This publication is a comprehensive overview of developments, events and trends in Hungary in 2018, and an outlook on which topics we expect to dominate Hungarian politics in 2019, the year of both European and Local Elections. It focuses on five broad areas. In the first section we review the year from the perspective of the Hungarian government, with a special emphasis on the main reasons behind the re-election of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party and the policy priorities of the fourth Orbán government. In the second section we look at the opposition parties, their state and prospects. The third section focuses on foreign affairs, in particular Orbán’s battles at the European scene, and Hungary’s foreign policy in a global context. In the fourth section, we take a detailed look at how Fidesz's policies have shaped the economy, and special attention is paid to the controversial “slave law”. Finally, some key developments of the Hungarian society – changes in the media landscape, culture war, the Stop Soros bill and CEU’s departure – are discussed. All of the sections conclude with a brief analysis of the issues which may come to the fore in 2019.

The outlook on 2019 will be the topic of the panel discussion which will follow the presentation of “Hungarian Politics in 2018”. 

Date and time of the event: 18 January 2019 (Friday), 10:00-12:00

Venue: Budapest Music Center, Library (1093 Budapest, Mátyás utca 8.) 

Programme: 
 

10:00 – 10:10 – Opening remarks

Jörg Bergstermann, Co-director of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Budapest office 

10:10 – 10:30 – Presentation of “Hungarian Politics in 2018”

András Bíró-Nagy, Co-director, Policy Solutions

10:30 – 12:00 – Panel discussion: Outlook on politics and society in Hungary in 2019

Péter Ákos Bod, Professor, Corvinus University, former Governor of the Hungarian Central Bank  

László Kordás, President, Hungarian Trade Union Confederation

Tímea Szabó, Member of Parliament, Párbeszéd

Moderator of the event: Krisztina Bombera (ATV)

The official languages of the conference are Hungarian and English. Translation will be provided.

Copies of the book “Hungarian Politics in 2018” will be available at the event.

Please register before 16 January 2019 at the following link:  https://goo.gl/forms/BYOruIpJw9HNSxLD3