Demonstrators protest against legislation that could close the liberal leaning Central European University in Budapest Ferenc Isza/afp/Getty ImagesThe European Commission has begun legal action against Hungary over legislation targeting a university linked to George Soros and accused Viktor Orbán, the country’s prime minister, of spreading “factually incorrect” claims about the European Union. The European Commission has stepped up a confrontation with Hungary’s populist government by beginning infringement proceedings over a new higher education law that could close the liberal leaning Central European University (CEU) in Budapest. Other legislation will force NGOs receiving over €23,000 a year from foreign funding sources to register with the authorities. Addressing the European Parliament, Mr Orbán defended the legislation and attacked Mr Soros, an American billionaire of Hungarian origin, as man who “has destroyed the lives of millions with his financial speculations”. “We are not as big…

Source: The Times April 27, 2017 00:45 UTC