As you may have noticed we have stopped blogging a year ago, due to the lack of our free time. Today a producer from BBC found our blog and asked for an interview about the current political situation and about the new government in Hungary. So we decided to write this very last post to inform you about this even (interview here) and ask about your opinion.
Monday, April 13, 2009
BBC Up All Night interview with English Hungary Blog
Monday, February 25, 2008
Belgian perspective: Hungary the "gipsyland"
It happened once that a Bartók and Ligeti György concert needed promotion in Belgium, Brussels . The PR head of the event assigned a photographer to make some captures for the flyers, program books and billboards. The photographer went into the park and saw a gipsy family and took some shoots. Why not? -she wondered- They have a kind of Eastern look and besides they are happy. During the campaign of the concert the leader of the Belgian Hungarian Association saw these pictures and almost got a nervous break down. Why?
Kállay Oszkár the leader of the Association said that it was outrageous that somebody was mixing up Hungary with a 3. World country. It's not the fact -as he said- that they are gipsies, but they suggest that we live in poverty. The photographer said that she acted in the frames of the freedom of expression when she chose the topic.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Pictures of the week
Is Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev the President of Azerbaijan trying to embarass the Hungarian president? Find out after the click! 
No he doesn't! (from: mti; by Beliczay László)
ORBÁN Viktor's campaign bus is parking at the "wrong" place.
Reaction of KÓKA János the leader of SZDSZ to the opposition's accusations. (from: index.hu)
After the opposition, Prime Minister GYURCSÁNY Ferenc made his annual report. (from: hvg.hu; by STILLER Ákos)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Dwa bratanki: the same shit everywhere
Have you ever thought about why these series are independent of time and space? Why they have nothing to do with life in the place where it is aired? The truth after the click. Warning the authors are higly addicted to the series!
Barátok közt (Among Friends) is a Hungarian daily soap, since 1998 every episode is followed by 1-1,4 million people (Hungary's population is 10 million). For a long time we didn't have a clue why the "life situations" appearing in the show seemed so alien, why they only connection with the country (more or less) was the language the characters are speaking.
So the revealing truth: the show origins from Grundy UFA TV Produktions GmbH which created the main concept and sold it to RTL. The RTL group launched several series based on the idea at its local partners (RTL Klub in Hugary together with Grundy UFA Hungary). The guidelines of the show are created at the German Grundy HQ. There are many series based on this concept like the German Unter uns, Alle zusammen – Jeder für sich or the slovak Medzi nami. But here is the Polish version Na Wspólnej (produced by TVN- not part of RTL Group anymore).
We are aware that 90% of the shows run on a licence, and in case of reailties usually with the exactly same visuals. But series? Why the same logo? Why the same characters? Why Polish and Hungarian? How is it possible to sedate millions of people with the same cheap show?
Some random related stuff from Barátok Közt and Na Wspólnej:
(our Polish is kind of "insufficient" to search for materials, so we would like to ask our Polish readers for a little help) :
The Hoffer family:
Hoffer család on the top (sorry for the quality) Rodzina Hofferów on the bottom.
Barátok közt intro:
Off: Our favourite Barátok közt intro:
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Pictures of the week
In our new heading we attempt to summarise political events by pasting the best pictures made this week. If it works out well, we will return with it every Sunday.
The top part of the picture is from Barack Obama's, the bottom part is from FIDESZ's "social referendum 2008" campaign. No doubt about which one is the original version. It seems that the democrat candidate's staff bought the license of the "árpád- stripe" logo from the Hungarian party. (from: Pufajkás Turul)
Demonstration against the new health reform act. (from: index.hu)
Later on the protesters "open" the fences and clash with the police. (from: mti)
Skinheads marching on the Day of Honor in Budapest. (from: hvg.hu)
KÓKA János leader of SZDSZ and HORVÁTH Ágnes Health Minister cheering after the Parliament accepted the Health Insurance Act (from: index.hu)
ORBÁN Viktor holding his "social referendum 2008" campaign speech. (from: mti)
The shore collapsed in Dunaszekcső. (from:bama)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Spenót!
Spenót (Spinach) is a bizzare YouTube cartoon series, there is no need to know Hungarian to enjoy the music and the voices. Just for the record, it is highly addictive.
Private insurance companies in da house: New Health Insurance Act
The Parliament accepted a new health insurance act yesterday which will result the total alteration of the Hungarian health system. More information about the reform and video about the demonstrations after the click.
What is the health reform about? Regional funds: 51% state 49% private interest
The concept in brief: The National Health Insurance Fund will be divided into regional funds where private insurance companies can gain percentage until 49%. The government (MSZP-SZDSZ) argues that the "professional" private companies are capable to manage their funds in a more economic way unlikely to the current system where the single national fund is squanderer. The private companies can only use the money saved this way to gain profit, so they are not allowed to withraw money from the "patients". Every citizen will remain insured but they need to choose a regional fund which they can swap every year. People will choose the company which offers more service. The regional insurance funds will receive money from the budget depending on how many members they have. So the second "engine" of this concept is that the fund (including the private company) which offers less service to the "health customers" will have less members and will receive less money from the budget.
Concerns in connection with the reform
The biggest fear about this reform is that it could develope into a USA-style health insurance system where insurance is not obligatorious and the insurance companies can select their customers. This means that sick people have no chance to be insured. This would be the worst scenario, but there are several other concerns with the yesterday accepted act.
For example: the insurance companies will try to send away the sick patients, they will form a strong lobby and attempt to make the system more "USA like", the health system cannot be based on the rules of free market, it is has to remain on the basis of solidarity and so on...
The reaction of the society
The concept of this reform has a low support of the society. The government created the draft with ignoring for example the opinion of the Medical Bar Association and other related organisations. This is why the President of Hungary didn't sign the first version of the act in December and all the votings were followed by demonstrations (like yesterday) and strikes organised by various trade unions. The biggest opposition party (FIDESZ) declared that in case they are elected in 2010 -and they have a good chance for that- they are going to redo the "reform".
Related material:
Last night's protest against the act and the clash with the police.
(picture: Stiller Ákos- KÓKA János leader of SZDSZ and HORVÁTH Ágnes Health Minister cheering after the parliament accepted the Health Insurance Act)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Szávay Ágnes 2nd in Paris
Even though we were really cheering for Ági, she was defeated in the end by Anna Chakvetadze in the final of the Paris WTA tournament to 3:6, 6:2, 2:6. Anyways we haven't lost our hope in her, and are really proud and fond of Ági, even if this love is not requited...
The "Day of Honor" in Budapest
Every year Hungarian and foreign skinheads remember February 11 1945, when German and Hungarian troops attempted to break out of the Soviet siege in Budapest. The memorial which took place on Heroes Square, was registered by DOMOKOS Endre János who was the leader of the Hungarian Blood and Honor (Vér és Becsület) association. This organisation was dissolved by the court few years ago because, let's say, their memorandum of foundation didn't really "match" the Constitution.
The event is always in the focus of the media since showing thousands of skinheads marching and holding flags looks impressive on the newspaper covers. This day (or as the organisers call it the "Day of Honor") is of course followed by counter demonstrations, this year by a peaceful flash mob and by a noisy demonstration of punks anarchists.
click here for pictures
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