Justin Spike
Protesters call for government to resign over Pegasus spyware scandal
Around 1,000 demonstrators gathered in Budapest against the alleged use of powerful spyware to monitor the phones of journalists and politicians. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Hungary's government won't confirm or deny using Pegasus spyware on journalists
Officials insist all covert surveillance in Hungary is conducted in accordance with the law, but will not commit to an investigation of the Pegasus scandal. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
European Commission launches legal actions against Hungary over LGBTQ policies
Hungary has "restricted the freedom of expression of authors and book publishers, and discriminates on grounds of sexual orientation in an unjustified way," the commission said. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Orbán becomes first EU leader to be placed on "free media predators" list
Orbán joined leaders like Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines on the list of 37 heads of state or government that "crack down massively on press freedom." This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
European leaders call for sanctions against Hungary over anti-LGBT law
Germany's interior minister Horst Seehofer suggested that cutting Hungary's access to EU funds could be a suitable response to the law which prohibits the display to minors of content depicting homosexuality or gender reassignment. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Orbán skips Hungary's Euro match to meet with far-right Italian politician
Reports in German media emerged Wednesday morning that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán would not travel to Munich as planned to view the Euro 2020 match between Hungary and Germany, where he likely would have received a cold welcome over his government's passage of a law seen as limiting the rights of LGBT people.
Hungary joins European Union in condemning Belarus for forced grounding of airliner
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said he was "pleased that the European Union has finally acted swiftly, decisively, and with sufficient vigor and unity." This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Hungary blocks EU statement urging Israel-Palestine ceasefire
Hungary was the only of the EU's 27 member nations not to back the statement. Foreign Minister Szijjártó said such statements are "one-sided." This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
New bill could wipe out Hungary's social housing stock
Wealthy insiders could purchase valuable properties for 10 percent of their market value, while social housing for the poor would be dramatically reduced. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Orbán: government will appoint people with "national worldview" to lead Hungarian universities
"I cannot in good conscience recommend anyone to such a board of trustees who is an internationalist, globalist person," Orbán said. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Hungary will not expel Russian diplomats over Czech explosion, alone in the V4
Poland, Slovakia and Czechia have all expelled Russian diplomats in response to an explosion at a Czech munitions depot blamed on a Russian military intelligence unit. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Government plans repeal of lex-CEU and NGO law after European court rulings
CEU says it's still not coming back to Budapest from Vienna, and NGOs are worried a new draft bill would be used to stigmatize and harass them. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Budapest battles with government over construction of Chinese university
Mayor Gergely Karácsony says that if the planned development of a "Student City" in southern Budapest is affected by the construction of Fudan University, he will revoke the city's status as host of the 2023 World Athletic Championships. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Hungarian state television attacks Austrian journalist for asking "provocative questions"
Austria's foreign minister contacted his Hungarian counterpart over the three and a half minute television report. But Péter Szijjártó said the journalist's questions were "fake news." This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Prominent politicians stoke resentment of educators in announcing their prioritization for vaccination
The government announced teachers will be vaccinated ahead of a planned April 19 school reopening. But Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his chief of staff didn't leave it at that. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.