Рет қаралды 34,850
Populism is on the rise in central and eastern Europe, including in Hungary where George Soros lead the post soviet dictatorship transition towards an open society with democratic values. Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán means there's a no migrants policy, and that the press and the George Soros university have been declared enemy of the state.
In Budapest, the Central European University has been founded and funded by the billionaire George Soros to propagate the values of an 'open society'. But these Western European values, such as the separation of powers, free media and freedom of education, are under pressure in the run-up to the elections on April 8.
It is generally assumed that the seated popular and populist Prime Minister Orbán will win by force majeure, but nothing is certain. The atmosphere in Hungary has changed radically since the fall of the wall in 1989. Billionaire, speculator and philanthropist George Soros then conceived the plan to shape and financially support the transition from the Soviet dictatorship to an open, democratic society. He saw an important role for a university that was to be set up: the Central European University in Budapest. He recruited students from more than twenty former Soviet states for this. They were to form the future intellectual elite that would protect and shape democracy and an open society in the former communist countries.
Now, a quarter of a century after its launch, the Central European University and George Soros have been declared public enemy in particular by the nationalist government of Orbán. Recently, 70,000 Hungarians took to the streets to protest, but Orbán has not yet been blocked by Europe. The struggle of the nationalist government against an institution that advocates an 'open society' is typical of the broader development in Central and Eastern Europe. Even in Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria, nationalist parties win the elections. It raises the question of what went wrong. Has the West underestimated the desire for an own identity and populism in Central Europe?
Originally broadcasted by VPRO in 2018.
© VPRO Backlight April 2018
On VPRO broadcast you will find nonfiction videos with English subtitles, French subtitles and Spanish subtitles, such as documentaries, short interviews and documentary series.
VPRO Documentary publishes one new subtitled documentary about current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics every week. We research subjects like politics, world economy, society and science with experts and try to grasp the essence of prominent trends and developments.
Subscribe to our channel for great, subtitled, recent documentaries.
Visit additional youtube channels bij VPRO broadcast:
VPRO Broadcast, all international VPRO programs: / vprobroadcast
VPRO DOK, German only documentaries: / @vprodok
VPRO Metropolis, remarkable stories from all over the world: / vprometropolis
VPRO World Stories, the travel series of VPRO: / vproworldstories
VPRO Extra, additional footage and one off's: / @vproextra3443
www.VPRObroadcast.com
Credits:
Director: Jos de Putter
English, French and Spanish subtitles: Ericsson.
French and Spanish subtitles are co-funded by European Union.