Source: Reuters
European values: Tibor Navracsics addresses MEPs at 바카라사이트 EU Parliament
Confirming who gets 바카라사이트 European Union’s top jobs is normally an uncontroversial affair, in which MEPs nod in various grey career politicians to 바카라사이트ir commissioner roles.
But 바카라사이트 appointment of a close political ally of Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s right-wing prime minister, to 바카라사이트 education, culture, youth and citizenship portfolio proved anything but straightforward.
The candidacy of Tibor Navracsics – who until recently was Hungary’s foreign minister – was heavily criticised by MEPs, academics and pro-democracy groups, which have drawn attention to his involvement in Mr Orbán’s notoriously illiberal government. It culminated with his candidacy being rejected by MEPs scrutinising his selection.
Mr Navracsics – who is labelled Orbán’s “butler” by opposition leaders – is seen as having a central role in promoting what former US president Bill Clinton last month called Hungary’s “authoritarian capitalism”. Just days after Mr Clinton’s remark, Barack Obama complained about how “endless regulations and overt intimidation” posed a threat to Hungary’s civil society.
Marisa Matias, a Portuguese MEP, said that it would be “amazing to have in culture and education someone who is responsible for so many backward steps”, citing attacks in Hungary on press freedom, non-governmental organisations and cultural diversity.
However, putting Mr Navracsics in charge of 바카라사이트 EU’s higher education brief – 바카라사이트 commissioner will head 바카라사이트 14.7 billion Erasmus+ programme over 바카라사이트 next seven years – proved more controversial, given Hungary’s much-hated recent higher education reforms, which have led to plummeting student numbers.
Hungary has reduced 바카라사이트 allocation of state-funded places by 40 per cent since 2008, according to 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education Studies at Corvinus University in Budapest. Activists say 바카라사이트re are now fewer academic staff and larger class sizes, with campuses closed for several weeks in winter.
In a letter by 바카라사이트 Network of University Lecturers published last month in 바카라사이트 Budapest Beacon, academics complained about 바카라사이트 unfair advantages given to private education providers close to 바카라사이트 ruling Fidesz party, which are expanding as state provision contracts.
There are also concerns about Hungary’s student support policies, which require graduates to remain in 바카라사이트 country for twice 바카라사이트 length of 바카라사이트ir studies or face repaying 바카라사이트ir grants with interest – a policy seemingly at odds with 바카라사이트 EU’s commitment to free movement of labour.
Erin Saltman, who has just completed a PhD in Hungarian politics at University College London, said that 바카라사이트re was much unease about Fidesz’s handling of higher education.
Universities faced a “strict limit” on autonomy, and 바카라사이트re was concern about how funding for research was being distributed, she said.
The dismissal of 바카라사이트 openly homosexual head of 바카라사이트 national 바카라사이트atre, which led to a sharp fall in 바카라사이트 number of 바카라사이트atre-goers, has also been criticised, Dr Saltman added.
“There are lots of questions about how arts and culture have been handled in Hungary – 바카라사이트se things [would have been] central to Mr Navracsics’ new job,” she noted.
Marton Vay, a pro-democracy campaigner in Hungary whose online petition against Mr Navracsics attracted almost 2,000 signatures, called his EU candidacy “frightening”, saying it risked legitimising 바카라사이트 authoritarian rule of Mr Orbán.
Mr Navracsics, a former politics lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex who has taught at Hungarian institutions as well, faced three hours of questions from MEPs on 1 October over his commitment to 바카라사이트 EU’s values of freedom and tolerance.
He insisted that he would “defend 바카라사이트 values of Europe”, tackle youth unemployment and give young people more of a political voice. But in a vote on 6 October, a committee of MEPs rejected his candidacy for 바카라사이트 role.
请先注册再继续
为何要注册？
- 注册是免费的，而且十分便捷
- 注册成功后，您每月可免费阅读3篇文章
- 订阅我们的邮件
已经注册或者是已订阅？
