[Unicum] Quo Vadis Hungary: Are Democracy and Good Governance in Danger?

The German Marshall Fund of the United States is pleased to invite you to:

Quo Vadis Hungary: Are Democracy and Good Governance in Danger?

Wednesday, January 23, 2013
1:00-2:30 pm

A light lunch will be served at 12:30 pm

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Speaker:
Attila Mesterházy
Chairman of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP)

Chair:
Ivan Vejvoda
Vice President, Programs, German Marshall Fund

Location:
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
1744 R Street NW, Washington DC

Please RSVP to Kelsey Guyette at 202-683-2660 or FPIntern@gmfus.org.

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In 2010, Hungary's right of center Fidesz party won a large majority in the parliamentary elections, ousting the Socialist government.  Viktor Orban, Prime Minister and leader of the Fidesz party, claimed that Hungarians had voted "to defeat hopelessness" and embarked on a controversial overhaul of the Hungarian constitution and a host of new legislation including a media law that was criticized by the European Union and the United States as severely limiting press freedoms. Many observers continue to worry that the changes to the legal system implemented by the Orban government are solely aimed at cementing the power of the increasingly populist Fidesz in all branches of government while the opposition is claiming that Hungary's democracy is in danger. With elections scheduled for 2014 and thousands of Hungarians protesting recent government decisions, including proposed changes to the electoral law that the Supreme Court has struck down, the political situation in the country is highly fluid.  Please join us for a luncheon roundtable discussion with Mr. Attila Mesterhazy, Head of the Parliamentary Group of the opposition Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) in the National Assembly.  Mr. Mesterhazy will address what he sees as the 'democratic breaches' of Hungary's current government, and outline his party's vision for the future.