Socialists vow to repeal contested higher education law

László Botka, the prime minister candidate of the opposition Socialist Party, has promised to repeal an amendment to Hungary’s higher education law, whose critics say could result in the closure of Budapest’s Central European University, if his party triumphs in next year’s general election.

Speaking at a press conference at the end of a two-day visit to Brussels on Thursday, Botka said that if the Socialists win in 2018, they would also “end the stigmatisation” of civil groups.

The Hungarian government has submitted a bill to parliament which would require non-government organisations receiving more than 7.2 million forints (EUR 23,400) from foreign donors to register as foreign-backed groups.

Botka said that in his talks with European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans he had made it clear that the Socialist Party and Hungary’s “democratic opposition” parties were interested in “the restoration” of the democratic rule of law in the country. He said he had emphasised that it was Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, not Hungary, whom the EU should punish.

Botka also said that if the bloc were forced to split into a “two-speed Europe”, the one to blame would “undoubtedly” be Orbán.