Update and news from Budapest by Thomas

Article published on 25 March by Thomas

We don’t do a lot of things these 3 weeks, the weather is actually not the best! When we arrived in Budapest, we got very good weather but cold during one month, and now it's between rain and clouds. However, we go to parties to take pleasure and celebrate birthdays, but parties are also a good place to train English because we are obliged to speak in English when we meet some peoples, and it works! I see my progression in English since my arrived here.

Hungary a delicate situation actually

Now I will speak about the situation in Hungary. Since we arrived, the price of everything has been increasing. For example, the price of wheat flour took 50% of inflation, and a simple McDonald's milkshake, which cost 720 Forints (~1.8€) when we arrived, is now 920 Forints (~2.3€). That's about 30% inflation, but in January, the overall inflation rate had risen to 5.5%, and it is still increasing.

I spoke with Hungarians about the situation in the country, and while prices are rising, salaries are not. Wages here are not the best! A flatmate shared his earnings when he worked as a translator, and he made between 1000€ and 1100€. However, it is difficult for a Hungarian to live in Budapest without a good diploma. About prices, they are similar to those in France for many products. Meat is cheaper than in France, but not better!

Tense domestic policy

The 15 of March was the national day (back to the War of Independence from the Austrian Empire in 1848), and it's an important day for Hungarians. But this year, the 15 of March was a day of demonstration here against Viktor Orbán and his politics. Because Orbán is actually the prime minister of Hungary since 2010, he is a far-right conservative with strict immigration politics, a lot of corruption stealing the people’s money, repression like facial identification to track people (some French students got a fine and were seen by a camera), no press liberty, and not a lot of rights for LGBT persons.

Update from 25/03

Tonight, we saw a huge crowd movement with thousands of people demonstrating against Viktor Orbán in the street. Protesters blocked the Liberty Bridge, which is a symbol of freedom and resilience. I will make an update in the next article because some new demonstrations are scheduled.