r_czarnecki/status/1039469042128568320

    On Monday PiS MP Anna Sobecka asked the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy what are the premises of bringing over workers from Asia to Poland. She also asked what was being done by the ministry to accept Polish repatriates from the East and to stop Polish emigration.

  • Europe stuck between liberals and fascists

    For the previous two centuries the division of Europe into the West and the East was the main order not only in the world of values and ideas, but also in practice. Today, through the migrant crisis and the conflict around the rule of law, the old system of the civilized West and modernizing East is trying to be recreated.

    The logic behind Europe’s ideological war is created by the line of thought, that there are only two options: to be a liberal or a fascist. This is connected to the division between West and East, which was particularly apparent during the 80s and 90s when German unification was at stake. Back then, people in East Germany chanted “we are one people”. In Chemnitz, Saxony, people chanted “we are a nation, not Nazis”.

    The logic behind Europe’s ideological war is created by the line of thought that there are only two options: to be a liberal or a fascist

    Saxony has always had a problem with the far-right. That is why the German press described the protests in Chemnitz as resembling those from the 1930s. Frank Richter, the former head of the Federal Agency for Civic Education in Saxony remarked that: “Saxony was never a part of Western Europe, but the East, that is why it is following in Poland and Hungary’s footsteps.”

    Central and Eastern Europe seem to have become the prisoner of the ideological struggle going on in America, Great Britain, France and Germany. It is being identified as the source of the threat of new fascism. Is that insane? Of course, it’s insane, but – as usual – when reason sleeps, demons awake.

  • Political correction of Netflix’s “The Witcher”

    A British theatre posted auditions for the character of Ciri, the daughter of Geralt, in Netflix’s upcoming production. It was underlined, that the role was for BAME actresses, reports telemagazyn.pl.

    The casting of a BAME actress would be in stark contrast with the character described in Andrzej Sapkowski’s bestselling novels. In the books she is described as having a light skin tone, white hair and green eyes.

    Fans of “The Witcher” accuse Netflix of political correctness and discrimination of white actresses.

    This wouldn’t be so odd, if the world of “The Witcher” didn’t have a Slavic atmosphere and wasn’t set in a Medieval period

    One fan wrote on Twitter that: “I would like to remind supporters of equal rights and those applauding Netflix, that it hasn’t been stated what color of skin Ciri’s actress will have. It’s been underlined that she “can’t be white.” This is borderline racism, not equal rights.”

    http://https://twitter.com/PatrykSlowik/status/1038365189547192321

    “This wouldn’t be so odd, if the world of “The Witcher” didn’t have a Slavic atmosphere and wasn’t set in a Medieval period. The heroine also belongs to the local royal family,” writes another.

    http://https://twitter.com/KangurWA/status/1038736739035230210

    This isn’t Netflix’s first controversial casting decision. In the TV series “Troy: Fall of a City” the characters of Zeus and Achilles were played by black actors.

  • Strasbourg clash between Orbán supporters and opponents

    The debate on Article 7 was only the background for the more important division within the European People’s Party (EPP) between supporters and opponents of Viktor Orbán, liberal news portal Index writes in a commentary piece. 

    On the surface, everything went according to the usual script: mostly Leftist, Liberal and Green MEPs – and a sprinkling of EPP ones – repeatedly said that liberal democracy is the only choice of democracy for a member state of the European Union. Conservatives and the other side of the EPP argued that the European Union has no right to question how a democratically elected administration chooses to govern its country.

    EPP caucus leader Manfred Weber criticized some measures of the Hungarian government in an uncharacteristically severe tone, going as far as saying that a debate prompted by Article 7 “might be necessary”.

    There was also a good amount of political posturing on Weber’s part, who already has an eye on next year’s European elections. He is competing to be the face of the EPP in the coming campaign.

    Orbán_Weber

    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and European People’s Party caucus leader Manfred Weber. (Image: MTI)

    Orbán, in the last two minutes allotted for him in the debate even reacted to Weber’s remarks by saying that his criticism regarding the Central European University was unjust, given how in Weber’s own Bavaria higher education was much more strictly regulated than in Hungary.

    “Even though we belong to the same family of parties, you are applying double standards,” Orbán said

    As always, the debate was not about concrete issues, the two sides rather enumerated again and again their diverging values. These open debates are more about such expositions rather than finding a compromise or reaching a decision. Any such outcome will be decided within the EPP.

     

     

  • MEP Deutsch posts bleak picture of Strasbourg

    “Believe in nothing. Even if it means sacrificing everything,” reads a text superimposed onto the image of the European Parliament’s chamber that appeared on the Deutsch Facebook and Twitter page. The image and text with obvious Orwellian overtones carried multiple references. It was a play on the recent, controversial Nike ad campaign slogan featuring Colin Kaepernick – “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” The ad, in turn, paraphrases Sophie Scholl, a member of the White Rose non-violent, anti-fascist movement, who was executed for treason by the Nazis at the age of 21. MEP Deutsch’s use of the image carries a different connotation following Orbán’s defense during Tuesday’s debate of his country’s pro-Christian culture and anti-immigrant stance.

    The European Parliament is expected to vote today on whether to launch Article 7 proceedings against Hungary. The vote requires a two-thirds majority of voting MEPs. 

  • A “September letter” from Poles to Hungarians

    Below is a translation of the full text of the letter:

    “With sorrow and distress we accept yet another attempt of abuse of community powers against Hungary by European institutions. A democratic and sovereign nation is being attacked because it democratically chose its government against the will of those who consider themselves the owners of Europe. Because that country defends its freedom and traditions. Because that country protects its borders. Because that country wants to break away from its totalitarian communist heritage.

    We all have the right to oppose attempts at imposing a Leftist interpretation of European values and removing them from their Christian roots

    What is more important is that we know from our own experience how unjust, shallow and heavily politicized are the judgments of EU institutions.

    That is why in these days we send our expressions of support and sympathy to our brotherly nation of Hungary. Hungarians, Poles and every other European nation have the right to democratically organize their Fatherland, to independently shape those areas of politics that European treaties leave to nation states. We all also have the right to oppose attempts at imposing a Leftist interpretation of European values and removing them from their Christian roots.

    We are ashamed that Polish post-communist, liberal and leftist politicians, including MEPs are taking part in this smear campaign against Hungary. Unfortunately, their actions refer to the worst models, currently enslaved to outside courts and empires. They are also breaking the sacred Polish-Hungarian friendship. We apologize for their actions.”

  • Slovak Christian Democrats divided on Sargentini report

    Csáky believes that the reports timing is “unlucky” considering it is happening shortly before the elections to the European Parliament. The MEP pointed out that the discussion about the report was not being held as an effective dialogue but as a part of a political struggle. “The issues in Hungary should be solved after the elections or much earlier than now. Nothing is going to be solved regarding Hungary,” said Csáky.

    Miroslav Mikolášik thinks that Sargentini is an inexperienced politician who was influenced by pressure and the report includes half-lies and misstatements. The Christian democrat MEP warned that the report is being supported mainly by liberals, socialists and communists, while many countries cannot fulfill their duties coming from the European legislative. If the European Parliament cares about the issue of state of the law, they should rather focus on Romania.

    Ivan Štefanec, the head of the Slovak EPP delegation in the European Parliament believes that the voting would be about European values and thinks that many questions raised in Sargentini’s report were left unanswered after Orbán’s speech.

    Anna Záborská on the other hand claims she will vote against the report. The MEP believes that despite a few issues pointed out in the report the opening Chapter 7 of the treaty is not necessary. Orbán’s government is being held responsible for measures connected with protecting the families and life, which is in the competence of every member state. Záborská warned that the discussion will further polarize the European community.

  • PM Orbán: Hungary will not yield to blackmail

    After listening to opening remarks in today’s European Parliamentary debate on the situtation in Hungary, Prime Minister Orbán said that while he could not change the opinions of MEPs, he was still going to defend his nation and country.

    I know that you have already formed your opinion. I know that the majority will approve the report.

    He said that by doing so, the EP will not condemn a government but a country and a nation. “A nation that has for a thousand years been part of the family of Christian European nations, which, contributed its work and if need be, its blood to the defense of Europe.”

    Orbán said that the report contained 37 factual errors and Hungary has delivered to each MEP a 108-page document refuting the report’s allegations.

    “You want to condemn Hungary because it has decided not to be an immigrant country,” the prime minister said, adding that despite their differences, Hungary “would never exclude anyone because they don’t agree with us.” He said that Hungary had defended its own borders and those of Europe and that it was unprecedented that a community condemns its own border guards.

    Despite the outcome of the the debate and the vote on Wednesday, Hungary will stay its course, he said, adding

    I respectfully inform you that whatever your decision, Hungary will not yield to blackmail, is going to halt illegal migration and defend its rights – even against you, if need be

     

  • Immigration increases the Czech population

    The population of the Czech Republic increased due to foreign migration, the balance of which amounted to 17,700 inhabitants. Year-on-year, both the number of immigrants and emigrants increased. A total of 29,200 people migrated to the Czech Republic, which is 7,800 more than the year before.

    On the contrary, 11,500 inhabitants moved out of the Czech Republic abroad, 2,600 more than in the first half of 2017. The largest number of immigrants and emigrants were the citizens of Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

  • The migration period has begun

    We are mature, cultural, and democratic. We have more advanced technologies and weapons than Rome did. And also a far more developed society. More than others.

    Like in Rome in the year 300 but 170 years later, almost nothing is left. Today, another population lives there and speaks another language. The Roman civilization collapsed. The area, then, reached similar technological and cultural levels only and now it will probably be repeated.

    The empire collapsed from the pressure from outside, but it was defeated as a result of already being disintegrated from inside. Thus, Europe is in danger of a similar destiny.

    Civilizations simply disappear sometimes, but not all of them in the same way. For instance self-destruction of our civilization is new. The Romans did not send volunteers and legions to rescue Germanic “refugees“ in the Alps and did not bring them to Rome. They did not have the feeling that it was their fault that other civilizations were poorer than them.

    Cultural Marxists and those who are digging a grave to our civilization try to narrow the current issue of migration to legal/illegal. Like if it gets a little bit legal, it is not the same problem, but it is. 

    Multiculturalism does not exist. It is a round square. The newcomers either assimilate or they do not and then there is a conflict, even after a couple of decades.

    And countries change. Within a few years, criminality has increased and the composition of offenders has changed. The data is being hidden or trivialized. The face of cities is changing. The atmosphere and security in schools. The original inhabitants are being pushed out of public space, and when they oppose, the media label them as neo-Nazis and right-wing radicals.

    Perhaps, we are the Eastern Roman Empire which lasted a thousand years longer. But let´s not act as if nothing is happening. In Saxony (and Sweden), our civilization’s future is being decided on. God protect AfD and the Swedish Democrats.

  • Sweden is divided, anti-immigrant rhetoric paid off

    The polarized country has to deal with a party that nearly one fifth of voters wants but no one will govern. Social Democrats won once again, but their prospects are unusually bad.

    Just like in Germany, Hungary or the Czech Republic, the success of Sweden Democrats showed that there is not a topic that should be tabooed in a campaign or in general, and that political correctness will no longer be a mainstream for most political parties and the media.

    The elections have shown that Sweden is no longer an example of a country where everything is fine and where there are no problems at all. That´s why the eurosceptics from Sweden Democrats succeeded.

    Pre-election surveys also failed once again. More and more popular Swedish Democrats gained a little less than expected. In some surveys they even led, but they actually finished third. They were doing well in internet surveys but they are always different from actual voting.

    In any case, the Sunday elections mean a huge change for Sweden. Hardly anyone can question the impact that mass migration has on a welfare state, which has been untouchable for Swedes.

  • Most Czech MEPs support Orbán

    It is unclear which way the vote will go but Orbán is likely to benefit from some support from his political group (EPP). Also members of ECR are expected to vote against the measures.

    For example, MEP Tomas Zdechovsky (Christian Democratic Party) sharply criticized the Sargentini report, saying it is evidence of an effort to discredit Hungary at all costs. “I will vote against it. For any state, there is no fundamental threat to democracy, when there is no 100 percent gender equality in the country and the family is still defined as mom-dad-children,“ Zdechovsky said.

    Also, MEPs who are members of the Civic Democratic Party will not support any calls for sanctions on Hungary. According to Jan Zahradil, V4 countries must stick together and Central Europe should not be penalized for its different views, for example on migration policy.

    Social Democrat Jan Keller sees sanctions as a direct attack on the solidarity of the V4 countries. Also Jaromir Kohliček (member of The Communist Party) is going to vote against sanctions, saying it would be a gross interference in the internal affairs of Hungary. The only MEP who will support the sanctions is Jaromír Štětina (TOP 09).

  • New ice hockey logo receives criticism

    The Slovak coat of arms is a red shield in an early Gothic style, charged with a silver double cross standing on the middle peak of a dark blue mountain consisting of three peaks.

    Jan Drgonec, a former member of the Supreme Court believes that the modification of the state symbols should not be allowed.

    Martin Glváč (Smer) commented on the changes in a similar fashion and pointed out that changes on the hockey kit should not affect state symbols.

    Anton Hrnko (SNS) thinks that the goal of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation is to replace the state symbols with pseudo artistic compositions, the MP heavily protested against the changes on Facebook.

    Several politicians from the opposition were also dissatisfied, like Boris Kollár (Sme Rodina) who believes that Slovak hockey players should wear the state symbols proudly.

  • PM Orbán: The verdict has already been written

    In a Facebook video posted this morning before his departure, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said pro-migration representatives have a majority in the European Parliament.

    “They are now preparing for revenge against Hungary, because the Hungarians have decided they will not become an immigrant country. The truth is that the verdict has already been written. I am now going to Brussels to defend Hungary and the Hungarian people against unfair accusations and lies,” he said. 

  • Why do extremists flourish in boring places?

    The Swedish Democrats became the third biggest political party in the country by gaining 17 percent of total votes. For “boring Sweden” this represents a similar shock than Sander’s victory would be in the United States two years ago.

    The socialists won the elections, but they don’t have much reason to celebrate. The anti-immigrant populists’ success creates a stalemate situation. The world media was competing in adding extremist attributes to the Swedish Democrats. The leftist Guardian claimed they are far right, Germans were using the term “rightist populists.” The truth is somewhere in the middle. Despite the neo-Nazi roots the current leader, the charismatic 39 year old Jimmie Akesson is trying to dispose of the racist remarks. The Swedish Democrats are not throwing bricks at Muslim mothers, and don’t use totalitarian symbols. Swedish politics in this aspect is just as boring as in the last hundred years.

    What the success of the “extremists” means for Sweden? It means a zero chance to have a stable government, neither of the sides has majority in parliament and the big coalitions have no tradition in the country.

  • Dozens of car models unavailable in Hungary

    At least 50 popular car models are currently unavailable in Hungary, news portal Origo reports. These include different variations of the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia preferred in Hungary.

    The reason is that in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal that broke in 2015, car makers now have to comply with the new WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) as of September 1st and models that do not have that certification cannot be sold.

    In addition to the above-mentioned models, the missing certification also affects the VW T-Roc, Tiguan, Sharan, Up, Skoda Karoq, Audi Q2, A6, all Audi S and RS models as well as the TDI versions of Seat Alhambra and Seat Ateca.

    It seems that most brands offered in Hungary are to some extent affected by the shortage, except the makes and models of the French PSA Groupe (Peugeot, Citroën and Opel).

    Car dealers expect the problem will be solved within a few weeks.

  • PM Orbán is not the accused, but the accuser

    The Sargentini report and the threat to invoke Article 7 are proof that the European Union’s elite is afraid of the anti-migration alternative that is rapidly gaining ground in Europe, Magyar Hírlap writes.

    This is why they are using questionable methods to keep Orbán from elaborating his position by only allowing him seven minutes to present his point of view. But Kiszelly said that unless they manage to turn the rule of law on its head, the required two thirds majority is unlikely.

    In the meantime, more and more people are sympathetic of the Hungarian position supporting families and potential refugees in their home countries. In Western Europe this is for the time being mostly reflected in popular opinion, but Italy, Austria and the Visegárd Four have raised this to the level of government policy.

    The Hungarian solution is working and that is why the Brussels elite is increasingly desperate and uses every available trick to oppose it, including censorship of social media platforms, Kiszelly said.

    But, despite the intentions of forcing Orbán into defensive mode, he will turn the tables on them and become the accuser from the accused. As for the domestic political arena, the Hungarian opposition is weak and ineffective, desperately seeking outside support. This is why they are voting their own country siding with their potential masters in Brussels.

  • Socialists to vote against Hungary in Brussels

    Reversing a previous position of the party to abstain, the MSZP board of leaders decided on Monday that its MEPs will vote against Hungary, meaning that all opposition parties will do so, Magyar Idők writes. The Democratic Coalition (former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány’s splinter party) and the Green Dialogue for Hungary has already announced it will do so.

    The Socialists argued that they have for a long time been saying the same things contained in the EP report, so they have to be consequent in their voting. Only a few weeks ago, when asked about their intentions, several Socialists said “we will not betray our country”. Now the party leadership has changed its position and Socialist MEP István Ujhelyi said voting in favor of the report is the patriotic duty in the interest people and country.

    He also posted an image saying the same thing on his Facebook page:

    Ujhelyi

    Socialist Vice-President Csaba Molnár said should the European Parliament invoke Article 7, that will not be against Hungary as a country but against the Hungarian government. 

    Dialogue for Hungary MEP Benedek Jávor also confirmed that he will vote against Hungary, saying that “in the opinion of Dialogue, this will most likely be Viktor Orbán’s last political dance on the European political stage.”

  • PM Orbán has already won the Brussels battle

    “Smile to me, brother” whispered Emperor Commodus to the shackled Maximus before stabbing him in the back. He then ordered his soldier to put the armor on Maximus, so spectators in the arena cannot see he has already been wounded. But even half-dead, Maximus still defeated the crazy Emperor.

    What we are going to see in the European Parliament today reminds me of this scene from the famous Gladiator movie. PM Orbán will only be given a few minutes to defend himself, his government and Hungary against Sargentini’s backstabbing. The written-to-order report is a collection of all the inanities, outright lies and effronteries parroted by the Hungarian opposition for years.

    The credibility of the document is such: it says the introduction of administrative courts that already exist in several EU member states is a threat to the rule of law in Hungary. And the list goes on. Following Orbán’s third consecutive overwhelming electoral victory, Madam Sargentini dismissed the result in an interview given to Hungarian weekly HVG:

    “From a democratic perspective, an election is but the icing on the cake. It is an important element of democracy, but in itself does not equal democracy.”

    In other words: regardless of the people’s choice, democracy is what Sargentini and her Brussels buddies declare it to be. And in that sense the Dutch lady is certainly right: if she is the embodiment of “European values”, then Hungary does indeed not obey them. Stupidity, falsehood, incompetence and liberal hysteria can at best be tolerated, hopefully only until next May.

    Liberals, Communists, Socialists, Greens, Genderists and Soros-employees will have hours to spit on the Hungarian government but Orbán will only be allowed seven minutes for defense. But they don’t realize that despite all the backstabbing, trickery with votes and lies Orbán has already won this battle. He has made it clear that Hungary is being punished for defending its borders, rejecting illegal immigration and multiculturalism.

    They can write all the reports they want, but when next May comes Europe will rise up against Liberal dictatorship, and we will for a good time be spared their fervor.

  • What can Duda get from Trump?

    On September 18th, Andrzej Duda will take part in an official visit to the United States. He will finally be able to speak with Donald Trump one on one. This is a dream come true for Law and Justice (PiS) politicians. What’s more, Duda should be able to gain a few important declarations concerning Polish safety from his hosts.

    There are two objections to be made, however:

    First of all, no matter if you’re a supporter of the President or not, you should cross your fingers for the success of this visit. It concerns the safety of all of Poland and every Pole, not just a single political option. It would be best for everyone, if Duda brought something concrete from his visit to the US and not just “shiny trinkets”.

    Secondly, whether you’re a supporter of seeing Poland as Washington’s most loyal European ally or Poland as a strongly integrated European nation, you should still cross your fingers. Today and tomorrow, it is the US which holds the instruments so vital to our current security.

    What Duda can get

    So what is Duda travelling to the US for? American sanctions on companies participating in Nord Stream 2, a permanent US military base on Polish soil and new American investments in Poland (especially those concerning energy, technology and the arms industry). As well as abolishing visas for Poles and closer cooperation in terms of espionage and counterintelligence could be possible.

    What Duda can offer

    What could America expect in exchange? Access to chosen arms contracts with Poland and protection of American interests on the Polish market (which could annoy PiS in terms of the media, but it’s a pill they’ll have to swallow). 

    As for euro enthusiasts, don’t worry. Even if Trump demands and Duda accepts Poland being America’s “Trojan Horse in the EU”, it will remain between the two men and won’t have an influence on actual politics.

  • Eurocrats trying to trick Hungary in the European Parliament

    The Polish Press Agency (PAP) has quoted a source in the EP that abstinent votes will not be counted as cast votes during voting over the triggering of Article 7. Such a decision increases the risk of a negative decision for Viktor Orbán.

    The voting over the document calling for triggering Article 7 against Hungary will take place on Wednesday in the European Parliament in Strasburg. The authors of the document claim that Hungary has broken the rule of law.

    Hungarian Fidesz EMPs have been warning since last week that a political trick could be used to trigger Article 7. For the European Parliament to accept the document, there must be a 2/3 majority of votes. If other EMPs abstain from voting, then this majority will possibly not be reached.

    The same trick again

    The issue is whether abstained votes should be counted. The 7.1 article of the Treaty only states that for the Council of the European Union to take action “two thirds of given votes are needed”. Whether abstinent votes should be counted is up for interpretation.

    The same mechanism was used against Polish Law and Justice (PiS) EMP Ryszard Czarnecki when he was voted out of his position of Vice President of the European Parliament. Then, the result was uncertain and the decision to exclude abstinent votes decided on Czarnecki losing his position.

  • Civic coalition and its allies move to the left

    Equality, women’s rights, social sensitivity, egalitarianism – these were the slogans of KO’s Saturday party convention.

    Schetyna presented what is called the “six-pack”. Much like Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s program, it is a series of reforms concerning local governments. They include the “school of equal chances” which foresees free public transport for school children, a program with benefits for the elderly, plans to combat pollution, the completion of construction of outdoor sport centers and increase in the power of marshal offices at the cost of voivodes’.

    KO also gained a new ally in the form of Barbara Nowacka and her leftist Poland Initiative group. As a result the Initiative broke apart.

    PiS: calm reaction

    KO did not forget to refer to Law and Justice (PiS) during its convention. They warned that PiS is Putin’s lobbyist in Europe. Schetyna emphasised that the upcoming elections are the “four battles” which will determine whether Poles want to live in Western or Eastern Europe.

    KO has many plans to meet voters throughout the country, but unlike Morawiecki, Schetyna did not get on a party campaign bus to start campaigning right after his convention.

    PiS’s politicians have reacted calmly to KO’s convention. They underlined that the Civic Platform’s (PO) declarations are “empty promises” and reminded of PO declarations between 2007 and 2015.

    The leader of the peasant party (PSL) also commented on KO’s convention. “Where some go to the Left and others to the Right, we remain in the Center,” said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. He also referred to the recent political attacks of PiS on PSL – “PM Morawiecki is a liar.”

  • Orlen CEO: They were stealing for eight years

    People from the former Polish regime were stealing from the state for eight years, says Obajtek in an interview for Sieci weekly. These are the same people who now – in the name of Civic Paltform – have the audacity to print posters claiming “PiS stole millions. – It is PiS who stopped all of these thefts!”

    Obajtek claims that “they stole from the state for eight, or in a broader outlook, even thirty years. They do not seek to increase Poland’s wealth, but how to take away from the State Treasury more and more resources, companies and how to enfranchise themselves.”

    The CEO of Orlen is also certain that criminal procedures had place in his own company. He explains one of the methods as simple: “Where you could make a cut, you surrounded it with contracts and deals to trickle away profits. Then you sold the weakened structure for half-price to your pals and moved on to the next cut.”

    They stole from the state for eight, or in a broader outlook, even thirty years. They do not look to increase Poland’s wealth, but how to take away from the State Treasury more and more resources

    Now it is hard to reanimate and recreate certain partnerships. Some infrastructure elements are out of the reach of Orlen. Due to the siphoning of money, the safety of Orlen’s infrastructure and work is at risk.

    When under the rule of the Civic Platform his predecessors were unable to steal from state-owned companies, they trapped those companies in a web of “connections, partnerships and deals which transferred their money to private accounts.”

    The head of Orlen also referred to threats being sent in his direction: “I’m not surprised. If Orlen and the Polish state are earning more from the sale of petrol, someone is losing out. If we are developing our petrochemical industry, then someone’s vein of gold is drying out.”

  • Soros is not the only one

    Popular economist Marketa Sichtarova focused on the case surrounding a pedophile and an elite psychiatrist, who worked for the Norwegian social service Barnevernet. This is the well-known office that takes children from families on the basis of fictitious accusations. In the Czech Republic, the broadly medialized case of Eva Michalakova is particularly well-known in connection with this organization.

    Although George Soros is considered the most significant exporter of the new liberal leftist doctrine, he is not the only one. While Soros took especially mixing of nationalities and migration from this doctrine, Norway, through the so-called Norwegian funds, is rather interested in gender and (anti)family topics.

    In the countries where the Norwegian funds operate, even cases which have little to do with politics, are politicized. Exactly such is the case of children taken away from their parents. Another case happened in Switzerland where a Czech woman was without justification declared to be mentally ill, and the authorities then took her child away. This is what the new book called The Solen Son is about.

    Society is divided. On the one hand, there is multiculturalism, neo-Marxism, positive discrimination against minorities, growing racism against white people, militant feminism, an attempt to destroy national states and family ties. On the other hand, there is recognition of nations, recognition of families, recognition of personal responsibility. These two concepts are also reflected in cases such as the case of Eva Michalakova or the Stolen Son.

    Some people are afraid that if it turns out that law is on the side of parents and their children, it would be a direct attack on the state and therefore the entire liberal left-wing religion. Then the arguments and facts are completely overlooked because, like any religion, neither left-wing liberalism does not need the facts for its faith. And through the social democratic politicians especially, this new religion is being forced on us.

  • Crazy migration plans of the European elite

    There are millions of people currently trying to find their way in Europe. And they do not want to become Germans, British, Italian or Swedes, but to live in better material conditions. This is a threat to European countries, not the fact that migrants are coming illegally.

    The massive legal arrival of migrants causes the same problems as illegal migration. There is a threat that illegal migration will be legalized but the fundamental problem of colonizing Europe with non-adaptive migrants remains.

    The legal arrival of migrants in Europe is therefore not a victory of common sense, but simply another mad plan of the gradual ethnic transformation of our continent.

    We should also not celebrate the end of the debate about quotas. If Western European countries are willing to give asylum and residence permits, then they are opening the doors to the entire Schengen area. No government will be able to solve it.

  • The rise and fall of Emmanuel Macron

    Economic growth in Fance is almost zero. Unemployment remains at a high level of around 8.9 percent. French public spending is at 56.4 percent of GDP and is still the highest in Europe. France is also often paralyzed by public transport strikes and the so called no-go zones continue to expand.

    Also there is the case of Alexandre Benalla, the President’s personal bodyguard, who brutally attacked two people in the center of Paris. At first, Macron was completely silent. After six days he said he is taking responsibility for Benalla’s affair at a private meeting with MPs and ministers. He probably hoped to scare the critics but he did not succeed. The anger of his opponents only intensified. They marked Macron’s reaction as scandalous, insulting and inappropriate.

    As far as European policy is concerned, Macron is one of the major defenders of multicultural, post-national, post-democratic and post-Christian Europe. An increasing number of Europeans see that this trend leads only to the destruction of their own civilization and vote for the leaders who are fighting against this development.

    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán won the election with the campaign aimed at defending European Jewish-Christian roots, national sovereignty and against Muslim immigration. The new Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has a similar program and the Polish and Czech governments have similar attitudes as Kurz and Orban.

    Politicians who support the same vision of Europe as President Macron have been excluded from the political scene in recent months, or their positions have been significantly weakened. Italian Matteo Renzi was defeated in the election in 2018. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, once identified as “the strongest leader in Europe,” now survives only because she has agreed to measures aimed at the restriction of further immigration into Germany.

    The days when Macron was able to marginalize his political opponents has come to an end.

  • Babis: We need a strong Europe

    Apart from the Euro, the Czech PM is interested in the new budget, immigration issues and Brexit. 

    “What we need now is a strong Europe. Europe has problems; we now need unity in foreign and trade policy. Just look at the business dispute with Donald Trump, the development with Putin and Turkey, which as a partner in NATO buys Russian weapons,” Babis said during an interview with German daily Bild.

    The head of the Czech government expressed the opinion that the elections to the European Parliament next year will show what the “silent majority” thinks about migration. He rejected claims that refugees needed to be admitted to the EU and that they needed protection. “In my view, they are all economic migrants. I consider them illegal immigrants; young people who aren’t fleeing from war,” Babiš said. 

    Adopting the Euro was also discussed. According to Babiš, however, it is not the key topic. The Czech Republic is not yet ready to adopt the common currency and it is also necessary to reform the Eurozone, because there are countries that do not fulfill the Maastricht criteria for deficit and debt.

    As in the recent past, Babis also repeatedly expressed the conviction that the Communists do not influence his government and guaranteed that there is no corruption in his government. “For me, money has long been no motivation,” said the politician who is currently being prosecuted for suspicion of subsidy fraud.

  • Poland is a Special Economic Zone

    “This project is meant to encourage investments in less developed areas of Poland and promote innovative technological enterprises in the more developed parts of the country,” explains Jadwiga Emilewicz, the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology. 

    According to a new law one economic zone will administer a few connected neighboring areas. The new bill foresees that all of Poland is one investment area and allows for tax benefits for entrepreneurs for 10 to 15 years.

    Small and medium sized entrepreneurships are rewarded the most, as well as those located in counties with high unemployment rates and towns losing social-economic functions. Thanks to abolishing territorial limits, these companies are able to invest where it is most comfortable for them.

    The newest solutions are to benefit Polish investors, especially small companies because investment outlays will be adjusted to their financial possibilities. The extension of the SEZ to the whole country is also meant to draw foreign investors, which will make Poland much more competitive on the international market. The ministry predicts that in 10 years over 200,000 new workplaces will be opened.

  • Thousands are waiting for Polish jobs in New Delhi

    Due to high demand for workers, employers from Poland have recruited people from the Far East. The majority are from Nepal, India and Bangladesh. There has been a steep increase in work permits granted to foreigners from those countries.

    In the first half of the year voivodship offices have given out 16,000 documents to citizens of those countries, which allow them to undertake work in Poland.

    In addition to work permits the foreigners also need a work visa, which they can obtain at the Polish embassy in New Delhi. The issue is, that there have been too many applications. In seven months, the embassy has given out only 3,500 visas. The waiting time for a Polish working visa in New Delhi is now nine months.

    The waiting time for a Polish working visa in New Delhi is now nine months

    Another issue is the local middle men who flood the system with applications to potentially resell them to those waiting for a work visa. Prices for such applications vary between 1 to 3,000 euros. “We’re fighting against such practices by checking letters, removing false applications and blocking scammers, but these are just temporary solutions,” says Artur Lompart, the spokesmen of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    The problem is to be solved through visa outsourcing. Applications will be dealt with by outside companies. Such solutions have already been implemented in Russia and Ukraine, where visa centers run by companies allow people to apply and receive their passports without actually having to go to a consulate.

  • Carrefour to leave Slovakia

    Carrefour was unable to compete with other retail companies on the Slovak market due to lack of innovation and organizational issues. The only hypermarket was closed in Košice only after a few months.

    Carrefour changed its owner in the last few years but even local businessman Jozef Spirko was unable to magic returns, the last shop in Petrzalka was closed in January 2018.

    Carrefour opened its first supermarket in Slovakia in 2000 and started the tradition of big sellouts half a decade later, however it got into trouble with authorities when it turned out that part of the advertised discounted products were fictional.

  • Civic Platform’s promises always turn out to be the opposite

    When Civic Platform promises something, they always do the opposite. Blogger Dominik Ognisty highlighted a few examples of those promises from 2007 as well as their eventual outcomes:

    – Tax cuts. In the end, not only did PO not lower taxes, they raised them instead.

    – Poland’s economic “return to the sea.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Audit Office (NiK) informed that during Donald Tusk’s government, Polish ports became obsolete. 

    – Allowing parents to decide how their children will be taught. In reality, the PO government made school mandatory for six-year olds, despite protests from parents.

    Many supporters of PO are connected by one thing – their hatred for PiS

    Today, Grzegorz Schetyna (the leader of PO) promises a safe and free Poland. If PO wins, Poland can be expected to become a police state (the aperitif of this was when during PO’s government undercover police officers attacked people partaking in Independence Day marches).

    When it comes to promised prosperity, PO let VAT thieves prosper. PiS gave the poor equal chances through their social benefit programs as well as denying wealth to criminals. PO doesn’t like this and wants a different kind of prosperity.

    Many supporters of PO are connected by one thing – their hatred for PiS. They’re like rowdy football fans – when their team is losing, the opposing one should be spat on and beaten up. They don’t care about what Schetyna says. What’s important is for the PO leaders to “stick it up” to PiS. PO politicians are aware of this and try to antagonize everything that is connected to PiS.

    As long as there won’t be a democratic opposition in Poland, one which will respect the will of the people and the rights of minorities, Poles should broaden their economic, political and social freedoms. Poles should create a democracy which won’t be destroyed by PO as they had during their eight years of government.