• About Us
  • Who Are We
  • Work With Us
Sunday, January 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Globe Post
39 °f
New York
44 ° Fri
46 ° Sat
40 ° Sun
41 ° Mon
No Result
View All Result
The Globe Post
No Result
View All Result
Home Democracy at Risk

Hungary’s Far-Right Government to Take Control Over Science Institutes

Staff Writer by Staff Writer
07/02/19
in Democracy at Risk, Featured, World
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers his state of the nation

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Photo: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Hungarian parliament passed a bill Tuesday enabling the takeover of research institutes by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government, which is accused by critics of seeking to control key institutions and sectors.

The bill, approved by 131 of lawmakers in the 199-seat assembly, gives Orban’s far-right, ultra-nationalist, government control of a vast network of research institutes currently run by the two-century-old Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA).

The MTA’s president has said the reforms “threaten academic freedom” and have alarmed “the vast majority of Hungarian scientists,” arguing that the shake-up is partly because MTA experts have criticized government policies in recent years.

Thousands have demonstrated in Budapest in solidarity with the institution at several street protests since the bill was drafted earlier this year. A new protest has been set for Tuesday afternoon.

Orban’s critics say that since coming to power in 2010 he has tightened his control over most key institutions in Hungary, including public media, the judiciary, and the education sector.

Scientists have condemned the move against research institutes as a threat to academic freedom. Under the legislation, a new institution with board members appointed by Orban will allocate funding for research.

This body would also use the MTA’s properties and part of its administration.

Another grim milestone in Viktor Orban's war on academic freedom: His party has crushed the Hungarian Academy of Science, which funds independent research. Where's the American/EU condemnation? https://t.co/UelC8op1Oz

— Franklin Foer (@FranklinFoer) July 2, 2019

Founded in 1825, the MTA is the country’s oldest and largest scientific institution but the Orban’s government claims it as an inefficient relic of communism.

Its institutes currently employ some 5,000 staff nationwide including around 3,000 researchers and perform a vast range of research ranging from philosophy to music, animal husbandry to space research.

Orban has argued that Hungary needs to boost its performance in international innovation rankings and that the nation’s research needs to be aimed at creating more profit.

Last year, he set up a new Innovation and Technology Ministry (ITM) to begin moving control of scientific funding away from the MTA in favor of new “innovation-driven” projects.


More on the Subject 

Could Protests in Hungary Threaten Prime Minister Orban’s Position?

ShareTweet
Staff Writer

Staff Writer

AFP with The Globe Post

Related Posts

Hungarians Protest PM Orban’s Chinese University Plan
World

Hungarians Protest PM Orban’s Chinese University Plan

by Staff Writer
June 5, 2021
A health worker holds a bottle of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.
Featured

The Sputnik V Vaccine: A Scientific and Political Win for Russia

by Staff Writer
February 3, 2021
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
Featured

Europe’s East-West Divide: Tolerance With Authoritarian Characteristics

by Zsolt Enyedi
July 14, 2020
Democracy Under Threat During Pandemic, Global Leaders Warn
Democracy at Risk

Democracy Under Threat During Pandemic, Global Leaders Warn

by Staff Writer
June 25, 2020
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban
Democracy at Risk

Hungary MPs Approve End of Controversial Emergency Virus Powers

by Staff Writer
June 16, 2020
A staff member checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau on January 22, 2020
Opinion

COVID-19 Is No Excuse for Governments to Abuse Human Rights

by Anders L. Pettersson
May 1, 2020
Next Post
Sudanese protesters rally outside the army complex in Sudan’s capital Khartoum on April 18, 2019

Sudan Protesters Ready to 'Pay Price of Change' as Military Attempts Provocations

French flag on a building

French Mayor Convicted for Harassing Migrant Helpers

Recommended

The Doomsday Clock reads 100 seconds to midnight, a decision made by The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, during an announcement at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on January 23, 2020

‘Doomsday Clock’ Moves Closest Ever to Midnight

January 25, 2023
Police work near the scene of a mass shooting in Monterey Park, California

California Lunar New Year Mass Shooter Dead, Motive Unclear: Police

January 23, 2023
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Race on To Replace Ardern as New Zealand Prime Minister

January 20, 2023
Pfizer logo and vaccines

Pfizer to Sell More Drugs at Cost to Poor Nations

January 18, 2023
Rescuers inspect the wreckage at the site of a Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara, Nepal

At Least 67 Killed in Nepal Plane Crash

January 16, 2023
George Santos from the 3rd Congressional district of New York

George Santos for Speaker!

January 16, 2023

Opinion

George Santos from the 3rd Congressional district of New York

George Santos for Speaker!

January 16, 2023
Commuters waiting for buses in Metro Manila. Philippines

Eight Billion and Counting…

November 29, 2022
Mahsa Amini protests

Imagining a Free Iran

October 24, 2022
Vladimir Putin

How 18th Century International Law Clarifies the Situation in Ukraine

September 29, 2022
Vladimir Putin

Falling for Putin

September 15, 2022
US President Donald Trump

Donald Trump Thanks You for Your Sacrifice

August 17, 2022
Facebook Twitter

Newsletter

Do you like our reporting?
SUBSCRIBE

About Us

The Globe Post

The Globe Post is part of Globe Post Media, a U.S. digital news organization that is publishing the world's best targeted news sites.

submit oped

© 2018 The Globe Post

No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • World
  • Business
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Democracy at Risk
    • Media Freedom
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Columns
    • Book Reviews
    • Stage
  • Submit Op-ed

© 2018 The Globe Post