Koloman Dr. Brenner

As Deputy President of Jobbik, Brenner plays a strategic role in shaping the party’s political agenda, with particular emphasis on national sovereignty and social justice. In this capacity, he actively represents the party’s positions on education and foreign policy matters, highlighting the importance of Hungarian higher education autonomy and balanced, value-based international relations. He takes a leadership role in Jobbik’s internal decision-making processes, consistently representing the party at diplomatic events and maintaining continuous contact with the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM).

Since 2022, Brenner has continued to be an active participant in Hungarian public life as a Member of Parliament. In the Assembly, he advocates for the protection of democratic values, academic freedom, and minority rights. He emphasizes Hungary’s belonging to the European cultural sphere, asserting that this identity should not be undermined by the government’s so-called “Eastern Opening” policy. His work highlights the peaceful resolution of armed conflicts, the independence of higher education, fairer social support systems, and the defense of civic values. As a conservative politician, he places special emphasis on promoting Christian values. During the current parliamentary term (2022–2026), he has submitted 115 independent motions and spoken 109 times in the House.

As Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Brenner consistently advocates a value-based foreign policy grounded in national interests. As a conservative politician, he emphasizes that Hungary’s foreign relations should be balanced and predictable, particularly with European allies. He promotes regional diplomacy, including Visegrád and Western Balkan cooperation, while opposing an overemphasis on Eastern orientation. He critiques government policies on migrant labor, defending Hungarian workers, and ensures that foreign policy decisions are subject to social oversight and democratic debate, regularly initiating ministerial hearings. He is committed to representing the rights of national minorities in foreign policy and integrates Central European minority issues into committee work. For him, foreign policy is not a technocratic routine but a national destiny issue, prioritizing Hungarian security, cooperation with the Western alliance, and transparency.

Chair, Hungary–Luxembourg Friendship Group (since 6 December 2022) Chair, Hungary–Slovenia Friendship Group (since 6 May 2025) Vice-Chair, Hungary–Belgium Friendship Group (since 6 December 2022) Vice-Chair, Hungary–Benelux Friendship Section (since 6 December 2022) Vice-Chair, Hungary–Switzerland Friendship Group (since 26 October 2022) Member of multiple parliamentary friendship groups, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Korea, Colombia, Cuba, Latin America, Poland, Mexico, Germany–Liechtenstein, Austria, and Peru.

Between 2018 and 2022, Brenner was an active member of Hungarian public life. In Parliament, he regularly emphasized the importance of the rule of law, transparency, and responsible national foreign policy. His work focused on democratic governance, academic freedom, university autonomy, and the support of cultural life. He consistently advocated for the German minority in Hungary and European values. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, he concentrated on international relations, minority protection, and European integration. In the Legislative Committees, he consistently represented minority rights, educational autonomy, and the strengthening of civic democratic institutions. During this term, he submitted 122 independent motions and spoke 138 times in the House.

As an expert, he participated in supporting the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. From 2018, he has served as a full member of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Culture, Education, Media and Sport. In 2020, he was the rapporteur for the report on academic freedom and university autonomy adopted by the Assembly.

Brenner teaches at the Institute of German Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University. His research and teaching focus on German phonetics, phonology, and dialectology, with particular attention to the German dialects of Hungary. He also examines multilingualism and the social and political aspects of minority languages, especially the language use and identity of German communities in Central Europe. His scholarly work analyzes the status of the German language in the Hungarian education system and compares minority language rights in Europe. He is actively involved in the academic and civic representation of the German minority community. (He is on unpaid leave during his parliamentary mandate.) Publications Ungarndeutscher Sprachatlas (co-author, 2008) Übungsbuch zur Phonetik der deutschen Sprache (co-author, 2014) Mi befolyásolja a német nyelvjárások használatát az elektronikus médiában? (2016) Deutsche Minderheit(en) und Institutionen (2018)

As Deputy Director, Brenner played a key role in developing German-language programs and strengthening the Institute’s scientific and international relations. He promoted interdisciplinary research, with particular focus on minority language use, multilingualism, and German minority education. He coordinated faculty-level academic organization and contributed to institutional strategies. He also mentored young academics and researchers.

Publications Abriß einer deutschen Phonetik: Handbuch für das Germanistikstudium mit deutsch-ungarischen Materialien (co-author, 1999) Die sprachliche Situation der deutschen Minderheit in West-Ungarn (2002) Plosives of the German dialects in Western Hungary (2004) Plosive der deutschen Dialekte in West-Ungarn: Eine kontrastive akustische Analyse (2004) Deutsche Phonetik. Eine Einführung (co-author, 2006)

As Chair of the Faculty Quality Development Committee, he continuously improved and monitored the Faculty’s educational and research activities, overseeing institutional accreditations of the Faculty and the University. Together with the economic director, he coordinated and developed faculty management and human resources policies. He developed and coordinated marketing and student recruitment efforts and led the organization of the Faculty Open Day. He directed and coordinated the accreditation process for new interdisciplinary master’s programs.

Under the mandate of the Ministry of Education and in cooperation with the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, he coordinated the establishment of master’s programs nationwide, drafting government regulations on training and output requirements. He led and coordinated accreditation for disciplinary and interdisciplinary master’s programs. He developed faculty marketing and recruitment activities and played a pioneering role in accreditation processes for foreign-language master’s programs.

Graduated summa cum laude at the German Doctoral School. Research focused on German phonetics, phonology, and dialectology, with special attention to minority languages and multilingualism. Gained in-depth theoretical knowledge and field methodology for dialectology, as well as training in academic publishing, literature review, research, and teaching organization. The program aimed to produce graduates capable of both research and high-quality university teaching.

Completed teacher training with comprehensive knowledge of European and Hungarian history, as well as advanced German language and literature education. Developed pedagogical, rhetorical, and didactic competencies that laid the foundation for subsequent academic and civic roles. Strengthened analytical skills, critical thinking, and multilingual communication abilities, enabling effective representation in both scholarly and public life.