US State Department urges Orbán’s government to suspend implementation of higher education law

Washington, DC, April 12 (MTI) – The United States Department of State is urging the Hungarian government to suspend implementation of an amended law on higher education, acting spokesman Mark Toner said at a press briefing in Washington, DC on Monday, local time.

He said the US government is “very concerned” about the legislation which was passed by Hungary’s parliament last week and signed into law by the president this week. The US Department of State believes it threatens the continued operations of Central European University, Toner said.

“So we’re urging the [Hungarian government] to suspend implementation of the law. We want to see a review and discussion in order to address any concerns through dialogue with the university itself and other affected institutions going forward,” he added.

He described CEU as “a leading academic institution” and “an important conduit for intellectual and cultural exchanges between Hungary and the United States”.