MCC Brussels Wants to Break Down the Political Quarantine around Hungary

German newspaper Die Welt interviewed Frank Füredi, Director of MCC Brussels, the European branch of Hungary’s leading talent institution Mathias Corvinus Institute.

Frank Furedi is a Hungarian-Canadian academic and emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, he has been a well-known thinker in the European and Hungarian conservative scene. He told Die Welt that he accepted the offer to lead MCC Brussels last year because he was mainly interested in doing something about what he saw as unfair criticism from the EU.

Hungary is portrayed as an authoritarian, fascist country, which I think is complete nonsense,

Füredi stressed. He also saw the job as a way to fight back in the culture wars.

“I try to give an understanding of European culture, which is an alternative to the EU mainstream,” the sociologist stressed.

As for their future plans, Füredi said he wants to engage more collaborators and speakers from other European countries with different backgrounds and political persuasions. “I am looking around everywhere: We need people from Spain, Italy, France, and Germany,” the director said, adding that his superiors in Hungary give him a completely free hand when it comes to managing MCC in Brussels.

Füredi said that he does not want to stay in Brussels for more than two years. Asked about his goals, he said he aims to

break the political quarantine around Hungary”.

Die Welt also asked Katalin Cseh, MEP of Hungary’s liberal Momentum party, about MCC Brussels’ role. According to the politician, the think tank serves as a platform to spread the Hungarian government’s view of Europe and is trying to create an alliance.

Featured photo via Facebook/MCC Brussels