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Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on leaked 2023 recording: "We are moving to phase zero on the path to war"
A secretly recorded audio clip released by Péter Magyar, the leader of Tisza Party, has shaken the Orbán government’s carefully crafted image as a pro-peace actor in the Ukraine war, 444 reports. In the one-minute recording, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky is heard saying: “We are ending our previous efforts towards peace,” marking what he called “phase zero of the path to war.”
The clip, allegedly recorded in April 2023—just over a year after Russia invaded Ukraine—suggests a decisive internal policy shift that contradicts public messaging. “The fifth Orbán government has decided to build a truly effective, combat-ready Hungarian army,” the minister says, linking the transformation to Hungary’s military rejuvenation programme and the appointment of Lieutenant General Gábor Böröndi as chief of staff.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky has responded to the audio on social media, framing the comments as part of a broader national defence strategy: “Peace requires strength.”
Meanwhile Magyar described the tape as damning. “Orbán and his people have been deceiving Hungarians about standing for peace,” he said. “It has now become clear that they would drag our wonderful country into war.”
Gyurcsány steps down from all political roles and quits public life
Opposition politician and former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány is stepping down from all public roles and withdrawing from political life, his wife Klára Dobrev revealed on Facebook. Dobrev also confirmed the end of their nearly 30-year marriage.
“Ferenc Gyurcsány has announced his decision to resign as president of DK, to step down as leader of the parliamentary group, to resign his seat in parliament, and to withdraw from public life. He will not stand in the elections,” wrote Dobrev, an MEP for the Democratic Coalition.
She added that the decision was intended to put an end to what she described as the Hungarian right’s “habit of avoiding responsibility by lying about Gyurcsány.” The former prime minister has been a favourite scapegoat of Fidesz propaganda for years. Dobrev’s post confirmed that the party would hold a leadership election within weeks. She also announced her intention to run.
Gyurcsány served as prime minister from 2004 to 2009 and was a key figure in Hungary’s post-socialist politics. His infamous speech leaked in 2006, in which he admitted his government had “lied morning, noon, and night”. The fallout sparked mass protests and a collapse in public trust, paving the way for Orbán’s return to power. His resignation marks the end of a political era often defined by deep polarisation between the Orbán and Gyurcsány supporters.
The Orbán government responded that “Nothing will change! With Klára Dobrev at the helm, DK will remain just as pro-Ukrainian and obedient to Brussels as the Tisza Party.”
Chinese company to provide rail transport for Hungarian Defence Forces
The Defence Procurement Agency's public procurement contract was won by Ghibli Ltd, owned by a large Chinese company, Shandong Dihao International Investment Limited Company, three Chinese individuals, and a Hungarian man who does business with them, Átlátszó reports. The winning company will be assisted in the execution of the contract, which will run until 2028 and is worth a net 1.57 billion forints, by the consul of the Kazakh consulate in Karcag, László Horváth's company, CER Hungary Central European Rail Freight, Trade and Service Company.
It is not clear from the documents what will have to be transported by rail, but it is clear from where. "Hungary and stations and sidings of other European countries."
In other words, according to the paper, "secret and confidential rail transport for the EU member Hungary's defence forces could be carried out by a company linked to communist China, in Hungary and several other European countries for four years".
Despite high employment, Hungarian workers are not satisfied with their lives
In late April, Gallup published its latest global market report, which shows that global employee engagement declined by 2024. The Hungarian data is particularly worrying, as Hungary is performing poorly not only compared to the global average but also the regional average - employee engagement is low, and the situation shows no improvement compared to last year, Quibit reports.
The report looks at workers' satisfaction with their lives and jobs from several angles. Global trends indicate that fewer people are feeling good about their jobs, and this is accompanied by declining engagement. One of the main reasons for the decline is the increasing workload and difficulties in management positions, which are increasingly dragging down the average. But in Hungary, the average is already low.
Researchers measured satisfaction with life on a scale of one to ten and then projected this onto a 100-point scale. The data show that Hungary is ahead of only Slovakia in the Central and Eastern European region, and ranks 27th out of 38 European countries surveyed.
In terms of stress, we are no longer doing so badly. Only 35% of Hungarian workers said they had experienced significant stress on the previous working day, putting Hungary in the top third of the European midfield.