Twenty-five ambassadors recalled by new foreign minister

Anita Orbán recalls 25 ambassadors

Foreign Minister Anita Orban recalled twenty-five ambassadors, including key posts in Washington, London, Brussels, Moscow and Kyiv (including Szabolcs Takács, Ferenc Kumin, Tamás Iván Kovács and Norbert Attila Konkoly.) The latest round follows the June dismissal of 37 heads of diplomatic missions.

The changes also affect Hungary's representatives to NATO, the OSCE and the country's permanent missions to the United Nations in Vienna and Geneva. Days later, the foreign ministry, announced that foreign policy expert Botond Feledy would become head of the Hungarian Institute of Foreign Affairs. His predecessor, Gladden Pappin, a US-born pro-MAGA academic, had previously resigned.

Hungary establishes National Agency for the Recovery and Protection of Assets

The newly established National Agency for the Recovery and Protection of Assets (NVVH) has been granted broad powers to investigate suspected abuses involving public assets. Its pre-investigation division will conduct risk assessments and can access bank accounts, records and official documents, with assistance from police, prosecutors and the National Tax Authority if needed. Depending on the allegations, the agency can initiate proceedings to protect public assets or criminal proceedings. Parliament must elect its chair and deputy chairs within 30 days of the law taking effect.

The agency was created by legislation passed by parliament with 143 votes in favour and 47 against, fulfilling one of the Tisza party’s key campaign promises. Acting president Ágnes Forsthoffer said the law had been reviewed for constitutionality before she signed it and that no concerns had been raised. The NVVH is intended to operate independently of the government and report only to parliament. Fidesz figures have criticised the agency as a tool to target people with different political views, while PM Magyar has said it could take over some existing investigations, potentially including a case involving foundations of the Hungarian National Bank.

100m fine imposed over fatal accident at BYD construction site

The government office has imposed a fine of 100 million HUF on those responsible for the fatal workplace accident at the BYD construction site in Szeged, Péter Stumpf (Tisza), a member of the National Assembly wrote on Facebook.

The Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development said that the Fidesz era, when the interests of major investors took precedence over human lives, is over. The politician emphasized that under the Tisza government, the laws apply equally to everyone, “including Péter Szijjártó’s new employer.” The authorities are working to protect the health and safety of the people of Szeged and all Hungarians, the representative stated.

A fatal accident occurred on February 14 at the construction site during a loading and crane operation; the victim was a Chinese worker. According to the communications department of the National Ambulance Service, the man sustained such severe injuries at the scene that he could not be resuscitated.