Report: Soros-Funded University Forced Out of Hungary

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Dec 3, 2018

A university funded by George Soros has been forced out of the billionaire’s native country of Hungary, according to a Monday report.

“The Central European University, founded by George Soros, said on Monday it had been forced out of Hungary in “an arbitrary eviction” that violated academic freedom, and it confirmed plans to enroll new students in neighboring Austria next year,” said Reuters. 

Soros, who donates millions to leftist nonprofits mostly in the United States, has been engulfed in a battler with the right-leaning leader of his native land, Prime Minister Victor Orban. The main point of contention is immigration policy. Soros often funds open borders groups, while Hungary has refused to partake in the harboring of Middle Eastern and African migrants. Orban forced Soros’ Open Societies Foundation out of Hungary earlier this year.

CEU is not thrilled with its eviction.

“CEU has been forced out,” said CEU President Michael Ignatieff, according to the report. “This is unprecedented. A U.S. institution has been driven out of a country that is a NATO ally. A European institution has been ousted from a member state of the EU.”

According to the report, CEU’s status as a university has been in question since Hungary implemented new laws requiring foreign universities to provide courses in their home countries as well as in Hungary.

Some view CEU’s eviction as Orban targeting Soros.

“Orban’s critics say the changes deliberately target CEU, which is regularly ranked as the top university in Hungary and offers U.S. degrees,” the report said. “Orban accuses Soros of encouraging mass immigration into Europe, a charge the philanthropist denies.”