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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
An independent MP sought to extend a moratorium on evictions during the pandemic, but the Christian Democrat saw secret motives at work. Also in this week's InsightHungary newsletter: József Szájer's arrest captured on film by Belgian TV crew, Fidesz leaves the EPP, and Hungary approves two more vaccines.
The plan for an EU-wide immunity document would allow for member states to decide whether to recognize vaccines not approved by the bloc's medicines regulator, raising questions over whether Hungarians inoculated with Russian and Chinese vaccines might miss out on travel privileges. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
More young people are being admitted to intensive care with severe Covid-19 cases, and some doctors say they must consider a patient's chances of survival in determining whether to give them a place in overcrowded critical wards. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
"We must build a European democratic right that offers a home to European citizens who do not want migrants, who do not want multiculturalism, who have not descended into LGBTQ lunacy," Orbán wrote after his party left the conservative group in the European Parliament. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
This week, a 35-year-old man who was sexually abused by his priest as a teenager became the first in Hungary to publicly tell his story, shining light on decades of secrecy and denial within the Catholic Church.
The politician, János Stummer, leaked plans for construction of a 50-meter tunnel beneath Puskás Ferenc Stadium. He said it was for the Prime Minister, but the stadium says it's for international guests. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
The government looks set to begin easing pandemic restrictions, and is asking Hungarians to weigh in. An immunity certificate could provide certain people with additional freedoms. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Hungary's Media Council argued it was legally bound to deny an extension of Klubrádió's broadcast license. But the station says it is the victim of political discrimination. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
The land and real estate deals came to light as Hungary's hospitality sector began demanding assistance from the government. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Twenty-six EU nations called for the release of detained protesters and an end to the violence. Hungary was not one of them. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Government-critical songs were cut from the final video of a performance by Hétköznapi Csalódások, and a guest member, who appeared in the video as an evil clown, was later beaten by unknown assailants.
In its latest attack on LGBT rights, the government required the publisher to alert consumers if a book contains characters that "display patterns of behavior that differ from traditional gender roles." This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
"Biden's presidency," antifa, Black Lives Matter and internal conspiracy are among the culprits identified by Hungary's right-wing media. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in November that a vaccination plan was complete, but a lack of transparency around the rollout and other signs indicate Hungary may not be ready for mass vaccinations. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Katalin Novák said women should be glad that they are able to give life and care for others. Also this week: Hungary's parliament passes constitutional amendment banning gay adoption, and the European People's Party declines to expel MEP Tamás Deutsch.
Hungarian officials are celebrating a compromise plan meant to bring an end to the EU budget stalemate, even as rule of law conditionality which they opposed remains on the books. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
His resignation brings an end to a 30 year career in the party he co-founded, which has vigorously sought to curb the rights of LGBTQ people in Hungary. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
The Belgian press reports that Szájer attempted to escape the party through a window but was detained by police. He has admitted he attended the party, but did not acknowledge reports that it was a sex orgy.
The two leaders said they wouldn't accept a rule of law mechanism contained in the €1.8 billion EU budget and pandemic recovery package, further holding up the badly needed funds as European economies shrink. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Orbán argues the rule of law mechanism is an attempt to blackmail Hungary into accepting migrants, but some EU leaders say European taxpayers are fed up with funding projects in countries that violate fundamental rights. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
A host of late-night draft bills would change Hungary's election law, cement access of Fidesz-tied foundations to public funds, and further marginalize the LGBTQ community.
Orbán announced a curfew of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Tuesday at midnight as deaths and hospitalizations continue to rise to record levels.
A midnight curfew, the closing of discos, and reduction of capacities at events and theatres are among the only measures taken by the government during the second wave, but still lag far behind steps taken by other European countries. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says the Hungarian government interfered in Ukraine's internal affairs when officials campaigned in a local election in Transcarpathia. FM Szijjártó called the accusation "pathetic nonsense". This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Foreign Minister Szijjártó demanded Biden respond to corruption allegations involving his son's business dealings in Ukraine. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Government-appointed leadership is taking increasingly aggressive measures to bring an end to the occupation and strike at the university. Also: Fidesz retains its two-thirds majority with by-election, coronavirus deaths surpass 1,000, and a Budapest district prohibits construction of permanent housing for the homeless.
Five days after the man's death, the Chief Medical Officer said she would request his medical report from the hospital. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Fears of an economic downturn and its electoral consequences are driving the Hungarian government's Covid policy as scientists go unheard.
The mechanized infantry officer was chosen by a government-appointed board of directors, which students and faculty have rejected as the occupation of the university enters its second month. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Imported and homespun modern disinformation campaigns - designed to confuse and disorient audiences - have led to polarization, political tribalism and shifting geopolitical dynamics. An interview with political scientist and disinformation expert Dr. Péter Krekó.
The ministry said that journalists attending training courses abroad was part of a political attack by George Soros. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
The Prime Minister said Hungarians don't want the country to shut down as it did during the coronavirus' first wave. Also this week: EU countries impose restrictions on travelers from Hungary, US Ambassador David Cornstein resigns, and Foreign Minister Szijjártó says Trump deserves the Nobel Prize.
Active coronavirus cases are nearly triple the highest total from the first wave in spring as the disease spreads throughout the country. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
Students and leadership at SzFE argue a new board of directors stacked with government appointees threatens to place the university under political control. Also this week: V4 citizens permitted to travel to Hungary, media organizations call on the EU to act on Hungary undermining media freedom, and public workers stage a three-day strike.
Requests by public employee trade unions to be allowed to work from home were denied, and now they are planning a three-day strike in September. This and other stories in this week's InsightHungary newsletter.