Budapest Beacon

Graphisoft founder Gábor Bojár joins us in the studio to discuss Hungary's upcoming general election, how Fidesz came to power, and Lajos Bokros' decision to go at the elections alone. (photo: Ivola Bazánth, 168 óra)

Márta Pardavi speaks to us about the government's "Starve and Strangle Bill." We discuss what NGOs like the Hungarian Helsinki Committee are going through and how the EU has responded to the crisis of negative trends in Hungary. Pardavi tells us the HHC would provide legal aid to the prime minister's son-in-law if...

Anton Shekhovtsov joins Ben Novak in the studio to discuss his new book, Russia and the Western Far-Right: Tango Noir. - How long has Russia been in contact with the western far-right? - Why is this good for Russia? - What can the west expect in the future? - How can the west protect itself from becoming Putinized?

Péter Krekó of Political Capital joins Ben Novak in the studio to discuss five important topics: - Misleading polls in Hungary, - George Soros on Orbán having bought up MSZP, - Political anti-Semitism in Hungary, - Russian relations with Hungary — united in the fight against Ukraine, and - Krekó's new book, "The Hungarian Far Right: Social Demand, Political Supply, and International Context"

MoMA chairman Lajos Bokros swings by the studio to discuss the break-up between his party and Ferenc Gyurcsány's Democratic Coalition and other news.

Dean Starkman is a fellow at Center for Media, Data and Society and a visiting lecturer at the School of Public Policy at Central European University, Budapest. He and Ben Novak discuss the challenges facing public interest journalism, the transformation of journalism as whole, and where things are going from here.

Independent MP Zoltán Kész broke Fidesz's two-thirds supermajority in a by-election in 2015. He says the only way to defeat Fidesz in the 2018 national elections is with the "Highlander Plan." (The plan does not involve separating anyone's head from their body.)

Ben Novak speaks to Benedek Jávor MEP about efforts in the European Parliament to shine light on the Azerbaijani laundromat, a slush fund reportedly used to buy influence from European politicians and journalists.

Momentum executive board member Anna Orosz joins Justin Spike and Ben Novak in the studio to discuss her party's push for a referendum on the NGO-stigmatizing bill adopted by Fidesz in June.

Ben Novak is joined in the studio by Momentum politicians Márton Benedek and Daniel Berg to discuss the upcoming election, why they chose to run in their respective electoral districts, and whether it's worth it to coordinate the fielding of candidates with other opposition parties.

Ben Novak and Lili Bayer discuss the Central European University's legal limbo and US Embassy's position on Hungary's media takeover.

Join Lili Bayer and Ben Novak as they analyze how Hungary's ruling party is going "all in" on the claim that they are protecting the nation – and Europe – from forces seeking to destroy Christianity and nation-states. Brace yourselves, this one is a doozie!

Former finance minister and chairman of Movement for a Modern Hungary Lajos Bokros joins us in the studio to talk about the Őcsény scandal, the moral hazard of Orbán's fascism, Hungary's upcoming national elections, and what it will take to rebuild Hungary.

Benedek Jávor MEP speaks to the Beacon about the European Parliament's Budget Oversight fact-finding mission to Hungary. They even rode the Felcsút mini-train!

Fidesz is gearing up for election season. They envision violent street protests and a "Soros Plan" to flood Europe with millions of Muslim terrorists. Lili Bayer and Péter Erdélyi join Ben Novak in the studio to discuss where all this might be going.

Veronika Móra of the Ökotárs Foundation joins Ben Novak in the studio to discuss why two dozen NGOs filed a constitutional complaint with Hungary's Constitutional Court to challenge the recently-adopted NGO-stigmatizing law.

Russian President Vladimir Putin comes to Budapest for the second time in 2017. Hungary's opposition parties respond with low-turnout protests. In the studio: Ben Novak, Lili Bayer, and Justin Spike

Ben Novak speaks to 444.hu's Péter Erdélyi about the expulsion of British far-right politicians Nick Griffin and Jim Dowson. What were these two British nationals doing in Hungary?

Ben Novak speaks to activists Gergő Varga and Márton Gulyás about the failed attempt to throw paint at Hungary's President Palace, whether Hungary's protests are dying out, the infamous meeting with Zsolt Bayer, and more!

Ben Novak speaks to Blanka Zöldi and András Pethő of the investigative journalism NGO Direkt36.hu about their article "How EU-funded projects secretly contributed to the Orbán family’s enrichment". To read the article, follow this link: http://www.direkt36.hu/en/2017/05/09/rejtett-allami-munkakbol-is-jott-penz-az-orban-csalad-gyorsan-szerzett-milliardjaihoz/

Ben Novak sits down with Máté Varga and Dávid Bedő to discuss the "Let's Stop Moscow!" protest they organized in Budapest last week.

Ben Novak speaks to András Pethő of Direkt36 about the Jeremie program. It turns out Hungarian authorities had absolutely no problem with how EU subsidies designated for rural startups were used.

Budapest Beacon senior correspondent Ben Novak sits down with Barnabás Kádár and Miklós Hajnal to talk their political party, Momentum Movement.

Ben Novak interview with Goran Buldioski, director of the Open Society Initiative for Europe. The two discuss the Hungarian government's attacks on civil society and how Open Society aims to support democracy in Hungary.

The Budapest Beacon sat down with members of Hungarian civil society to find out how they see the latest crackdown on civil society. Ben Novak speaks to Dalma Dojcsák of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Sándor Léderer of K-Monitor, Áron Demeter of Amnesty International, and András Kádár of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee.

What happened in Hungary this week (December 12-16) by Budapest Beacon

Protests Podcast — corruption, free media, and October 23rd by Budapest Beacon

Justin Spike and Ben Novak sit down András Pethő of investigative journalism NGO Direkt36 to talk about the sudden shutdown of Népszabadság and public procurement fraud in Budapest's 8th District.

The Budapest Beacon staff discuss what the government is doing to drum up support for its October 2nd referendum.

Ben Novak and Peter Erdelyi talk about the MNB data dump by Budapest Beacon

E14PM Demonstration for Referendum On Paks at Budavári Palota | Buda Castle by Budapest Beacon

Reinhard Butikofer is a German MEP and co-chair of the European 'Greens'. Mr Butikofer was in Budapest at a conference on dealing with 'green jobs'. We spoke with Mr Butikofer before the conference.

In this first part of a three part interview we discuss taxes, poverty, economic policy, social policy, and improving Hungary’s current tax code.

Interview with Lajos Bokros Part 2 of 3 by Budapest Beacon

In this interview with Benedek Javor of Párbeszéd Magyarországért we discuss the controversies surrounding "Green Authority".