The Parliament in Budapest approved a law on the restructuring of the science sector. Academics criticise the law change in focus. You fear the end of the free research.
With the expected government majority in the Hungarian national Parliament had adopted the law for the reconstruction of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), according to Human Rights Watch. Accordingly, 15 the Academy-institutes of the Academy will be outsourced, and a mixed Committee where the government holds the majority.
The Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and politically related parliamentarians to hold the absolute majority in the Parliament. Therefore, there was already, before the vote is little doubt that the members of Parliament will adopt the law proposal.
The long-known plans had triggered in the past weeks and months many protests of researchers and academics at home and abroad.
In Budapest, several thousand people went to the streets to demand the whereabouts of the research Institute in the science Academy.
A Supervisory body for the institutions, and policy research Council
The Changes in the science landscape are to from 1. September to enter into force. The Supervisory body of the institutions – called Eötvös Lóránd research network (ELKH) – should be staffed with 13 people. Each of the six will be seconded from the Academy of Sciences and six from the Ministry of Innovation.
Tip the scales in votes, the leader of the body. He is jointly determined by the government and by the Minister of Innovation, László Palkovics.
The Hungarian Minister of Innovation, Laszlo Palkovics says he would like to landscape a “competitive” research.
The ELKH could withdraw from the Academy important financial resources. It’s about scholarships for scientists and the funding of research projects.
In addition, the Academy could lose the home by law-guaranteed funding to Finance ongoing costs.
In Parallel, the new law established a “National science policy Council”. This innovation Minister is personally. This body is to advise the government on innovation and research topics.
More about citizens for freedom of Science: science is also on the table
Resistance of academics falls on deaf ears
The Academy of Sciences has spoken out against the change in the law. Academy President László Lovász said in a statement that the Academy “had tirelessly negotiated”, but the government have held on to their Position.
“The Academy is very successful in the operation of your research network,” emphasized Lovász. In contrast, did not make the government”, a strategy which would justify a separation [of the institutes].” He comes to the conclusion that in the future science landscape “was inappropriate for the research community” and the law “on European principles” contrary.
Bad Example: Germany
Minister of innovation, Palkovics, however, that the government wanted to make Hungary by the tag “competitive”. He justified the step with reference to the German research institutions, such as the Leibniz Association and the Max-Planck society, the carry out from his point of view, a similar task as the ELKH.
However, the representatives of German science organisations is quite different. They stressed their independence from politics and signed a letter, under the auspices of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina on Palkovics.
In the Letter, the German research organisations have criticised the bill and show solidarity with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
More on academic freedom: comment: Be reasonable!
Not a good science location: CEU rector Michael Ingnatieff announces the move to Vienna.
Europe’s politicians: violation of democratic principles
Also, from the policy, a number of critics expressed a word in. Udo Bullmann, Chairman of the social democratic group in the European Parliament, accusing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he wanted to bring critical scientists to Silence, for example, removing certain controversial areas of research such as Gender Studies. “We are horrified to see that Orban is a big swing to a new blow against the freedom of Science and against the democracy in his country,” said Bullmann. He was “evidently intended to install a pure autocracy in Hungary.”
Since 2017, the Hungarian government has taken steps to limit the freedom of Science. So they limited the work of the American billionaire and philanthropist George Soros-funded Central European University (CEU) solid. They enacted a higher education law that sets conditions for the continued operation of the University, the CEU-line acceptable.
From the autumn of 2019, the CEU will move step-by-step to Vienna and teaching record. Until 2023, the entire University should be moved to Austria.
More: moving to Vienna: Central European University bends Orbán pressure
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