Austria Ready to Host Embattled Soros-Funded Hungarian University

VIENNA (AP) — Austria’s chancellor is offering the country as a new home for the Central European University in Budapest, after Hungarian lawmakers approved laws for tighter regulation of foreign universities.

Chancellor Christian Kern’s office said Thursday that he is in contact with university founder George Soros about a possible move.

The bill modifies rules regulating the 28 foreign universities in Hungary. CEU says parts of the bill directly target it, and could force it to close.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accuses the Hungarian-born Soros of trying to influence Hungarian politics. He says that CEU is “cheating” because it doesn’t have a U.S. campus but issues diplomas recognized in both countries.

Vienna officials have also said the city is ready to host the university.