May 01 2012
There is no point in covering up the power center of the Hungary. It resides in PM Orban. Regardless of the state involvement in the Nabucco project it is a privately supported initiative with politics secondary. This has always been the selling point – even if politics are tightly woven into the plans
Feb 05 2012
But like all state bureaucrats, and even like the Communist censors of the past regime, they miss the point of the article, thereby confirming and reinforcing the message. (Maybe it is at this point that Kovacs was trying to demonstrate that institutions DO matter).
Jan 07 2012
What is so great about Orban taking Hungary over the cliff of rationality is what it exposes for the modern state system: Erratic dictators are controlled by an international regulatory regime that requires stability, predictability and fairness. Orban went against every tenet of this system in his nationalistic power grab.
Jan 02 2012
The passengers of the destroyed boats look to the IMF and EU for a lifeline but Moby Orban (who really is Ahab), tells the drowning passengers they should swim faster – they don’t need IMF life jackets – “faster, faster!” he yells. “I will save you, just give me power and the money from the central bank!!” In an attempt to motivate the drowning flock, he proclaims, “The problem is not that you are drowing, it’s you haven’t given me enough money to save you. Your pension wasn’t enough – agree to give me your life savings in your bank accounts, and then swim quickly to me, I promise this will be enough to save you.”
Dec 18 2011
In short, as in the Socialist era, the Hungarian government will decide that government institutions do not need to pay their energy bills, they will either make the Hungarian rate/tax payer pick up the tab through their utility bills – thus higher prices, or they will force the companies to incur losses caused by non-payment from the government.
Jul 17 2011
First, let’s have a good laugh. “a competitive state player.” While this is an oxymoron, the state can’t be a ‘competitive’ player in a game when it is also the referee.
Jun 02 2011
“While we have put an end to the basic principles of a neoliberal era, we have yet to build up the non-liberal economic policy of the 21st century, in terms of planning, coordination and practices.” It is this new “non-liberal economic policy” that Hungary will be leading the region and the world in.
Jun 01 2011
Old man: “Excuse me, sir, where is the “Heroes’ square”?
Pedestrian # 1: “No, old man, don’t use that name! It’s “Stalin Square” now!”
Later…
Old man: “Excuse me, sir, where is the “Chain Bridge”?
Pedestrian # 2: “Oh my God! Don’t use the old name of the bridge! It’s “Red Army Bridge” now! If you say that once more, you could get into jail, be careful!”
May 25 2011
Tweet My wife came back from the children’s hospital the other night after the doctor unclogged the poo that was a major discomfort for our young son. “You would think that they could spend some money on soap in the hospital,” she said. Any hospital that we have been in Budapest does not have soap …
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Mar 10 2013
Cut Orban off at the Soup Kitchen: Suspend EU Funds
Commentary
by Michael LaBelle
Tweet The suspension of EU structural funds to Hungary should happen on Monday, March 11, 2013. This is if the Hungarian Parliament approves the fourth round of revisions to the Hungarian Constitution. Actually, it should happen anyway, as there is no real difference in the state of affairs today and what it will be Monday. …
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Tags: EU, Hungary, institutions, Orban