Viktor Orban slips down on Politico's power player list
Viktor Orbán, has slipped down a notch in the rankings of European influencers-- despite his persistent anti-Brussels campaigns this year.
2023. december 1.
2023. november 24.
Hungary's civil society warns new sovereignty bill is part of the Orban government’s attempt to silence all critical voices
The broad language of the legislation has raised concerns that the office could target journalists, trade unions, churches, and companies.
2023. november 17.
Hungarian journalists and activists were targeted by spy firm, Linkedin says
Black Cube, a private intelligence firm, orchestrated a video campaign using LinkedIn to target Hungarian activists and journalists in the lead-up to last year's election.
2023. november 10.
Fidesz to submit 'sovereignty' bill targeting 'foreign influence'
A Fidesz lawmaker earlier suggested that the new bill could potentially impact "journalists, civil organizations, and political parties."
2023. november 4.
Orban government attempts to ban under-18s from World Press Photo Exhibition over 'LGBTQ images'
Dóra Dúró, deputy president of the far-right Our Homeland party, had previously urged the government to investigate whether the exhibition violated Hungary's controversial child protection law.
2023. október 27.
Leaders of Estonia, Luxembourg criticise Orban over meeting with Putin
Orban defended the meeting, stating it was necessary to maintain communication for the sake of peace, adding he was proud of his strategy.
2023. október 20.
Ambassadors of NATO member countries meet to discuss Orban-Putin meeting
Ambassadors of NATO member states and Sweden's ambassador to Budapest due to growing concern among NATO members about Hungary's deepening relations with Russia
2023. október 13.
Orban to attend Beijing conference alongside Putin
Orbán is also set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.
2023. október 6.
Orban welcomes Fico's victory amid growing concenrs for Ukraine aid
There are growing concerns that after Fico's victory Slovakia could join Hungary in blocking EU aid to Ukraine.
2023. szeptember 29.
Fidesz announces new bill targeting journalists, NGOs and politicians
The Global Network for Independent Media expressed concerns over the 'sovereignty safeguard bill', saying "such a law, long feared, could pose a major threat to remaining independent media."
2023. szeptember 22.
Hungary might delay Sweden's NATO bid
Szijjarto informed Billstrom that unless Swedish politicians and the national public radio stop criticizing the state of democracy in Hungary, they won't ratify Sweden's NATO accession.
2023. szeptember 15.
European Parliament condemns Hungarian Foreign Minister over talks with Belarus
Tamás Menczer, the foreign ministry's state secretary commended the EP's statements on Thursday calling the legislative body "pro-war".
2023. szeptember 8.
EU was wrong to appoint von der Leyen as Commission President, Hungarian FM says
Szijjarto says "Europe has been very badly off with her presidency."
2023. szeptember 1.
Trump thanks Viktor Orban for endorsing him for president
Viktor Orbán urged Americans. to “call back Trump,” in an interview with former Fox News host, Tucker Carlson.
2023. augusztus 25.
Tucker Carlson calls US Ambassador a 'creep' at Budapest event
According to the conservative US broadcaster, David Pressman is not a diplomat but a political activist appointed by US President Joe Biden.
2023. augusztus 18.
Open Society Foundations to limit EU funding in restructuring
OSF's spokesperson says the charity group still would "continue to fund civil-society groups across Europe," including those that work on EU external affairs or support Romany communities.
2023. augusztus 12.
Hungary used its veto to protect Belarusian oligarch from EU sanctions
Hungary decided to use its veto in May after 10 EU countries requested Moshensky be included in the sanction list.
2023. augusztus 4.
US tightens visa waiver after Hungarian passport fraud
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said the US was trying to work with the Hungarian government to give them an opportunity to correct the situation but they refused.
2023. július 28.
Romanian and Slovak Foreign Ministry summons Hungarian ambassador over Orbán's comments
The Hungarian PM said we "have never claimed that these (Transylvania and Szeklerland) are Romanian territorial units."
2023. július 21.
Outrage over Hungarian president's presence at women’s rights conference in Rwanda
Katalin Novák, an anti-abortionist, spoke at the opening of the Women Deliver conference in Kigali.
2023. július 7.
European Commission: Hungary has not progressed enough in strengthening the rule of law
The Commission has made a long list of new recommendations, the implementation of which will be assessed in next year's report.
2023. június 30.
Putin is not a war criminal, Hungarian PM says
According to Orban, Putin’s handling of a mercenary mutiny shows he remains firmly in control.
2023. június 23.
MCC acquires Hungary's largest publishing house
Several authors terminated their contracts with Libri, fearing the Orban government would use the publishing house for their "own ideological and political purposes."
2023. június 16.
Republican senator blocks arms package to Hungary until Sweden joins NATO
The Hungarian Ministry of Defense says they have no intention to purchase HIMARS missile systems.
2023. június 9.
Pressman: "Hungary stubbornly continues deepen its “connectivity” with Russia"
At the beginning of his speech, Pressman pointed out that as Hungary expands its relationship with Moscow, a massive wave of water from the destruction of the Kakhova hydroelectric dam has just swept over and displaced tens of thousands of people in and around Kherson.
2023. június 3.
Orban says Ukraine can’t win the war
The Hungarian PM expressed sympathy for Ukraine but argued that sending them further aid will only lead to more deaths.
2023. május 26.
EU Commissioner: Long way to go for Hungary to receive EU funds
The Austrian politician called the setting up the Integrity Authority a step forward but said the Hungarian government had not yet met the conditions.
2023. május 19.
Hungary blocks €500 million military aid to Ukraine
Hungary will block European Union military aid for Ukraine unless Hungarian OTP Bank is removed from list of war sponsors.
2023. május 12.
Former US ambassador urges Trump campaign to hire Orban's spin doctor
The former US president's team has no plans to hire Orban's spin doctor.
2023. május 8.
"We will absolutely win," Trump tells CPAC Hungary crowd
Trump praised far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and called him a “tremendous man, a tremendous leader".
2023. április 27.
Hungarian President vetoes controversial law that targets LGBT people
Hungarian lawmakers can still override Novak’s veto.
2023. április 20.
Hungary's new law enables to report rainbow families to authorities
According to the new law, citizens are allowed to report those who contest the “constitutionally recognized role of marriage and the family” and those who contest children’s rights “to an identity appropriate to their sex at birth.”
2023. április 13.
Hungary exits Russian 'spy bank' after US sanctions
The Hungarian government decided to exit the International Investment Bank after the United States imposed sanctions on three officials of the financial institution
2023. április 7.
Biden urges Hungary to welcome Sweden to NATO without delay
Gergely Gulyas, Orban's chief of staff pointed out that Sweden's involvement in an EU lawsuit against Hungary "does not help" the ratification process.
2023. március 30.
Hungary is the only EU country not invited to Summit for Democracy
The missing invite has nothing to do with a friendship with the former or current president, but rather with a government's commitment to democratic values.
2023. március 23.
Orban's chief of staff: Putin would not be arrested in Hungary
Bloomberg reported that Hungary blocked European Union member states from issuing a joint statement about an ICC arrest warrant against Putin.
2023. március 16.
EP criticizes Szijjártó for Minsk visit
During his visit to Minsk, Szijjarto said: "The Hungarian position has always been clear: the channels of communication must be kept open".
2023. március 2.
Orban lists Joe Biden and George Soros among his opponents
The Hungarian Prime Minister listed the US President, Geore Soros and Brussels bureaucrats as his opponents during a meeting of the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition.
2023. február 24.
Viktor Orban: "Europe is drifting into the war in these very minutes"
Orban who is currently serving his fourth consecutive term, stated that Europe is "already indirectly at war with Russia."
2023. február 16.
Pro-Fidesz commentator: "I am rooting for the Russians"
Andras Bencsik made a clear statement on pro-government Hir TV on where he stands on the war in Ukraine, and said he has never met a person in Hungary who wasn't "rooting for the Russians".
2023. február 9.
Orban fails to clap for Zelenksy in Brussels
One of the few EU leaders who declined to applaud the Ukrainian President was Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban.
2023. február 3.
Hungary is the most corrupt country in the EU, study finds
Hungary dropped four places over the past year to 77th, according to the organization's Corruption Perceptions Index replacing Bulgaria.
2023. január 26.
Szijjarto dismisses reports about Hungary blocking €500 million EU military aid to Ukraine
Szijjarto stated that while the Hungarian government isn’t in favor of the EU sending funding for weapons to Ukraine, it won’t block a planned 500 million euros in military aid.
2023. január 12.
Orban aims to make Hungary a 'regional middle power'
The Hungarian Prime Minister says Hungary should aim to foster as many connections with the world as possible, whether that be through trade, infrastructure, investment, or public diplomacy.
2023. január 8.
Orban is the only EU leader who received holiday greetings from Putin
Only three EU politicians received holiday greetings from the Russian president: Orbán, Berlusconi and Schröder.
2022. december 29.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says Orbán is indirectly calling for Ukraine's defeat in the war
The statement reacts to Orban's comments that Ukraine can “only fight as long as the United States supports it with money and arms."
2022. december 1.
Russian spy allegedly tried to smuggle a flash drive containing classified data to Budapest
The incident illustrates how Hungary has become a hub for Russian intelligence.
2022. november 19.
Son Russian spy chief Naryshkin has a Budapest address
The Budapest property was bought in 2008 by Georgian-Israeli businessman Shabtai Michaeli who is linked to PM Viktor Orbán’s spin doctor, Árpád Habony.
2022. november 10.
Hungary proposes judicial reforms to unlock EU funds
The Commission will likely make a decision on the funds before the end of the month.
2022. november 5.
Pro-government media calls for the resignation of two judges for meeting US ambassador
The government-friendly media outlets argued that Csaba Vasvari and Tamas Matusik must resign because the meeting interferes with the "judicial independence".