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Orban claps back at von der Leyen after she posts video in support of Budapest Pride
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Hungarian authorities to allow the Budapest Pride march, after the police banned the event, citing child protection law. In a video posted on X, von der Leyen called for the parade to take place “without fear of any criminal or administrative sanctions against the organisers or participants.”
The march, scheduled for Saturday, June 28, was blocked by police last week, citing a recently passed law by the country's right-wing government led by Viktor Orban. The new constitutional amendment is seen as part of Orban's ultra-conservative pro- “traditional values” campaign before next year's elections.
Orban clapped back at von der Leyen's post, urging the European Commission to "refrain from interfering in the law enforcement affairs of Member States". "I also call on the Commission to focus its efforts on the pressing challenges facing the European Union—areas where it does have a clear role and responsibility, and where it has made serious mistakes in recent years, such as the energy crisis and the erosion of European competitiveness," the Hungarian PM added.
Dear Madam President,
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) June 25, 2025
I urge the European Commission to refrain from interfering in the law enforcement affairs of Member States, where it has no role to play.
I also call on the Commission to focus its efforts on the pressing challenges facing the European Union—areas where it… https://t.co/QHlJofeC6F
Ukrainian journalists, historians, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates respond to an open letter from Hungarian public figures
“To publicly stand up for justice and victims in what is perhaps the most tense period of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations today means you are on the right side of history,” reads the letter signed by Ukrainian intellectuals and public figures in response to a Hungarian letter of support that has reached more than 30,000 signatures.
In the letter, published by a Hungarian news outlet, Válasz Online, Ukrainians, in addition to expressing their gratitude, say that they have always known that "there is a Hungary that does not seek to profit by treachery and serving foreign interests. As you have written, there is a Hungary that stands in solidarity with Ukraine, supports us, and respects the soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces who are fighting against Russian imperialism.
They write that Ukraine never wanted war with Russia. "Ukraine wants peace, security, and prosperity for itself and Europe. Europe is our historic home. That is why we seek to join the European Union and NATO. Just as Hungary once did."
Planned CATL battery plant in Debrecen halted
The Chinese company CATL has suspended the second phase of its battery factory in Debrecen for an indefinite period, Hungarian independent news outlet Telex reports. The project is in the preparation phase. According to the news outlet, the decision to temporarily halt the thousand-billion-forint development was made due to US President Donald Trump's trade war and the resulting market uncertainties. Several members of the design team have now been sacked.
When contacted by the newspaper, the Chinese company replied that it was now “fully focused on completing our first factory and starting production”. As for the second production unit, they said that a decision on whether to start construction “will be taken after careful consideration, bearing in mind the latest innovations in battery technology and the needs of our customers.”
Government propagandist's ties to Russian secret service revealed
Government propagandist Georg Spöttle is considered a national security risk even by the Hungarian security services. Spöttle has links to the Russian secret services, investigative outlet Direkt36 reports.
His friend applied for a diplomatic training program at the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The program requires national security clearance, which he failed. Spöttle was so outraged by the rejection that he used his political connections to get his acquaintance into the Foreign Ministry's program
Spöttle, known as a “security policy expert”, is a regular guest on various government media channels, where he spreads narratives in line with the Kremlin. Since 2022, he has mainly spoken about the war in Ukraine. According to the investigation, some of Spöttle's comments show a strong resemblance to the training material he received from Russian military intelligence officer Oleg Smirnov. Smirnov, military attaché at the Russian embassy in Budapest until 2024, was also an intelligence officer for the GRU. He was one of Spöttle's main contacts at the Russian Embassy in Budapest.
The materials said that the war had been "provoked by the West; that Ukraine was not autonomous, it was being used as a tool," that "Zelensky was a puppet of the West," that the West had exploited Ukraine" and that "military support was only prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainians". Spöttle used almost the same argument as sent by Smirnov. There is also a strong link between the embassy material and Spöttle's statements that Crimea and Donbass are now Russian territory, and Ukraine must give them up.