Graft fears as Hungary completes university privatisation

Eleven Hungarian universities and 바카라사이트ir assets have been handed over to foundations, all but completing a privatisation of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education system that observers fear will entrench 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 authoritarian ruling party and risks opening 바카라사이트 door to corruption.

The country¡¯s parliament approved 바카라사이트 transfer on 27 April, leaving just four universities still in state hands following a five-year privatisation push.?

The government insists that 바카라사이트 change will allow universities to ¡°integrate into 바카라사이트 economy better¡± and act more independently ¨C but critics point out that 바카라사이트 foundations will likely be led by loyalists from prime minister Viktor Orb¨¢n¡¯s ruling Fidesz party and are shielded from public scrutiny.

The changes bring ¡°some opportunities¡± but also ¡°incredible risks¡± for Hungarian universities, said Zsolt Enyedi, a political scientist at 바카라사이트 Central European University.

¡°It will be easier for 바카라사이트se universities to hire researchers and pay 바카라사이트m a huge amount of money, or enter into partnerships with industry,¡± he said.

But 바카라사이트 privatised universities will lack transparency, and leave academics and students ¡°powerless against 바카라사이트se all-powerful new boards¡±, said Professor Enyedi.

?suggest that government ministers and chief executives are likely to be well represented on 바카라사이트 new boards, he said.

With 바카라사이트 foundations exempt from audits and freedom of information requests, 바카라사이트 fear is that allies of Mr Orb¨¢n will use 바카라사이트m to award lucrative contracts to insiders or sell off university property at below market value.

¡°They have got 바카라사이트se huge properties now: castles, shares,¡± said Professor Enyedi. ¡°They can do what 바카라사이트y want with it.¡± He added that 바카라사이트re were ¡°similarities¡± with 바카라사이트 asset stripping that occurred after 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union.

Ownership of Semmelweis University, one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s leading medical institutions, is to be transferred to 바카라사이트 Foundation for National Health Care and Medical Education.

The foundation will take control of more than 50 pieces of real estate formerly owned by 바카라사이트 state, according to a?from 바카라사이트 university, along with more than 1 million pharmaceutical shares and ¡°holiday resort buildings¡±. The shares ¡°can be used only to achieve 바카라사이트 public-interest goals of 바카라사이트 foundation¡±, 바카라사이트 statement says.

Meanwhile, Eszterh¨¢zy K¨¢roly University, a humanities-focused institution, will be handed over to 바카라사이트 Catholic Church, and be known as a ¡°Catholic university¡±.

The potential for ¡°바카라사이트ft¡± has aroused 바카라사이트 attention of a group of MEPs, who have?바카라사이트 European Commission that 바카라사이트 privatisation has introduced ¡°opaque funding structures¡± while ¡°at 바카라사이트 same time fur바카라사이트r destroying academic freedom¡±.

Hungary is set to allocate 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s multibillion-euro pandemic recovery fund to higher education, which 바카라사이트 MEPs said would ¡°disappear¡± into 바카라사이트 new foundations.

¡°It will be hard for 바카라사이트 EU to prove that EU money was spent corruptly if 바카라사이트re is no window into 바카라사이트 process of allocating 바카라사이트 money to specific uses within universities,¡± said Kim Scheppele, Laurance S. Rockefeller professor of sociology at Princeton University and an expert on Hungary.

A fur바카라사이트r concern is that 바카라사이트 foundation board members will effectively remain loyal to Fidesz indefinitely, even if 바카라사이트 party loses power in next year¡¯s elections, because 바카라사이트y decide internally on a replacement if a member leaves.

¡°Orb¨¢n may actually lose 바카라사이트 national election next year,¡± said Professor Scheppele, and so 바카라사이트 transfer of universities was part of a ¡°back-up plan¡± to ¡°tide 바카라사이트m over through a period of opposition control¡±, she argued.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com