This publication is the latest in our series of comprehensive annual overviews, focusing on developments, events and trends in Hungary in 2019, as well as an outlook on which topics we expect to dominate Hungarian politics in 2020. 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 impact of the two elections on Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party and the flagship policies of the government. In the second section we look at the opposition parties, their state and prospects after tasting success at the local elections for the first time in more than 10 years. The third section focuses on foreign affairs, in particular the place of Fidesz in European politics after the EP elections, 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. Finally, some key developments of the Hungarian society – media landscape, increasing government control over culture and science – are discussed. All of the sections conclude with a brief analysis of the issues which may come to the fore in 2020.

The outlook on 2020 will be the topic of the panel discussion which will follow the presentation of “Hungarian Politics in 2019”. 

Date and time of the event: 21 January 2020 (Tuesday), 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 2019”

András Bíró-Nagy, Director, Policy Solutions

10:30 – 12:00 – Panel discussion: Outlook on politics and society in Hungary in 2020

Dávid Dorosz, Deputy Mayor of Budapest (Dialogue party)   

Anna Orosz, Deputy Mayor of Budapest’s 11th district (Momentum)

Krisztina Arató, Professor, Head of the Political Science Department, ELTE University

Zoltán Pogátsa, Professor, University of West Hungary, Editor-in-chief of Új Egyenlőség (New Equality) magazine  

Moderator of the event: Krisztina Bombera (ATV)

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

Your personal copy of the book “Hungarian Politics in 2019” will be made available at the event.

Please register before 18 January 2020 at the following link: https://forms.gle/zAJjqBXQtC1zUamJ6