Central European University forced out of Hungary
The Central European
University, founded by George Soros, said on Monday it had been forced out of
Hungary in “an arbitrary eviction” that violated academic freedom, and it
confirmed plans to enroll new students in neighboring Austria next year. CEU’s statement is the
culmination of a years-long struggle between Hungarian-born but U.S.-based
Soros, who promotes liberal causes through his charities, and the nationalist,
anti-immigrant government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“CEU has been forced
out,” said CEU President and Rector Michael Ignatieff in a statement.
“This is
unprecedented. A U.S. institution has been driven out of a country that is a
NATO ally. A European institution has been ousted from a member state of
the EU.” “Arbitrary eviction of
a reputable university is a flagrant violation of academic freedom. It is
a dark day for Europe and a dark day for Hungary,” the statement added.
CEU’s legal status has
been in limbo for more than a year since changes to a higher education law that
meant a foreign-registered university could no longer operate in Hungary unless
it also provided courses in its home country. Orban’s critics say
the changes deliberately target CEU, which is regularly ranked as the top
university in Hungary and offers U.S. degrees. Orban accuses Soros of
encouraging mass immigration into Europe, a charge the philanthropist denies.
Earlier this year,
Open Society Foundations, Soros’ main funding network, was also forced to
leave Hungary. CEU, founded in
Budapest in 1991, has repeatedly said it has complied with all the new
regulations set by Orban’s government, which has refused to sign off on an
already agreed document with the State of New York that would allow CEU to
stay. Hungary’s government
has dismissed the university’s move as a “Soros-style bluff”.
CEU said it would
start enrolling students for U.S. degrees at its new campus in Vienna for the
next academic year. Students already enrolled will complete their studies in
Budapest. The university retains
accreditation as a Hungarian university and will seek to continue teaching and
research activity in Budapest as long as possible, it said.
