HUNGARY
The Hungarian Government is planning an overhaul of the country’s Academy of Sciences, effectively giving itself more control over scientific activity.
Hungary’s oldest and largest academic institution, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) is funded by the Government but until now has been self-managed, with a network of scientific research bodies employing about 5,000 people.
Prime Minister, Viktor Orban has already tightened control over the country’s courts, media, economy, education and now has science in his sights.
His measures have triggered criticism from the European Union.
In a months-long struggle with the Government, academics have resisted the reforms.
Now the matter is moving towards its final stages with the impending submission of a Bill to Parliament citing the draft legislation.
The overhaul, which the Government says is needed to reap more economic benefits from science, has triggered protests from civil groups and academics.
A resolution passed by the HAS said it disagreed with what it called the “political motivation for the arbitrary restructuring of the institutional network”.
The Government proposal would move all research units into a new public institution with a 13-member governing board comprising six Government and six HAS delegates.
Mr Orban would appoint the Chair based on a joint proposal by the board.
The legislation would force the Academy to hand over the buildings and assets of its research institutions to the new State-run organisation.
Budapest, 28 May 2019
