Economy
Hungary President signs off new higher ed law, seals fate of CEU
Plea until you're blue in the face, Áder will still sign it
Áder said the new law is not unconstitutional.CEU begs to differ.Áder also remarked that the law would not impact any student who is currently studying at CEU or any other university-they will be able to complete their program as normal.
Again, CEU begs to differ.The Hungarian government, and Áder himself has received a countless number of pleads and petitions from dozens of universities, academics, academic associations, Nobel Laureates, the U.S. State Department and scholars in the European Union and the United States not to proceed with the planned legislation - or in Áder’s case - not to sign off the law.
A crowd of 70,000 to 80,000 protesters took to the streets of Budapest on Sunday afternoon and evening in support of CEU and also against Orbán and his clique.Áder remained unmoved by the petitions, CEU’s arguments (the school or any other professional body in higher education had not been consulted on the planned legislation change), the demonstrations, and any politician or scholar that expressed their concerns about Orbán’s government trampling on academic freedom.“In the time allowed to me I have investigated the constitutionality of the legislation and whether it is in line with international agreements," Áder explained, according to a report by local news portal index.hu. The president added he established that it does not violate the freedom of education set down in the Fundamental Law (constitution) of Hungary, or the sovereignty of institutions as regards research, taught material and methodology.
At the same time, Áder urged the government to “start negotiations" with the related institutions “immediately," so as to ensure that “not a speck of doubt remains about whether foreign universities operating in Hungary will have the conditions in place to allow them to continue with their high quality work."
Decorated Hungarian novelist, playwright and essayist Péter Nádas wrote a letter of support for CEU to Áder on 7 April.
"I am requesting you not to lend support with your signature to the anti-CEU legislation that has reached your desk. In essence, I am asking you to apply the principle of “less is more" to the case at hand. For in my view, it is a rare opportunity in the life of a head of state that with the omission of a single stroke of a pen he should be able to do so much for the political community the unity of which he is called to embody," he said. You may download the full letter here.
The International Association of Universities expressed its concern about the legislation targeting CEU in a letter to President Áder.
"We appeal to you to re-consider the changes being proposed concerning CEU and thus protect the most important values upheld by academic institutions worldwide - institutional autonomy and academic freedom."
Click here for the letter.
Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan also expressed his concern about the amendments to Hungary's higher education law in a letter to President and Rector Michael Ignatieff. Click here for his letter.
CEU will use all legal means to contest law
Central European University (CEU) strongly disagrees with the decision by President Janos Ader to sign the amendments to Hungary’s national higher education legislation. Accordingly, CEU will immediately seek all available legal remedies
, CEU’s .The university presented a few arguments to demonstrate why the new legislation is a political attack on CEU.
- The legislation was introduced without consultation with CEU or with necessary Hungarian authorities and thus violates elementary standards of due process observed in any democratic country.
- The legislation is targeted at an American institution in a flagrantly discriminatory manner.
- The legislation seeks to make it impossible for CEU to offer American-accredited masters and doctoral degrees, as it has done with the full agreement of Hungarian authorities for many years.
- The legislation imposes a punitive deadline which would make compliance impossible.
“On these and other grounds, the legislation constitutes a premeditated political attack on a free institution that has been a proud part of Hungarian life for a quarter of a century.
“We will oppose this legislation to the full extent of the law."
As regards Áder calling for “mutual good will" and “negotiations without delay", CEU stressed that “from the beginning of this sorry episode, CEU has been ready to discuss this matter with the government.“All our efforts so far have been rebuffed and the good name of our university has been attacked. If the government genuinely wishes to solve this problem, they will need to show the good will that the President has called for."
CEU President and Rector Michael Ignatieff CEU is willing to sit down with the Hungarian government to find a solution to enable CEU to stay in Budapest and operate as it has done for 25 years.
“However, academic freedom is not negotiable. It is a principle that must form the basis of any future agreement."
