Category Archives: Hungary

A campaign is underway in Hungary to prevent vote buying among Roma, a practice that is quite common unfortunately. The Clean Vote campaign is trying to draw attention to electoral abuses, mostly in poor Roma settlements. “Unfortunately, thousands of people in Hungary are influenced in the exercise of their voting rights. This endangers the cleanliness of the elections, thus the democratic system of Hungary, ” they write on their website.

Their advice: “Even if you accept 5-10 thousand forints, no one can enter the booth with you” …

• „Ha el is fogadjátok az 5-10 ezer forintot, a fülkébe nem mehet be veletek senki”. In: 444. 28.03.2022. https://444.hu/2022/03/28/ha-el-is-fogadjatok-az-5-10-ezer-forintot-a-fulkebe-nem-mehet-be-veletek-senki

Pictures of a Hungarian Telep.

• Gypsy Hill. In: Carte Blanche Magazine. https://carteblanchemagazine.com/issue-42/varadi-gypsy-hill?fbclid=IwAR2Pou7woctvtAI2UmUVFkZlUVtaVZk23_yUvHujEpRUr08-7ky3izx5jpU

An article on the murders of Roma in 2009 in Hungary, close to the anniversary of the first killing on February 23^rd, 2009.

• La nuit où Robika, 5 ans, a été assassin. In: Slate. 04.02.2022. https://www.slate.fr/story/223119/bonnes-feuilles-la-hongrie-sous-orban-helene-bienvenu-corentin-leotard-plein-jour-robika-assassinee-roms-hongrois

Some Hungarian Roma identify with the poetry of Amanda Gorman, the poet at the inauguration of President Biden and are translating her.

• Hungarian Roma are translating Amanda Gorman; her poetry … WFUV.org. 01.02.2022. https://wfuv.org/content/hungarian-roma-are-translating-amanda-gorman-her-poetry-speaks-their-experience

The Hungarian Roma activist Jenő Setét died last week at the age of 50.

May he rest in peace.

He had become, over the course of his years of activism, the main figure in the fight for the inclusion of the Roma minority in Hungarian society. Noting that “today there is a lack of a politically aware Roma community” capable of defending its political, economic and social interests, he multiplied initiatives to bring out this political awareness.

• Disparition de Jenő Setét, une conscience des Roms en Hongrie. In: Le Courrier d’Europe Centrale. 25.01.2022. https://courrierdeuropecentrale.fr/jeno-setet-une-conscience-des-roms-en-hongrie-est-decede/

The Hungarian Roma activist Jenő Setét died last week at the age of 50.

May he rest in peace.

Setét was one of the best-known figures in the protection of Roma interests in Hungary, he organized the Roma Pride Day and also led the Association.

• Meghalt Setét Jenő roma polgárjogi aktivista. In: Index.hu. 25.01.2022. https://index.hu/belfold/2022/01/25/meghalt-setet-jeno-roma-polgarjogi-aktivista/
• Meghalt Setét Jenő. In: 444.hu. 25.01.2022. https://444.hu/2022/01/25/meghalt-setet-jeno

The Hungarian Government still backs its Roma commissioner even though he has been recorded bribing Roma representatives.

Shame, but not surprising in these days in Hungary.

• Gov’t Still Backs Roma Commissioner Despite New Recordings Surfacing. In: Hungary Today. 14.01.2022. https://hungarytoday.hu/fidesz-orban-government-roma-sztojka-recording-blackmail-bribery/

The commissioner for Roma relations of the Hungarian Interior Ministry has been recorded saying that he would fund programs if the organisations put forward candidates to the government’s liking

• Leaked tapes: government commissioner accused of bribing Roma for electoral gain. In: Euractive. 06.01.2022. https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/leaked-tapes-government-commissioner-accused-of-bribing-roma-for-electoral-gain/

A  Roma Radio called “Dikh” [there is also a Dikh TV, hence the name] opened in Hungary. The owner of Dikh TV is close to the Orban Regime.

• Elindult a Rádió Dikh, a roma rádió. In: 444. 03.01.2022. https://444.hu/2022/01/03/elindult-a-radio-dikh-a-roma-radio
• La seule radio rom de Hongrie est désormais diffusée sur les ondes FM. In: Le Courrier d’Europe Centrale. 06.01.2022. https://courrierdeuropecentrale.fr/breve/la-seule-radio-rom-de-hongrie-est-desormais-diffusee-sur-les-ondes-fm/

Attila Sztojka, Director General of the Directorate General for Social Opportunity (TEF) has been recorded coercing Roma politicians from the Hungarian Roma autonomy to support Fidesz, the party of the prime minister Orban and propose candidates which are “fitting”.

Bad, but it shows the corruption of the system.

• Sztojka Attila főigazgatósága úgy mesélt arról, hogy hogyan nem akarnak megvásárolni senkit, hogy nem mondott semmit. In: 444.hu. 06.01.2022. https://444.hu/2022/01/06/sztojka-attila-foigazgatosaga-ugy-meselt-arrol-hogy-hogyan-nem-akarnak-megvasarolni-senkit-hogy-nem-mondott-semmit
• „Félre ne értsétek, ez nem megvásárlás, én senkit nem akarok megvásárolni”. In: 444.hu. 05.01.2022. https://444.hu/2022/01/05/felre-ne-ertsetek-ez-nem-megvasarlas-en-senkit-nem-akarok-megvasarolni