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Member of European Parliament Judith Sargentini (centre) reacts after her report denouncing the rise of populism in Hungary was voted through parliament. Photo: AFP/Frederick Florin.

Slavic Europe

While in Turin, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that Italy doesn’t take lessons from people such as the fours of the Visegrád Group, which includes Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, and whose leaders, headed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, sent him a letter calling in it to “close the ports” to asylum seekers. “We have the right to demand solidarity from our neighbours, countries with whom we share the European project”, Gentiloni said. “We don’t accept lessons, nor threatening words. We limit ourselves to serenely saying that we do our duty and we demand that Europe does it without giving dubious lessons”. And really any lessons from Mr. Orbán, whose “European” ambition to head a kind of slavic reactionary cartel too often induces him towards far-right radicalisations, are quite unacceptable. Why is Europe keeping to fund (so much) countries that refuse to accept refugees under the EU’s relocation policy?

The Apple Tree

A member of the Russia team competes in the women’s free routine synchronised swimming final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images.

Aristophanes and the Cloak of Comedy

As maybe you know, I spent last Saturday in a wild place among the Chianti hills, with no cell phone signal, but of course, in the following days, I didn’t forget to say that Elena Bertocchi of Italy won bronze in women’s 1m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Duna Aréna in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, July 15, 2017. I just waited for a day when Italy needed good news!

Elena Bertocchi diving for bronze in women’s 1m springboard final at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships. Photo: Reuters.

The Promise

• Peter Beaumont, Orbán promises Netanyahu he will protect Hungary’s Jews, The Guardian, July 18, 2017

Referring to Hungary’s collaboration with the nazis, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán (R.), has greeted his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu (L.), who is in Budapest on a controversial visit: “We decided in world war two, instead of protecting the Jewish community, to cooperate with the nazis. This will never happen again”. Photo: Balázs Moha/EPA.

Miss Lonelyhearts’s Curtain Lectures

Budapest, Hungary: The North Korean team practise at the 17th Fina World Aquatics Championships. Photo: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters.

Blue Zipper

Nikita Dmitrievich Shleikher of Russia hits the water after his dive in the 1m springboard men’s preliminary round at the 17th Fina World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Notice sent to Viktor Orbán’s government over law that could force closure of institution founded by U.S. billionaire. [Read more].

• Daniel Boffey, EU takes legal action against Hungary over Soros-backed university, The Guardian, April 26, 2017

A demonstration in support of Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Zurab Kurtsikidze/EPA.

The Ghost in the Machine

Rector of Central European University hopeful EU will launch infringement proceedings against Orbán government. [Read more].

• Daniel Boffey, University chief appeals for EU help to fight Hungarian clampdown, The Guardian, April 25, 2017

People protest in support of Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: László Balogh/Reuters.

Vétó

Demonstrators call for president to veto legislation passed by parliament targeting Central European University Tens of thousands of people have protested in Budapest against legislation that could force the Central European University, founded by the financier George Soros, to move out of Hungary. A bill passed in parliament by the ruling rightwing Fidesz party of the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, a critic of liberal civil organisations funded by Soros, targeted CEU by setting out numerous conditions under which it must operate. The bill has led to criticism from hundreds of leading academics worldwide as well as the U.S. government and EU. [Read more].

• Reuters, Thousands protest in Hungary over threat to Soros university, The Guardian, April 9, 2017

Tens of thousands of Hungarians have protested against the bill passed by the ruling rightwing party. Photo: László Balogh/Reuters.

The Blue Danube

The Hungarian leader’s latest target is Budapest’s critical, multicultural Central European University. His illiberal ideology must not be allowed to spread. [Read more].

• Cas Mudde, The EU has tolerated Viktor Orbán for too long. It has to take a stand now, The Guardian, April 3, 2017

“Central European University (CEU) is everything Viktor Orbán detests: it is critical, global, independent, and multicultural”, writes Cas Mudde. Photo: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images.

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Széchenyi thermal baths, Budapest, Hungary, 1997. Photo: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos/Rocket Gallery.

The Wave

• Associated Press in Belgrade, Refugees stuck in Serbia begin marching towards Hungarian border, The Guardian, October 4, 2016

Refugees walk towards Serbian border with Hungary to protest against its closure for most people trying to reach EU. Photo: Darko Vojinović/AP.

Hope for a New Life

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Freelance photographer Warren Richardson, an Australian based in Budapest, poses in front of his picture Hope for a New Life, winner of the World Press Photo 2016. Photo: Koen van Weel/AFP/Getty.

Spot news, first prize, singles – Warren Richardson Hope for a new life: migrants crossing the border from Serbia into Hungary. Photo: Warren Richardson/World Press Photo 2016.

One is like leaves on the trees of autumn

• SOS Children’s Villages Support Hungarian Families In Crisis, XpatLoop.com, November 10, 2015

Judit Polgár (@GMJuditPolgar)

Dress rehearsal

Budapest, Hungary: Artists from the Hungarian contemporary circus company Recirquel perform during a dress rehearsal of their new show. Photo: Attila Völgyi/新华通讯社 (Xīnhuá News Agency)/Corbis.

El amor en los tiempos del cólera

A young couple kiss in a tent in Keleti station in Budapest, surrounded by other refugees. Photo: István Zsíros.

Barbed wire

Refugees stand behind a fence near Horgos at the Hungarian border with Serbia. Photo: Armend Nimani/AFP/Getty Images.

An Outlook of Life

Horgos, Serbia: Clothes are placed on a fence to dry at the Horgos border crossing into Hungary. Photo: Darko Vojinović/AP.

There Will Be No Leave Today

Ásotthalom, Hungary: A man holds his child on the Serbian side of the fence bordering Hungary, their passage to western Europe having stalled. Photo: László Balogh/Reuters.