The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

Soros-backed university is 'cheating' - Hungary PM alleges

Hungarian-born US magnate and philanthropist George Soros attends an economic forum in Colombo on January 7, 2016

Orban has long accused Hungarian-born Soros of meddling in central and eastern Europe and of seeking to undermine the continent by backing mass immigration.

"Cheating is cheating... It doesn't matter if you are a billionaire, you are not above the law," Orban said during an interview on public radio.

The Central European University (CEU), set up in 1991 after the end of communism and part-funded by Soros, said in a statement that it "utterly rejects" Orban's allegations.

"We have been lawful partners in Hungarian higher education for 25 years and any statement to the contrary is false," the university said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Orban, 53, personally received a Soros grant in the 1980s to study abroad.

US 'concern'

The far-right premier has been a leading opponent in the EU of immigration, calling it a threat to Europe's Christian identity.

His anti-Soros quest intensified on Tuesday with the publication of proposed legislation that would tighten rules for foreign-based universities operating in Hungary.

The CEU believes it is the main target of Orban's plan -- something the government denies -- and has said that its existence is under threat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Orban said Friday that the aim was to stop universities from countries outside of the European Union from being able to cheat students.

He said it followed checks on 28 foreign institutions that uncovered irregularities.

"Several foreign universities are breaking the rules, including the Soros university," he said.

Orban argues that the US-registered CEU enjoys an unfair advantage over local universities because it can award both a Hungarian diploma and an American one.

The proposed new rules would ban the awarding of Hungarian diplomas without an international agreement between national governments.

ADVERTISEMENT

Institutions must also have operations in their home country.

The future of the CEU, which does not have a US campus, now "depends on talks between the governments of Hungary and the United States," Orban said.

A statement from the US State Department Friday expressed "concern" about the legislation which reportedly could go before parliament early next week.

"We urge the government of Hungary to avoid taking any legislative action that would compromise CEU's operations or independence," it said.

Currently teaching 1,400 students from more than 100 countries, the English-language institution ranks among the top 50 universities in the world in political science and international studies.

ADVERTISEMENT

In an interview with AFP on Thursday, the CEU's president and rector Michael Ignatieff called the proposed new rules "unacceptable, targeted at CEU, and an attack on academic freedom".

"We will be open for business and accept students and teach them next year, if I have to teach in a tent in a park in Budapest I will do so," said the former Canadian politician, insisting that the university "will not be bullied".

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

ADVERTISEMENT