Hungary’s treatment of pensioners violates human rights, HRW says

Human Rights Watch says Hungary's treatment of pensioners violates human rights

Human Rights Watch says the Hungarian government has failed to uphold elderly people’s rights to social security and an adequate standard of living, warning that low pensions are forcing many to choose between food, heating and medicine. In a report published on 14 January, the organisation said pensions have not kept pace with rising living costs, leaving a growing number of elderly people in poverty. According to official data cited in the report, by the end of 2024 more than two-thirds of pensioners were receiving payments below the gross minimum wage, while nearly a quarter lived below the official poverty line, with women particularly affected.

The human rights group said structural problems in Hungary’s pension system have deepened inequality, pointing in particular to an indexation mechanism that widens the gap between higher and lower pensions. While the government has introduced measures such as, including one-off payments and food vouchers, Human Rights Watch said these steps amount to temporary fixes that fail to address the underlying problem. The organisation urged Hungary to raise pension levels and reform the system to ensure elderly people can meet basic needs, arguing that the current situation falls short of the country’s obligations under international human rights law.

Gap between Tisza and Fidesz is widening again, new poll says

According to a new Medián survey, opposition Tisza party's support has increased slightly, while Fidesz's support has stagnated compared to the previous survey, meaning that the gap between the two parties is widening again. Tisza's support among the entire population was measured at 40 percent, a historic high, while Fidesz remained at 33 percent.

According to the polling, only the two major parties are certain to enter parliament. According to current data, far-right Mi Hazánk is on the brink of winning seats in parliament. However, looking at historical data, this is nothing new: last spring, they were last at 6 percent among certain voters, and since then their support has fluctuated between 4 and 5 percent. DK's support, on the other hand, is now only 1 percent, which is a low point. Respondents were also asked who they expected to win the election. Thirty-nine percent of people expect Tisza to win, while 44 percent expect Fidesz to win.

Mol to close deal on Russian shares in Serbia’s NIS, Hungary says

An agreement on the purchase of Russian shares in Serbia’s oil company NIS by Hungary’s Mol could be reached within days, Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, says. The Foreign Minister says negotiations were nearing a key stage and confirmed that Budapest backs Mol’s bid, arguing that the deal would significantly strengthen energy security in central Europe. He said the coordinated operation of crude oil systems in Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia, alongside the integration of refineries in Bratislava, Százhalombatta and Pančevo, would create a level of supply security and price stability the region had not previously experienced. He also rejected suggestions that Mol intended to close the Pančevo refinery, describing such claims as “fake news”.

Szijjártó started the Hungarian government had been providing diplomatic support to facilitate Mol’s planned role as majority owner of NIS and confirmed that Hungary and Serbia would sign an agreement to strengthen strategic cooperation in the oil sector. This would include confirming the importance of a planned oil pipeline between the two countries, as well as the construction of a new oil products pipeline linking Mol’s refinery in Százhalombatta with a logistics centre in Novi Sad. The minister said European Union policies had previously contributed to a serious energy crisis in central Europe and warned that further measures, including a ban on Russian oil imports and restrictions on Russian gas from 2027, would worsen the situation. He said the past months had underlined the interdependence of Hungary and Serbia on energy security.