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Hungarian American relations may enter a 'new dimension', Szijjarto claims
"With the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump, Hungarian-American relations may again enter a new dimension, a 'golden age' after the 'hostile relations' of recent years and the current low point," Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said at a business forum of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Budapest, 444 reports.
"Many of us hoped there would be a major change and that the pro-peace candidate would win (...) We are very pleased with the outcome of the US presidential election, even if not many European governments share this view," he said.
According to Szijjártó, Trump's victory will lead to major geopolitical changes, which will impact US relations with the EU and Hungary. According to him, we have to face a completely new reality, which his EU colleagues are "not ready to accept", and they should finally understand that the prolongation of the war will only worsen the situation in Ukraine and the EU. He added that there is no solution to the conflict on the battlefield.
OLAF to strengthen efforts to ensure EU funds are used responsibly in Hungary
Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Ville Itälä, and Ferenc Pál Biró, President of Hungary’s Integrity Authority met in Budapest to strengthen ties in the battle against fraud and corruption in the EU.
The meeting underscored the urgency of uniting resources and expertise to combat increasingly sophisticated cross-border fraud schemes that threaten EU taxpayers’ money. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering the capabilities of national authorities while advancing the detection, investigation, and prosecution of international financial crimes.
“It is crucial that we strengthen our efforts to safeguard EU funds and protect the integrity of our financial system,” said Mr Itälä. “The cooperation between OLAF and national authorities, such as Hungary’s Integrity Authority, is fundamental to ensuring transparency and accountability across borders. (...)“We are committed to working with OLAF to ensure that public funds are used responsibly and that corrupt practices are swiftly detected and dealt with. I am pleased to see our shared vision for a stronger, more united approach to tackling fraud,” he added.
NGOs such as Transparency International ranked Hungary amongst Romania and Bulgaria as one of the European countries with the worst corruption records.
World Justice Project ranks Hungary last among nations for fundamental rights
A new report by the World Justice Project ranked Hungary last among European countries for Fundamental Rights, Open Government, Constraints on Government, and Civil Justice.
According to the report, the rule of law has eroded globally for the seventh consecutive year, with authoritarianism undermining human rights and democratic principles in the majority of nations. The annual report reveals that 57% of the 142 countries and jurisdictions assessed experienced a decline in the rule of law, painting a bleak picture for global governance. The index, which claims to be the world’s most comprehensive dataset, highlights the growing prevalence of authoritarian practices eroding democratic norms and legal protections.
Orbán to invite Netanyahu to Hungary
During his weekly radio interview on state radio Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban talked about the international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Beyamin Netanyahu, which Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called 'absurd'.
Orbán said the decision by the International Criminal Court "to interfere in an ongoing conflict for political purposes" was "outrageously brazen" and "cynical".
"It is a complete discrediting of international law and it adds fuel to the fire. Therefore, we have no choice but to defy this decision, and I will invite Benjamin Netanyahu later today, which will have no consequences for him, we will defy the arrest warrant if he accepts the invitation," Orban said.