We uncovered why the NER institutions are included in the cultural budget

Dissatisfaction is rising regarding the government's cultural budget for next year, with critics calling for a re-evaluation. Esteemed aesthetician Rényi András condemned the budget, while social media is flooded with comparisons of Cultural Minister Zoltán Tarr to the detained Balázs Hankó. Open letters and petitions demand a budget overhaul in the spirit of regime change, moving away from figures derived from Hankó's influence. The cultural ministry's net budget support is set to decrease from 410.8 billion HUF in 2026 to 371.8 billion HUF in 2027, a 9.5% drop attributed to task reallocation. The National Cultural Fund's total revenue is also expected to fall from 19.2 billion HUF to 16.5 billion HUF. Critics are particularly frustrated that the budget still includes funding for institutions perceived as Fidesz-affiliated, such as the National Strategy Research Institute and the Veritas Institute.