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Diametrically opposed takes on Roma school segregation ruling

Monday, January 13th, 2020

Liberal and left-wing commentators accuse Prime Minister Orbán of racism for publicly criticizing a court ruling granting compensation to Roma families whose children were enrolled in separate classes to non-Roma children. Pro-government columnists agree with the Prime Minister and find the ruling outrageous. READ MORE

Dispute over public education

Thursday, August 8th, 2019

A left-wing columnist criticizes the government’s amendments to the public education act. A conservative pundit contends that bureaucratic efforts to integrate disadvantaged children are doomed to fail. READ MORE

Police bans extreme rightwing paramilitary demonstration

Monday, May 20th, 2019

A liberal human rights activist welcomes the police’s decision not to allow a march by two extreme-right paramilitary groups in protest against what they call ‘Gypsy terror’. READ MORE

Tenth anniversary of the Anti-Roma killing spree

Tuesday, February 26th, 2019
Ten years after a series of murderous attacks on Roma families by extreme right-wingers, an alt-left and a conservative analyst draw opposing conclusions. Both believe, nonetheless, that the plight of the Roma is a central issue in Hungary today.

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Conservative pundit calls for Roma census

Monday, November 20th, 2017

A conservative columnist thinks that all parties since 1990 have neglected the plight of the Roma, and calls for a census to identify the main problems Roma face. READ MORE

Seeking ways for Roma integration 

Monday, August 28th, 2017

A conservative columnist and two Roma rights activists agree that Roma intellectuals have a crucial role to play in the integration of Roma. They also think that some left-wing liberal integration strategies have been less than productive. READ MORE

Jobbik leader ready to apologize to Jews and Roma

Thursday, August 17th, 2017

Both a pro-government commentator and a liberal analyst doubt if Jobbik leader Gábor Vona can convincingly distance himself and his party from Jobbik’s earlier extremist statements concerning Jews and Roma. READ MORE

Jobbik MP suggests suffrage based on educational achievement

Monday, August 7th, 2017

After a prominent Jobbik MP suggested that people who have not completed eight years of basic schooling should not be allowed to vote, commentators agree that the proposal is out of touch with modern times, but might be revealing about just how far Jobbik’s move to the centre has gone. READ MORE

Government to reform primary education

Saturday, March 11th, 2017

A conservative Roma rights activist welcomes the government’s proposal to introduce a mandatory pre-school year to help the integration of children from poor families. READ MORE

The Roma and the quota referendum

Thursday, September 22nd, 2016

A Roma rights activist accuses the government of trying to blackmail Roma to vote at the quota referendum, whilst using anti-Romani stereotypes to mobilize non-Roma. A regional Gypsy leader, on the other hand argues that the arrival of masses of migrants would represent a threat to Roma communities. READ MORE