Money For Nothing?
Weekly briefings on the life of The New European Capital of Conservatism.
Budapest This Week
At the MCC Scruton on Wednesday, they’re asking: Why Do We Need Children? Ever since chimneysweeps were abolished, this has been a hot question on the right. Panel discussion, with Q&A. It’s a lunchtime event: 1-2:30PM.
Thursday, 3PM at the MKI, Kind Of A Big Deal Hall Gardner will be back for his second public event: this one on the status of the Ukraine War, starring the DI’s own Calum Nicholson and Gavin Haynes.
What’s Based
On Finding €200bn Down The Back Of The Sofa… EU politicians are arguing, following the collapse of their plan to hand Russian frozen funds to Ukraine. Here’s what you need to know: 1 — This week, EU politicians want the head of Belgian PM Bart de Wever. The Flemish nationalist earned the ire of his Eurocrat peers after he blocked their plans to effectively steal frozen Russian funds for the benefit of Ukraine. 2 — French President Emmanuel Macron has tried to play down the collapse of the deal, insisting to Brussels-based outlets that substantial discussions on the meat of the scheme did take place. 3 — EU leaders are set to revive the plan when they meet again at the start of December, but we will likely see movement sooner. 4 — The EU froze approximately €200 billion in assets belonging to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. 5 — Belgium directly holds around 86 per cent of all Russian‐state assets frozen within the EU.
Other News
Paper of the Week
The Empire Strikes Back: Why Civilisational Aspects Matter in Migration Policy
Our Spanish Visiting Fellow, Juan A. Soto, uses a comparison between his own country, Britain, and France, to argue that migration succeeds when cultural compatibility is maximised. The Spanish, he points out, have taken mainly Spanish-speaking Catholics from its New World colonies. Whereas Britain and France's more culturally diverse colonies have brought with them differing standards and unique problems.
“Portugal’s immigrant population features a significant presence from its former colonies, with 30% of them coming from Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde. In the United Kingdom, migration from former colonies—particularly India, Pakistan, and to a lesser extent, Caribbean nations—accounts for roughly 20% of the total immigrant population. By contrast, the cases of Spain and France are notably distinct: in both countries, immigrants from former overseas territories make up over 40% of the foreign-born population, reflecting deeper and more sustained post-imperial migratory ties.”
Eyes & Ears
Comings & Goings
Coming: Irish parliamentary insider Tadhg Pigeon is in town until Halloween for a working holiday. Drop Based in Budapest a message and we can put you in touch.
City Life
Next Sunday, 2 November, is All Souls Day, Halottak Napja. This is a big thing in Catholic Hungary; its closest cousin is the Mexican version - The Day of the Dead. Across the city, at sundown and beyond, graveyards will fill with families placing candles on the tombs of their relatives, and praying for the salvation of the departed.
For those who prefer the American flavour, a lesser known ruin bar in the 7th, the Füge Udvar, hosts a Halloween party of ripe imagination, and plenty of spooky-wooky.
Tonight, Katy Perry hits the MVM Dome. Did you know the video for Fireworks was shot at Buda Castle?
Rest in peace Diane Keaton; long live Annie Hall, showing Sunday at 2PM at the Bem movie theatre.
Dates For Your Diary
Budapest Peace Conference — Still Soon?Battle for the Soul of Europe, Brussels — 3 - 4 DecemberWiener Akademikerball, Vienna — 20 February “Ki mint vet, úgy arat."— As you sew, so shall you reap.