Civil society groups to help select new leaders for Hungary's 'new ÁVH'

Civil society organizations TASZ, the Helsinki Committee, and K-Monitor are set to play a role in selecting new leaders for Hungary's "new ÁVH" (State Protection Authority). The involvement of these groups suggests a move towards greater transparency or oversight in the appointment process for a body that evokes historical connotations of state surveillance. The article, published by Magyar Nemzet, a conservative, national-cultural weekly, frames this development within a broader context of Hungarian identity and its relationship with European integration. The publication itself describes its mission as interpreting the world with credible authors and providing insights into public life, culture, history, and daily life. The text also includes a strong opinion piece that criticizes attempts to organize a "European community festival" in connection with St. Stephen's Day and the founding of the state, labeling such efforts as the work of "raging madmen and dangerous idiots." This sentiment reflects a nationalist perspective that views certain aspects of European integration with suspicion or outright rejection, emphasizing a distinct Hungarian cultural and historical narrative.