- FRANCE 24

Breaking News

GREECE: Parliament approves crucial austerity plan

03/02/2012 - ECONOMY

Debt-ridden Hungarian flag carrier grounds all flights

Hungary’s national carrier Malev ceased operations Friday, grounding all its flights and stranding more than 7,000 passengers after some of its planes were held overseas for unpaid debts.

30/01/2012 - HUNGARY

Life after the red sludge disaster

On October 4th 2010, the wall of the waste reservoir of the MAL aluminium plant in western Hungary gave way. A million cubic metres of red sludge poured out over a number of settlements, with the town of Devecser and the village of Kolontar the worst hit. Nine people died, and whole districts had to be written off.

28/01/2012 - TALKING EUROPE

Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament

The newly elected president of the European Parliament is our guest. An outspoken German MEP from the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Martin Schulz has vowed to give the Parliament a stronger voice in Europe. He gives us his opinion on Greece, IMF rescue funds, the Commission's reaction to the Hungarian government of Viktor Orban, and the EU oil embargo against Iran.

22/01/2012 - Hungary

Hungarians protest against loss of radio voice

Thousands of Hungarians took to Budapest's streets on Sunday in support of the broadcaster Klub Radio, which has been barred from renewing a wavelength licence. Critics say Prime Minister Viktor Orban is silencing opposition media voices.

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17/01/2012 - HUNGARY

EU threatens legal action over controversial reforms in Hungary

European Commission president José Manuel Barroso threatened legal action against contentious new legislation in Hungary Tuesday, in a marked ratcheting up of rhetoric. The row threatens the country’s appeal to the IMF for crucial financial aid.

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13/01/2012 - HUNGARY

Hungary 'ready to compromise' with EU on central bank reform

Hungary appeared ready to bow to pressure from the EU and the IMF on Friday over its controversial constitutional reforms. But Budapest, which is seeking international financial aid, warned European leaders it will not accept all their demands.

11/01/2012 - THE INTERVIEW

Balázs Denes, Executive Director, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Is democracy slowly being dismantled, piece by piece, in the very heart of the European Union? It may sound dramatic, but a growing chorus of critics - both at home and abroad – says that's exactly what's happening in Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his centre-right Fidesz party. Balázs Denes of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union gives us his point of view.

11/01/2012 - HUNGARY

European Commission steps up legal threats against Hungary

The EU’s executive arm demanded Hungary reverse its controversial constitution changes or face possible legal action Tuesday, also threatening the crisis-hit country with sanctions for failing to rein in its deficit.

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10/01/2012 - THE INTERVIEW

Zoltán Kovács, Hungarian Government Spokesman

This time last year, Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, kicked off his country's six-month EU presidency on the defensive, as he struck back at EU criticism that Hungary's new media law was a threat to press freedom. A year later, the list of EU complaints about Orban has grown longer, as Brussels accuses him of consolidating power at the expense of democracy. Zoltán Kovács gives us his reaction.

10/01/2012 - HUNGARY

Hungary offers to scrap disputed legislation

Hungary's government said Monday it is ready to consider altering controversial legislation in accordance with European Commission requests, officials said Tuesday, as Budapest looks to secure a multibillion-euro financing deal from the EU and IMF.