This summer was busy for Új Kezdet (‘New Start’) as the quasi-authoritarian Orban government continued to destroy the remaining institutions of free press and culture.

The independent online news portal, Index, was the first victim, occupied by the regime through owner manipulations. The second target was the University of Theatre and Film Arts, but due to the prompt and brave resistance of its students and faculty, Orban did not manage a takeover. Új Kezdet’s activists, among them Sandor Sopkez (New Start National Council member from Budapest), participated in the street demonstration defending the freedom of the University of Theatre and Film Arts.

Several government and government-backed takeovers are in progress in almost all fields of everyday life, including popular public beaches at lakes Balaton, Ferto and Tata.

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