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Hungarian public television halts news broadcasts

Hungarian public television suspended its news broadcasts, replacing programming with a message on screen that read: “Public media should not lie. We apologize for having done so for many years! Public media is currently being transformed to ensure that in the future, it remains trustworthy and independent. News services are temporarily suspended. Please stay with us!” During the election campaign, Prime Minister Péter Magyar and other Tisza party politicians repeatedly pledged to end what they described as state-funded party propaganda in the public media if elected.

M1, the public broadcaster’s news channel, had served as the flagship outlet of Fidesz’s propaganda tool within MTVA after being transformed into a dedicated news channel during Orbán’s governments. Earlier on Tuesday, András P. Horváth, MTVA’s interim chief executive appointed last week, removed M1 director Zsolt Németh from his post and, according to reports, also dismissed deputy content director Zsolt Mezei.

Hungary revokes asylum for Ziobro and Romanowski

Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said on Thursday that Hungary had revoked the refugee status of former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski and Ziobro’s wife, Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro. “I have received written confirmation that Hungary has revoked refugee status for Marcin Romanowski, Zbigniew Ziobro, and Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro. They have also annulled their travel documents. The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind,” Sikorski wrote on X. The move formally reverses the political asylum granted by Viktor Orbán’s previous government. Both Ziobro and Romanowski left Hungary after the April elections.

Romanowski fled to Hungary in 2024 after Polish authorities accused the Law and Justice politician of corruption, including embezzlement of public funds, and was granted asylum by the Orbán government. Ziobro, who also received asylum in January along with his wife, is wanted in Poland on suspicion of founding and leading a criminal organisation that allegedly embezzled 150m zlotys while he served as justice minister. After winning the election, PM Péter Magyar said his government would review the status of politicians granted asylum by the previous administration who were facing convictions or criminal proceedings in their home countries, and later said Hungary would no longer serve as a refuge for internationally wanted suspects. The interior ministry began reviewing such asylum cases in early June, a process that could also affect former North Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski.

Budapest falls four places in global quality of life rankings

Copenhagen was named the world’s most livable city (for the second time) in the Economics Group’s annual ranking. Vienna remains the world’s second most livable city, while Melbourne ranks third. Five factors are ranked on a scale of 0 to 100 (stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure), and then an average is calculated. The Danish capital won with 98 points, receiving perfect scores of 100 in education, infrastructure, and stability.

Budapest finished in 36th place, which is four spots lower than the previous year, but it is still the highest ranking among the capitals of the post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The four-place drop is still a strikingly poor result: only six cities fell further in the rankings, five of which are in the Middle East and have been affected by the Iran-Iraq War, such as Doha, Muscat, and Kuwait City.

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Hungary passes new media law dismantling previous public broadcaster

The Hungarian parliament has approved amendments to the media law with support from the Tisza party and Mi Hazánk and opposition from Fidesz-KDNP. The legislation aims to overhaul the media system established under the previous government. Under the changes, the mandates of members of the Media Council of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), the board of trustees of the Public Service Foundation, and the current senior executives of Duna Media Service and the Media Services Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) will be terminated. Duna Media Service and MTVA will be dissolved and replaced by two new entities: Hungarian Radio and Television Nonprofit Ltd. and the Hungarian News Agency Nonprofit Ltd. The law also provides for the appointment of new leaders through open competitions and establishes an Independent Public Media Board to oversee the independence and financial management of public media. The board will comprise three members nominated by the governing parties, three by opposition parties, and three by media-sector professional organisations. A new Press Fund, managed by the NMHH, will also be created to support independent media outlets.

The proposal, submitted by Tisza lawmakers, prompted sharp debate in parliament. Tisza MPs criticised public media, comparing its operations to North Korean and Russian editorial practices, while Tisza MP Ervin Nagy read out the names of artists and public figures he said had been blacklisted under Fidesz. Fidesz lawmakers defended the broadcaster and criticised the reform process for proceeding without public consultation. The Hungarian National Media Association raised similar concerns.

Orbán could be investigated over raid on Ukrainian convoy, lawyer says

Hungary's prosecutors have questioned the former head of the country's anti-terrorism unit, János Hajdu, over a police raid on a cash convoy carrying money and gold to Ukraine, while the lawyer representing seven Ukrainians detained during the operation has argued that former prime minister Viktor Orbán should also be investigated and taken into custody over his alleged role in the case. In early March, two vans transporting a large quantity of cash and gold from Vienna to Oschadbank's headquarters in Kyiv were stopped near Budapest. The crew was detained, questioned, and expelled from Hungary, and the valuables were confiscated. Hajdu, who is suspected of issuing the orders that led to the allegedly unlawful detention of the Ukrainians, was questioned on Tuesday but was not detained. Lawyer Lóránt Horváth, who represents Oschadbank and the seven Ukrainians, said those responsible for the operation should have been taken into custody.

Last week, 444 published a leaked document from the prosecutor's office identifying four officials involved in the decision-making behind the raid: Orbán, former state secretary Örs Farkas, former deputy head of Hungary's tax authority Tamás Demeter, and Hajdu. Horváth said the four should all have been treated as suspects because they could influence witnesses, destroy evidence, or flee. He said Hajdu was being investigated on suspicion of unlawful detention, torture and malicious intent, while more serious charges, including terrorism, had not been ruled out. After his questioning, Hajdu was appointed by Orbán as Fidesz's security chief, but was dismissed by PM Péter Magyar following the party's election defeat. Horváth said he believed Hajdu was unlikely to make incriminating statements about Orbán, while prosecutors have denied any political involvement in the case. Orbán said in June that "Everything was done in accordance with the law."

Hungarians are hopeful about the future, new EU survey shows

According to the European Parliament’s new Eurobarometer survey, Hungarians are the most optimistic citizens in the EU about the future, with significantly more respondents viewing both Hungary’s prospects and the European Union as a source of stability than six months earlier. The representative survey was conducted between 9 April and 1 May across the bloc, with fieldwork in Hungary taking place immediately after the general election. While uncertainty remained the most commonly reported feeling across the EU, cited by 44% of respondents, 57% of Hungarians said they felt hopeful, the highest proportion among all 27 member states. Hungarians also reported lower levels of uncertainty, helplessness, and anxiety than the EU average, while confidence, happiness, and determination were more common.

Seventy-three percent of Hungarians said they were optimistic about the country’s future, up 16 percentage points from six months earlier and well above the EU average of 59%. Optimism about the EU also increased, rising to 69% from 64%, while 80% expressed confidence about their own and their family’s future. Eighty percent of Hungarians described the EU as a source of stability, a 14-point increase compared with six months earlier. While 59% said they wanted the EU to play a greater role in protecting citizens against global crises and security risks, this remained below the EU average. Unlike most member states, where defence and security topped the list of priorities for the EU, Hungarian respondents most frequently identified energy independence, resources, and infrastructure as the EU's main tasks.

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Hungarian parliament approves constitutional term limits that would bar Orbán from returning as PM

Hungary's parliament has approved a constitutional amendment introducing an eight-year limit on how long a prime minister can serve, a change that would prevent former prime minister Viktor Orbán from returning to office. The amendment was passed on Monday with 135 votes in favour, 50 against, and six abstentions. It also creates the constitutional basis for dissolving the public interest asset management foundations and the Sovereignty Protection Office. Lawmakers from the former governing coalition, Fidesz and the Christian Democratic People’s party (KDNP), voted against the proposal, while members of Mi Hazánk abstained.

The amendment was submitted on 20 May by two Tisza party MPs, rather than by the government, drawing criticism because it was not preceded by public or professional consultation. During the parliamentary debate, Melléthei-Barna said the proposal reflected the kind of state Tisza wanted to build, centred on three principles: that power should not last forever, that public assets belong to the nation, and that state institutions should not serve political self-preservation. One of the amendment’s most contested provisions limits prime ministers to two terms and counts any time served in office since 2 May 1990, prompting Fidesz to describe it as "Lex Orbán".

Szijjártó offered his assistance to Lavrov during the Wagner rebellion

Investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi has published another audio recording of a phone conversation between the Russian and the former Hungarian foreign ministers. Panyi revealed an English-language call from Peter Szijjártó, dated June 24, 2023, believed to have taken place during the Prigozhin-led uprising.

Around the time when Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner private military company, openly defied the Russian military leadership, claiming that the Russian army had launched an attack on one of Wagner’s camps, Szijjarto picked up the phone and told Lavrov: "I just wanted to know if things are under control and that you are OK?. The Hungarian ex-minister also asked his Russian counterpart if the Kremlin has stopped Wagner's advance towards Moscow, and added: Well, if you ever need anything personally, just let me know. Lavrov laughed and said, "I don’t need anything. There is no problem. Thank you for calling."

Hungary delays next step in Ukraine's EU accession process

Hungary has delayed the next procedural step in the European Union accession process for Ukraine and Moldova, according to two EU diplomats, Politico reports. The two countries reached a milestone on 15 June when EU member states unanimously agreed to open the first formal negotiating chapter of their membership bids, ending a years-long blockage by former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, who opposed Ukraine's accession. Because the two applications are politically linked, progress on one is tied to the other. Kyiv had hoped to open all six negotiating clusters by mid-July. That timetable is now in doubt after Hungary opposed sending a joint letter from the EU's 27 member states to the European Council and the European Commission outlining the bloc's common position. According to the diplomats, Hungary was the only country to oppose the move, which requires unanimous approval and will be discussed again next week.

The move is consistent with Prime Minister Péter Magyar's cautious approach to Ukraine's EU membership. Although his government did not object to opening the first negotiating cluster, it insisted on removing the words "as soon as possible" from the European Council's written conclusions on Ukraine's accession at last week's summit in Brussels, one diplomat said.

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Orban re-elected as Fidesz party leader

Viktor Orbán was re-elected as chairman of Fidesz for another year at the party’s congress on Saturday, after standing as the sole candidate. According to the results, 729 delegates voted in favour of his reappointment, while eight delegates did not cast a vote. Orbán has led the party since 1993, except for three years between 2000 and 2003. Delegates also approved the party’s four deputy chairs. Speaking after the result was announced, Orbán thanked members for their confidence and said they were prepared to devote even a decade to building a "sovereign Hungary."

Orbán said he believed that moment represented Hungary’s final opportunity before being “swallowed up by the bottomless pit that is the Western globalist liberal world”. Reflecting on his years in office, he said he had not anticipated developments such as the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and migration. He warned that “the foreigners are coming, and they’ll empty Hungary's pockets”, adding that he knew both his opponents and the challenges facing the country.

Orbán said he had considered stepping down after following Fidesz’s election defeat in April, but not to withdraw completely from public life. "I do not give up, I never, never, never, never, never give up," he said. “I have always been open about what you are getting with me. You know I have no interest in changing. I don’t do things halfheartedly, I don't make complete U-turns, and I won’t be showing up at frivolous parties,” he said, adding that "neither wealth nor international recognition motivated him" and that he wished only to serve his country.

Orban government had plans for a secret migrant camp, Magyar says

According to Hungarian PM Péter Magyar, after the 2024 European Parliament elections, the Orbán government had planned to build a migrant facility near the Austrian border. He claimed the project was intended to ease tensions with the European Union and halt the daily €1m fine imposed on Hungary over its migration policies. The interior minister strongly denied the allegation at the time, but Magyar and his allies have continued to argue that a classified government decree relating to the project exists. Magyar now says that, following the change of government, a previously classified document has surfaced which could demonstrate that the former administration had indeed planned a refugee facility in the village of Vitnyéd, near the Austrian border.

Speaking in parliament, Magyar told Fidesz MP János Pócs that the government had intended to spend several billion forints on establishing a migrant camp in Vitnyéd and had prepared a secret cabinet resolution to that effect. He pledged to release both the decree and related official documents. The controversy first emerged in autumn 2024, when residents and journalists noticed construction work at Csermajor being carried out under police supervision. While the government repeatedly denied that a refugee camp was being built, local speculation persisted, with estimates suggesting the site could accommodate up to 500 people.

Hungary ranks last in the EU in terms of consumption

Consumption by Hungarian households stood at 73% of the European Union average in 2025, tying with Latvia for last place among member states, according to Portfolio’s report on the latest Eurostat data. The publication notes that this is the first time comparable EU-wide statistics on 2025 consumption have been released.

The picture has not changed much from the previous year, but the slight shifts have been unfavorable for Hungary. In 2024, Latvia’s final consumption was the lowest at 72% of the EU average, while Hungary tied with Bulgaria for second-to-last place at 73%. In 2025, the Bulgarian and Latvian figures improved, so we now share the bottom spot with Latvia, just behind Estonia at 74%. The Bulgarians improved to 77%. Among the Central European EU member states, Romania is far ahead of Hungary at 86%, while Slovakia stands at 77%, the Czech Republic at 83%, and Poland at 88%. Hungary’s relative consumption level is low, even by its level of development.

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Hungary says breakthrough reached with Ukraine over minority rights

“Hungarian foreign policy has once again become visible and proactive in Europe,” foreign minister Anita Orbán told parliament’s foreign affairs committee. She said Budapest had renewed its engagement with the Visegrád Group, which had been neglected under the previous government. Referring to Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s first foreign trip to Warsaw, she said: “We have now recalibrated Hungarian-Polish relations.” Hungary is expected to host a summit of V4 prime ministers in the near future. In contrast, a Hungarian-German summit is scheduled for early October in Berlin, beginning with talks between the two countries’ foreign ministers and followed by wider government consultations.

Orbán also highlighted the recently announced Hungarian-Ukrainian agreement, describing it as the result of extensive consultation and negotiation rather than political gestures. Under the agreement, Ukraine committed to restoring the system of schools for ethnic minorities and guaranteeing the free use of the Hungarian language and national symbols. In municipalities where Hungarians make up more than 10% of the population, Hungarian may be used in healthcare, public events, academic conferences, and political campaigns. These commitments form part of the action plan linked to Ukraine’s EU accession process, which Orbán said would begin once the conditions had been fulfilled, proceed under the standard timetable, and be preceded by a referendum. She did not provide a timeline for a meeting between Magyar and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Hungarians increasingly doubt US would defend Europe

Doubt among Europeans is growing about whether the United States would defend the continent, and they increasingly believe Europe should develop stronger defence capabilities of its own, according to a new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations. Conducted across 15 countries ahead of next week’s G7 meeting in France and July’s Nato summit, the poll found that support for Ukraine remains intact, but enthusiasm for further EU enlargement to the east is limited under current conditions. Views on energy also remained divided: 44% of respondents opposed returning to Russian energy imports, while 27% supported such a move.

Hungarians, however, 42% backed importing Russian oil and gas. The survey found confidence in the US alliance had weakened amid recent developments, including troop withdrawals from Europe, tensions over Greenland, and repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump about the possibility of withdrawing from NATO. Only 11% of respondents described the United States as an ally, down from 16% six months earlier and 22% in November 2024.

According to the survey, trust in the US is declining in most countries, but it is a new phenomenon in Hungary and Poland. At the same time, support for replacing NATO remained limited, and attitudes towards European defence spending varied sharply across the continent. Hungarians were among the least supportive of expanding defence spending at the expense of other sectors and showed little appetite either for national nuclear deterrence or a pan-European alternative. The survey also found divisions over buying US-made weapons and differing views on responsibility for higher energy prices, with Hungarians among the least likely to blame either their own government or the EU.

Hungary’s easing inflation may open path to lower rates

Hungary’s central bank may require a lower interest rate to maintain price stability following a decline in inflation and an improvement in risk premia, but policymakers remain cautious amid volatility in long-term yields and energy markets, a senior official has told Reuters. The bank last month discussed a rate cut for the first time since reducing its base rate to 6.25% in February from what had been the highest level in the European Union, after inflation fell below its 3% target earlier this year.

However, uncertainty linked to the war in Iran and turbulence in global markets has tempered expectations of an easing cycle, despite the potentially disinflationary effects of the forint’s appreciation following the 12 April election that ended Viktor Orbán’s rule. Consumer prices rose by 1.8% in the first four months of 2026, below the central bank’s March forecast of 3.8% average inflation for the year, while economists expect May inflation at 2.3%.

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Magyar seeks constitutional change to remove Hungary’s president

Hungary’s government is preparing a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok, as Prime Minister Péter Magyar moves to replace officials appointed during Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power. Magyar, whose Tisza party secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority in April’s election, has repeatedly called on Sulyok to step down, arguing that the president has failed to fulfil his constitutional duties. After meeting Sulyok at Budapest’s Sándor Palace, Magyar said the president had refused to resign and announced that lawmakers from his party would begin the “necessary procedures” to remove him.

While the Hungarian presidency is largely ceremonial, the officeholder signs legislation into law and can refer bills to the constitutional court for review. Magyar accused Sulyok of remaining silent on issues, including remarks made by Orbán about his political opponents and legislation passed by the previous government banning Pride. “It is in Hungary's interest that this institution regain the prestige that has been eroded by its silence and inaction,” he said. Fidesz caucus leader Gergely Gulyás criticised the move, saying that “in a constitutional democracy, it is not conceivable that a president is forcibly removed” before the end of their term. Last week, Sulyok’s office said Magyar’s calls for his resignation undermined both the constitutional functioning and authority of the presidency, adding that the president had sought a legal assessment from the Venice Commission.

Budapest Mayor: "Finally, Pride will be celebrated the way it is in a normal European country."

Budapest Pride will go ahead on 27 June, with Hungarian police saying they will not prevent people from attending the LGBT+ march. “The Budapest Metropolitan Police has approved the 2026 Budapest Pride Parade and also has issued restrictive orders in relation to three counter-demonstrations,” a police spokesperson said. Welcoming the decision, Budapest’s mayor, Gergely Karácsony, wrote on Facebook: “Freedom and love can’t be banned,” describing Pride as “the event of freedom-loving Hungarians”. He added, “Finally, Pride will be celebrated the way it is in a normal European country.”

The development follows an attempt by Viktor Orbán’s right-wing nationalist government to ban the event last year. In response, Karácsony organised the parade as a municipal event in an effort to circumvent the restriction. Last year’s march had a record high turnout, which turned into an anti-Orbán demonstration.

Vsquare: Maga circles exploring UN role for Orban

According to investigative outlet Vsquare, MAGA figures are working on securing a senior position for Viktor Orbán within the United Nations, with the specific role seen as less important than the diplomatic immunity such a post could provide. The extent of that immunity would depend on the position. Under the 1946 UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities, the Secretary-General, under-secretaries-general, and assistant secretaries-general receive diplomatic immunity equivalent to that of ambassadors, while lower-ranking officials enjoy more limited protection linked to their official duties.

The outlet's sources said Orbán could potentially count on support not only from the United States but also from Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, who, like JD Vance, visited him in Budapest before April’s election. The source noted that the contest to succeed António Guterres as UN secretary general is already underway, with Rafael Grossi, the Argentine head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, regarded as a leading candidate. Sources close to the former prime minister said that if political pressure in Hungary intensifies, he could remain in the US for an extended period, and that a UN position could offer what they described as a more graceful exit than seeking political asylum.

Majority of Hungarians see no path for Orbán's comeback

Nearly two-thirds of Hungarians believe Fidesz has little chance of regaining its former dominance, according to a new survey by Publicus Institute. The poll found that 66% of respondents believed the party would not recover its previous strength, while 27% said it could still rebuild itself. Among Fidesz supporters, however, eight in 10 said they believed the former ruling party would eventually regain its position. Fewer respondents considered a comeback by Viktor Orbán happening in the future. According to the survey, 76% said the former prime minister either would not or was unlikely to return, with 69% saying there was “absolutely no chance” of such a comeback. Fewer than two in 10 respondents thought Orbán could return to power.

The survey also found that 44% believed Orbán “is doing the right thing by retreating into the background”, while 14% agreed that “he is doing the right thing because this is how he can reorganize Fidesz”. Nearly half of Fidesz voters said stepping back could help Orbán reorganise the party, although two in 10 considered the decision a mistake. Among Tisza supporters, many believed it was time for Orbán to withdraw from politics, though 44% said he should still have taken up his parliamentary mandate. More than half of Fidesz voters saw former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó as the strongest potential future leader of the party. According to the survey, six in 10 people believed corruption was the biggest reason for Fidesz's electoral defeat.

Zelensky honours Budapest for standing with Ukraine

Budapest mayor, Gergely Karácsony, received an award in Kyiv from the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Facebook, he wrote that Budapest had been presented with the “Savior City” award, given to cities that have provided exceptional support to Ukraine. “Budapest has indeed provided a great deal of tangible assistance,” he said. Karácsony said the city had supported its sister cities, Berehove and Kyiv, with donations, generators, and other technical equipment, while also helping refugees arriving from Ukraine. “We will continue to do everything we can to make our friends fleeing the war feel at home in our city. But we have done something else as well: we have preserved our moral compass in this era of madness and evil.”

Karácsony said the recognition belonged to the people of Budapest, “who showed their solidarity in many ways even amidst the hate campaigns forced upon them”. He added that Zelenskyy had highlighted in his speech that Budapest had taken a different position from the foreign policy of Hungary’s previous government and had expressed hope for cooperation with the country’s new administration. Recalling a visit to Transcarpathia last autumn, Karácsony noted that he had accepted a donation worth five million forints and attended the opening of the “Autumn in Berehove” event.

Several diplomatic passports issued by Szijjártó's foreign ministry are being revoked

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reviewing the diplomatic passports issued by Péter Szijjártó, György Velkey announced. The state secretary cited very serious abuses; according to their data, and based on a ministerial decision and individual requests, nearly 1,500 individual diplomatic passports were issued under the previous system. Radio Free Europe previously reported that a total of 10,219 such documents were issued between 2019 and September 2023.

Last year, Antal Rogán’s ministry, citing national security reasons, refused to answer whether, for example, Tamás Lánczi, the president of the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty, former minister Zoltán Balog, soccer player Balázs Dzsudzsák, or Ádám Matolcsy held diplomatic passports. Velkey has now promised to revoke those passports that were issued to people “undeservedly and without any justification.” “Cronies, sports club members, NER business circles, and individuals with foreign ties received diplomatic passports from the state for no reason whatsoever. And they were able to use those passports for years without any explanation,” the state secretary stated.

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Hungary reverses plan to leave the International Criminal Court

Hungary’s new centre-right prime minister, Péter Magyar, has announced changes to the country’s foreign policy direction, including reversing plans to leave the International Criminal Court and reintroducing restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products. “The government is withdrawing Hungary’s intention to leave the International Criminal Court and is banning the import of agricultural products from Ukraine,” Magyar wrote on X.

In 2025, Hungary’s previous government backed a proposal to withdraw from the ICC after a visit to Budapest by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for whom the court had issued an arrest warrant. The withdrawal process was due to conclude on 2 June 2026. Since his election victory, Magyar has repeatedly said Hungary would remain a member of the court, stressing the importance of complying with international obligations, including enforcing decisions relating to wanted individuals.

Independent Balkan media outlets set to be sold to Orban-linked fund

A major Balkan media group known for its independent journalism is quietly being prepared for a sale to an investment fund linked to the political orbit of former nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which cited a leaked draft contract. The report said United Group was preparing to sell media assets, including the N1 and Nova television networks, described as “rare bastions of critical reporting” in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro.

The official buyer is listed as European Future Media Investments, a Luxembourg-based investment fund, but details in the draft contract point to the investment firm Alpac Capital. The company previously acquired a majority stake in Euronews in a deal that was reportedly heavily financed by Hungarian state capital and businesses linked to Orbán’s propaganda network.

Magyar greeted with military salute in Vienna

Péter Magyar was welcomed with a military salute at Vienna’s Ballhausplatz, outside the Austrian chancellor’s office, during the latest stop of his first foreign trip since taking office. The Hungarian prime minister arrived in the Austrian capital from Gdańsk alongside several members of his cabinet, including foreign minister Anita Orbán, transport and investment minister Dávid Vitézy, energy and economy minister István Kapitány, and living environment minister László Gajdos. After talks with Austria’s chancellor, Christian Stocker, the two leaders addressed a range of issues at a joint press conference, including asbestos contamination in western Hungary linked to aggregates from Austrian mines, transport cooperation, special taxes and energy diversification. Stocker said he was confident cooperation between the two countries would improve, describing the Hungarian election result as significant beyond Hungary’s borders because, in his view, it showed that a large majority of Hungarians had rejected isolationism in favour of a civic approach.

Stocker said the two sides had also discussed Hungary’s special taxes, which Austria views as discriminatory towards Austrian companies, adding that resolving these disputes would help build trust through dialogue. “We are stronger together when we act as a region,” he said, arguing that closer cooperation would also strengthen both countries’ voices in Brussels. He stressed the importance of improving competitiveness and avoiding dependence on external actors. Referring to the war in Ukraine and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, Stocker said European unity was now more important than ever. “Both Hungary and Austria are committed to the European Union,” he said, while adding that although both countries supported EU enlargement, “there is no fast lane, and there are no shortcuts”.

Hungary summons Russian ambassador after drone attack on Transcarpathia

Russia’s ambassador to Hungary, Yevgeny Stanislavov, was summoned by Hungary in connection with Wednesday’s Russian drone attack on Ukraine, which also struck Transcarpathia. The ambassador arrived at 11.30 am at the Foreign Ministry and left half an hour later. Prime Minister Péter Magyar had announced the summons the previous day, and, similarly to Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, strongly condemned the attack on behalf of the Hungarian government. Magyar said it was the most intensive drone strike to hit Transcarpathia since the start of the war, with Mukachevo, Uzhhorod, Svalyava, and several smaller towns affected. Hungary’s state railway company, MÁV, also informed transport minister Dávid Vitézy that railway employees at Chop station near the Hungarian border had been forced to take shelter during the attack before later being brought into Hungary.

The response stands in sharp contrast to the previous government’s approach to Russia. Under former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó, ambassadors from countries including the US, Austria, Germany, Finland, Denmark, and Ukraine were repeatedly summoned over statements concerning Hungary. Still, the Russian ambassador was not called in even after Russian hackers breached the foreign ministry’s IT system in 2022 or after Russian strikes hit Transcarpathia in 2025. Following the latest attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Magyar for his compassion and firm stance. On Thursday, Anita Orbán also held the first general assembly for foreign ministry staff in 12 years, pledging to restore “the professional and strategic tasks that have been the strength of Hungarian diplomacy for decades”. Shortly after meeting the Russian ambassador, Orban urged Russia to do everything possible to secure a ceasefire.

'State of danger' due to war next door ends in Hungary

After six years, Hungary’s state of danger has come to an end. The state of danger, one of six forms of special legal order defined in Hungary’s constitution, differs from a state of emergency in that it allows the government to rule by decree without parliamentary approval. Viktor Orbán’s government first introduced the measure in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and later maintained it in 2022, citing the war in Ukraine. At the time, Minister Gergely Gulyás said accusations from the opposition that the government wanted to maintain the special legal order indefinitely were unfounded, adding that it would end sooner than in most European countries. In the years that followed, however, Hungary’s Fidesz-KDNP parliamentary majority repeatedly extended the measure, allowing Orbán’s government to govern an entire four-year term under the special legal order.

After Tisza’s election victory, Péter Magyar asked Fidesz to prolong the state of danger until 31 May, saying around 160 emergency decrees remained in force and warning that an abrupt end could create legal chaos. Without an extension, decrees introduced during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine would have immediately lost validity. The outgoing government declined to extend the arrangement, and on 9 May, the new parliament voted to elevate the emergency decrees into law.

Warsaw expects the US to return ex-minister who fled via Hungary

Poland says it expects the United States to extradite former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro after reports emerged that he had travelled there from Hungary, where Viktor Orbán had granted him asylum. Polish prosecutors said they were investigating how Ziobro, a central figure in Poland’s previous nationalist conservative government, managed to leave Hungary and enter the US on the same day as the inauguration of Orbán’s successor, Péter Magyar. Sikorski said Polish prosecutors would seek both European and international arrest warrants and that Warsaw expected “friendly countries to honour our request”. Ziobro, who was stripped of his Polish and diplomatic passports last year, confirmed to the rightwing broadcaster Republika that he was in the US, saying he had arrived in the “strongest democracy in the world”.

Polish prosecutors said Ziobro remained wanted under a domestic arrest warrant and noted that he had not possessed a passport for months, raising questions about how he entered the US. He faces charges carrying a possible 25-year prison sentence over allegations that he created and led a criminal group which diverted funds intended for victims of violence, including to purchase Pegasus spyware allegedly used to monitor political opponents. Ziobro denies the accusations, describing them as "politically motivated." Poland’s foreign ministry said it would seek explanations from both Washington and Budapest regarding the legal basis for Ziobro's leaving Hungary and entering the US. Ziobro said he travelled using asylum documents issued by Hungary, while Polish media reported he may have obtained a US journalist visa.

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Only 39 percent of Hungarians feel like Orban was qualified to serve as PM, research shows

The trend of voters gravitating toward the winner continues: for every Fidesz supporter, there are now three Tisza supporters, a new Medián poll commissioned by the magazine and conducted between April 27 and May 2. Tisza’s support stands at 61 percent among the total population, nearly three times that of Fidesz; the gap has widened even further among party voters and those who are certain in their party preferences, with support for the winning party reaching 70 percent among the latter group.

Fewer and fewer people believe that outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was qualified to serve. Now, only 39 percent consider him qualified, while 59 percent are not satisfied with him.

In contrast, 72 percent of respondents have no doubts about Péter Magyar’s competence. The proportion of those who have complete confidence in his abilities has doubled since then.

Hungarian authorities returned the cash and gold bars seized from the bank convoy to Ukraine

Hungarian authorities today returned the assets seized during a raid on Ukrainian money couriers in March, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.

“An important step in relations with Hungary: today, Oschadbank’s funds and valuables, seized by Hungarian special services in March, were returned. At that time, the Hungarian side had unlawfully detained the Ukrainian cash-in-transit employees. We had already brought our people home earlier, and now the assets have also been returned in full to Ukrainian territory, “The Ukrainian president wrote on X:

“I am grateful to Hungary for its constructive approach and civilized stance. I want to thank every member of the Ukrainian delegation who fought for a fair decision and defended the interests of our state and our people,” Zelenskyy added.

TV2's propaganda program "Tények" shuts down

TV2 Tények is shutting down, Miklós Vaszily, the channel’s CEO, announced. It currently appears that the magazine program Napló will also be discontinued.

“We are currently in the process of revamping our infotainment programs, a move necessitated primarily by the erosion of the Tények brand. My goal is for TV2 to provide news coverage that meets the expected professional standards with the newly launched brands, after drawing the necessary lessons,” the CEO wrote to 444.

"Tények" was one of the central channels for Fidesz's smear campaigns and had the widest reach. The program launched in 1997, and like TV2, the commercial channel, its editorial stance was liberal at first. After 2010, it ended up in the hands of Andy Vajna and Fidesz circles and ultimately became the most vicious propaganda machine.

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Orban-linked oligarchs are carrying their wealth out of Hungary

Private jets allegedly carrying assets linked to the pro-Orbán elite have been steadily leaving Vienna, while others are said to be moving quickly to transfer their wealth abroad, according to The Guardian. Hungary’s prime minister- elect, Péter Magyar, wrote on X that “Orbán-linked oligarchs are transferring tens of billions of forints to the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Uruguay and other distant countries”. He added that Hungary’s tax authorities had suspended several high-value transfers connected to Antal Rogán’s circle on suspicion of money laundering. Magyar also said that the family of Lőrinc Mészáros, Hungary’s richest man, a former gas-fitter and a childhood friend of Viktor Orbán, was expected to travel to Dubai in the coming days.

Two sources inside Orbán's Fidesz party told the Guardian that members of Orbán’s inner circle were moving assets to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, while others were considering relocating funds to Australia and Singapore. The Guardian also reported that senior figures linked to Fidesz were applying for US work visas.

The Hungarian police are investigating the asset-transfer case on suspicion of embezzlement causing particularly significant financial loss, they wrote on a social media post on Tuesday. In the statement, they emphasized that they are investigating “alleged” asset stripping, meaning activities aimed at concealing unlawfully obtained money and other assets from the authorities through financial or other transactions.

Local Fidesz leader was arrested at the airport

A former regional leader of Orbán’s right-wing Fidesz party has been detained at Budapest airport in connection with a fraud case, according to reports. Rádi Feríz, who previously led the party in Szeged, Hungary’s third-largest city, resigned from his position last week after the National Tax and Customs Office issued an arrest warrant against him. He was arrested on Friday at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc international airport upon returning from a trip to Egypt.

Feríz is suspected of budget fraud, according to the broadcaster RTL Klub. The politician, who joined Fidesz from the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) three years ago, has a background in agribusiness and runs a successful plant-breeding company with his family.

Orban steps down from Parliament, won't take his seat

Hungary’s outgoing prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has said he will not take up his parliamentary seat after his party suffered a landslide defeat. “I am now needed not in parliament, but in the reorganisation of the patriotic movement,” he said in a video statement published on social media on Saturday evening. Although his nationalist Fidesz party's seats fell from 135 to 52 in the 12 April election, Orbán had been re-elected as an MP via its proportional representation list.

After a meeting of party officials, Orbán, said Fidesz’s parliamentary group would be led from Monday by Gergely Gulyás, who has served as the minister in charge of the prime minister’s office. “The mandate I obtained as the lead candidate of the Fidesz-KDNP list is, in fact, a parliamentary mandate of Fidesz. For this reason, I have decided to return it,” he said.

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Hungary will not veto, EU can finalize €90 billion loan to Ukraine

European Union ambassadors approved a €90bn loan to Ukraine and a new package of sanctions against Russia after Hungary lifted its veto, the bloc’s Cypriot presidency said. The EU’s 27 member states are expected to formally sign the agreement by Thursday afternoon. The loan is intended to support Ukraine’s finances through 2026 and 2027. Hungary had previously blocked the deal, accusing Ukraine of sabotaging the transit of Russian oil through a pipeline damaged by Russian attacks, a dispute that also delayed the sanctions package the EU had hoped to adopt to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Hungary’s oil group MOL said it had been informed that the Ukrainian operator of the Druzhba pipeline was ready to resume crude oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia. The company said it expected shipments to restart by Thursday at the latest. Both countries remain heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies.

New Medián poll shows Tisza would defeat Fidesz by 65-25

Medián published its first post-election poll in HVG. According to their survey, Tisza Party has continued to gain strength, while Fidesz’s support has declined significantly. Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar’s party would receive votes from 56 percent of the total voting-age population and 66 percent of eligible voters, while Fidesz would receive 21 and 25 percent.

The phenomenon of “siding with the winner” shows not only in party preferences, but also in how respondents recall their decision on April 12. Although Tisza won by a margin of 53 to 39 based on the election results, 59 percent of respondents recalled voting for Tisza, while only 26 percent recalled voting for Fidesz.

The survey also revealed a similar trend regarding voter turnout. Although actual voter turnout was 79 percent, 95 percent of respondents said they voted.

Arrest warrant issued in case linked to Orbán’s younger brother

Arrest warrants have been issued in a criminal case involving a labor hire agency, Hungary’s Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday. The two suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of influence peddling and other offences. At the time, reports indicated that the younger brother of the outgoing prime minister, Áron Orbán, had links to the case, which Telex first wrote about last year.

Prosecutors said a search had been carried out, evidence had been seized, and four individuals were questioned as suspects, with two placed in detention. Citing a risk that the suspects could flee, go into hiding, or obstruct the investigation, authorities sought their arrest, a request upheld by the court. Both suspects and their lawyers have appealed the decision. Áron Orbán is not among those detained.

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Hungary's next PM pledges Hungary would be a “constructive partner” in the EU and NATO

Hungary’s prime minister-electPéter Magyar held his first international press conference on Monday, after his landslide victory that ended Fidesz’s 16-year rule. During the press briefing, he said Hungarians had made clear that “Hungary’s place was, is, and will be in Europe”. He urged President Tamás Sulyok to convene parliament and begin the process of forming a government without delay. Framing the result as the start of “a new era”, Magyar said voters had backed not only a change of government but a “complete regime change”, pledging to represent all Hungarians and to amend the constitution to introduce a two-term limit for prime ministers. He also promised to restore checks and balances, review undisclosed agreements and contracts, and make public any that do not harm national interests, while involving citizens more directly in decision-making through referendums and local votes.

Magyar said his government would prioritise tackling corruption, including setting up an anti-corruption office and pursuing audits of major public procurements, as well as seeking to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. He pledged that Hungary would be a “constructive partner” in the EU and NATO, while maintaining pragmatic relations with Russia and diversifying energy sources, stressing that Hungary would not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. He said Ukraine was “a victim in this war”, while adding that normalising relations would require addressing the rights of Hungary’s minority there, and ruled out supporting Ukraine’s accelerated EU accession during wartime. Magyar also signalled efforts to rebuild ties with allies, including Poland, Germany, and Austria.

He said the rule of law would govern Hungary, maintain close relations with the United States, and seek to restore its standing in Europe, while addressing issues such as migration through what he described as more direct and realistic approaches.

Magyar vows to halt state media, calling it a ‘propaganda machine.’

Péter Magyar has said he will suspend news coverage by state media when his government takes office in mid-May, describing the system as a “propaganda machine”. Speaking in two tense interviews on public radio and television on Wednesday, following his landslide election victory that ended Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power, Magyar outlined plans for the move and used the appearances to sharply criticise the outlets’ editorial line.

Magyar said it was his first invitation to appear on state media in 18 months, contrasting it with Orbán’s regular presence. During the interviews, he accused the outlets of spreading fear and falsehoods, likening their output to propaganda from North Korea and Nazi-era Germany. “Every Hungarian deserves a public service media that broadcasts the truth,” he told Kossuth radio, adding that his government would introduce a new press law and establish a media authority aimed at ensuring state media fulfils its intended role.

Hungary's regulator investigates use of Webloc mass surveillance system

An investigation by VSquare and Citizen Lab has found that Hungarian intelligence agencies have been covertly using Webloc, a mass geolocation surveillance system developed by the Israeli-American firm Cobwebs Technologies. The tool draws on location data gathered by smartphone apps for advertising purposes, enabling authorities to track the movements of hundreds of millions of people through unique device identifiers, without their knowledge or consent. It allows agencies to geofence specific areas, reconstruct individuals’ movements from historical data, and link digital identities to physical locations in near real time. Within the EU, the use of such personal and advertising data for government surveillance is widely regarded as incompatible with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which tightly restricts how such data may be processed and shared.

A week after the report was published, Hungary’s data protection authority said it was taking action. Attila Péterfalvi, head of the National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, said the body had no prior knowledge of the tool or its alleged use before receiving a press inquiry, indicating that intelligence agencies had been operating the system without the regulator’s awareness. He confirmed that no complaint or notification had been filed and announced the launch of an ex officio investigation into the use of Webloc in Hungary. The response came days after Viktor Orbán’s electoral defeat, at a time when other institutions previously seen as aligned with the government have begun to act.

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Leaked call transcript between Putin and Orban shows dynamics between the two leaders

Bloomberg News obtained a Hungarian government transcript of a call between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 17 October, in which Orbán likened their relationship to that of a “mouse” ready to assist a Russian “lion”. According to the transcript, Orbán told Putin: “Yesterday our friendship rose to such a high level that I can help in any way … in any matter where I can be of assistance, I am at your service.” He was also said to have invoked one of Aesop’s fables, describing a mouse that repays a lion’s earlier mercy by freeing it from a hunter’s net, a remark that reportedly drew laughter from the Russian president.

Orbán, a right-wing populist who has sought to reshape Hungary into what he calls an “illiberal democracy”, is widely seen as the European Union’s most Moscow-friendly leader, prompting some critics to label him Putin’s Trojan horse. The reported exchange is likely to intensify scrutiny of his ties to the Kremlin, as questions have mounted in recent weeks when both the United States and Russia may be seeking to bolster him while he trails in the polls.

Hungary alleges a sabotage threat gas pipeline in Serbia right before elections

Serbia has said it discovered “explosives of devastating power” near a pipeline carrying Russian natural gas to Hungary and beyond, prompting Hungary’s leading opposition candidate to suggest a possible “false flag” operation aimed at influencing the country’s election. On Sunday, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said he had been informed by Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, of the find near an extension of the TurkStream pipeline, which transports Russian gas through the Balkans to central and eastern Europe. Orbán said an investigation was underway and that he had convened an emergency meeting of the defence council. The discovery comes one week before a pivotal parliamentary vote in which Orbán’s 16-year hold on power faces an unprecedented challenge from Péter Magyar, a former senior figure in the ruling Fidesz party.

The campaign has intensified in recent months: Orbán has warned that the war in Ukraine poses a grave threat to Hungary and cast himself as the best guarantor of security, while Magyar and his Tisza party have urged voters to focus on economic stagnation, strained public services, and corruption. Vučić said Serbian forces found two backpacks containing “two large packages of explosives with detonators” in the northern municipality of Kanjiža, a few hundred metres from the pipeline, describing it as a threat to critical infrastructure that could have endangered lives and caused significant damage. However, he declined to disclose details about their origin.

JD Vance endorses Orban after expressing concerns over foreign interference in Hungarian elections.

Five days before Hungarians head to the polls, US Vice President JD Vance has expressed his full endorsement of the Hungarian prime minister and expressed sharp criticism towards the European Union. Standing alongside Orbán in Budapest, Vance said he is shocked by the level of foreign interference in the Hungarian election campaign, right before he said he is “to help him in this campaign cycle”. Orbán’s challenger, Péter Magyar, is leading in most opinion polls, posing the most serious threat yet to a political career that has spanned nearly four decades and delivered four consecutive election victories since 2010.

The last-minute effort to bolster Orbán before the 12 April vote, Vance and his wife, Usha, travelled to Budapest in the first high-level US visit to Hungary in two decades. Vance said Orbán’s relationship with Donald Trump had ushered in a “new golden age” in bilateral ties. Magyar said his Tisza party welcomed Vance’s visit, adding that a future government under his leadership would view the United States as a key partner, both within NATO and economically.

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Hungary files espionage case against top journalist

Hungary’s government has filed espionage charges against investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi, in a case tied to reporting on alleged contacts between Budapest and Moscow. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said justice minister Bence Tuzson had decided to proceed, arguing that publicly known details were "sufficient" and accusing Panyi of acting “in cooperation with a foreign state”. The allegations follow a Washington Post report claiming Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, regularly shared confidential information from EU meetings with his Russian counterpart.

After the Post's piece was published, pro-government outlet Mandiner published claims that foreign intelligence services had wiretapped Szijjártó with Panyi’s assistance, alongside an edited recording in which the journalist discussed sharing the minister’s phone number with a source at an EU government agency. Gulyás rejected the notion that such actions constituted journalism, alleging the intent was surveillance. Panyi denied the accusations in a Facebook post, saying the recording had been heavily edited. He is currently working on a book about Russian interference in Hungarian politics. Panyi has previously been targeted with the Pegasus spyware.

Hungarian government rejects opposition claims of secret service operation against Tisza's IT system

Hungary’s main opposition party has accused the government of orchestrating a covert operation to infiltrate and undermine its activities, weeks before the parliamentary election on April 12. The claims, dubbed “Orbán-gate”, draw on an investigation by Direkt36, citing police documents that describe an alleged attempt to compromise the IT systems of Tisza. According to the report, operatives sought to recruit a young volunteer linked to the party to gain access to its digital infrastructure and install loyal insiders in key positions.

The alleged plan was disrupted after police raided the homes of two men associated with the party, who were said to be preparing to record the recruitment attempt using a concealed camera. Direkt36 reported that the raids were carried out under the pretext of a child pornography investigation, though no such material was found, and attention instead shifted to the planned recording.

Bence Szabó, a senior investigator at the Cybercrime department of the National Bureau of Investigation, sat down with Direkt 35 on the record about the case. In the video, Szabo explained that several screenshots were discovered between the IT specialists and individuals, including Magyar's ex-girlfriend, revealing details of a secret service operation. The goal of the operation was to hack into the Tisza Party’s IT system and bring it down.

Magyar has presented the affair as evidence of democratic backsliding, while the government has rejected the allegations and framed the issue as one of national security.

Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács said individuals linked to Tisza had connections to Ukrainian actors and hacker networks, a claim amplified by pro-government media, while several state bodies declined to comment on the specifics of the reported operation.

Politico: Anxiety builds in MAGA world over fate of Hungarian elections

As war with Iran dominates attention in Washington, concern is mounting within the MAGA movement over the electoral prospects of Orbán, Politico reports. After more than a decade consolidating power, Orbán now faces one of his most difficult contests, with polling ahead of the 12 April vote showing his Fidesz party trailing the centre-right Tisza party. Discontent over a sluggish economy, rising living costs, and a series of scandals has weighed on his campaign, prompting unease among allies of US President Donald Trump, who regard Orbán as a key ideological partner in Europe. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly endorsed him, while Marco Rubio visited Budapest in February, and JD Vance is reportedly considering a trip, though it has not been formally confirmed.

Orbán is seen as a model of “illiberal” governance in the Trumpist segment of the Republican Party, from his hardline immigration policies to opposition to military aid for Ukraine and efforts to reshape Hungary’s institutions. His allies have cultivated close ties with MAGA-aligned groups such as the Heritage Foundation, and the relationship has yielded tangible benefits, including a US exemption allowing Hungary to continue purchasing Russian oil. Yet the overt support carries risks: far-right parties in Europe have sought to distance themselves from Trump, and some within his orbit fear the strategy could alienate Hungarian voters. Diplomatic tensions further complicate the picture, as Orbán’s move to block an EU loan to Ukraine clashes with US efforts to encourage European support for Kyiv.

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EU leaders condemn Hungary's Orban for blocking Ukraine loan

EU leaders condemned Hungary’s nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, after he refused to drop his veto to a €90bn loan for Ukraine, accusing him of acting in bad faith and reneging on an agreement reached in December. Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, described the move as “a gross act of disloyalty”, warning it would “leave deep marks”, while the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the loan remained blocked because “one leader is not honouring his word” but insisted it would be delivered “one way or the other”. At a summit in Brussels, leaders openly criticised Orbán’s stance, with European Council president António Costa saying: “Nobody can blackmail the European institutions.” The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said Hungary was “taking [its] agreement back” and questioned how the EU could enforce the deal, adding she did not expect a resolution before Hungary’s 12 April elections.

Orbán, alongside Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico, also refused to endorse a European Council statement supporting the release of funds, and showed no sign of compromise, saying he would not back any decision benefiting Ukraine while Hungary was unable to receive oil deliveries it considers its own. The dispute centres on the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine says was damaged in a Russian air attack but which Orbán has accused Kyiv of failing to repair.

EU leaders said his position undermined decision-making as Ukraine faces urgent funding needs. Finland’s prime minister, Petteri Orpo, accused Orbán of using Ukraine “as a weapon” in his election campaign. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever called the reversal “unacceptable”, while officials said Hungary and Slovakia were also blocking a new sanctions package against Russia. Although Ukraine has agreed to accept EU support to repair the pipeline, Orbán’s stance has not shifted, as he continues an election campaign portraying his opponent, Péter Magyar, as a puppet of Brussels and Kyiv.

Reuters: JD Vance to visit Budapest ahead of Hungarian elections

US vice-president JD Vance is preparing to travel to Hungary in the coming days in as a show of support for Viktor Orbán, who faces a tightening race ahead of next month’s election, Reuters reports. The planned visit follows a February trip by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who publicly backed Orbán as he confronts his most difficult re-election bid since 2010, with opinion polls indicating he is trailing in the final stretch before the 12 April vote. The timing of Vance’s trip remains uncertain and could shift, particularly as senior US officials weigh staying in Washington during the ongoing US-Israeli air war on Iran. The White House declined to comment.

Orbán, a close ally of Donald Trump, has long clashed with the EU, particularly over Ukraine, maintaining ties with Moscow and rejecting both arms deliveries to Kyiv and its EU accession. Concerns over Hungary’s democratic trajectory were raised by Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego, who questioned Rubio’s earlier visit and asked how it served US strategic interests. Trump, who recently endorsed Orbán, has similarly backed conservative figures globally, while Vance is seen as a prominent player in foreign policy and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

Orbán to host key figures of the European far right

Two major Fidesz-sponsored events are scheduled in the coming days. The invitees are mostly far-right politicians, and the list also includes an influencer with ties to Russia.

The first event is CPAC Hungary on Saturday, featuring almost no US speakers. Speakers will include former Polish right-wing Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who is currently seeking to legitimize a law modeled on Russia’s “agent law.”

The other event will be a meeting of the ruling party’s European Parliamentary group, the European Patriots, organized by the Fidesz Foundation. In addition to Viktor Orbán, the speakers' list includes,

• Marine Le Pen, parliamentary group leader of the far-right French National Rally,
• Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister,
• Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Spanish Vox party,
• Herbert Kickl, the leader of the Austrian Freedom Party,
• and Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party, who was unable to form a government after the elections.

Another notable speaker will be influencer Dave Rubin, who has earlier interviewed Viktor Orbán. Two years ago, YouTube banned him because he worked with a media company called Tenet Media, which illegally received millions of dollars from two employees of the Russian state-funded channel RT. Tenet is owned by political influencer Lauren Chen, who previously appeared as a guest at the MCC festival, which is also linked to the Hungarian government.

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Orban claims Ukrainians are "threatening his family"

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, has accused Ukrainians of plotting to attack his family. The dispute has unfolded as Hungary approaches a parliamentary election next month that could end Orbán’s 16 years in power, with the prime minister and his allies appearing to use the confrontation for political advantage.

In a video released on Wednesday night, Orbán appeared to speak to his daughters by phone, saying: “I’m sure you’ll see on the news that the Ukrainians have threatened not only me but you as well.” He added: “My kids and my grandkids … We have to take this seriously but we must not be scared.” The remarks appeared to refer to comments by Hrihoriy Omelchenko, a retired Ukrainian politician who served in the SBU security service in the 1990s and who suggested in a televised interview that vigilantes could target Orbán if he did not change his stance on Ukraine. Earlier, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had also said he might “give this person’s address to our armed forces” when referring to Orbán, comments that reportedly prompted European allies to urge him to tone down his rhetoric.

The latest tensions were triggered after Ukraine said repairs to an oil pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary, reportedly damaged in a Russian drone attack, could take several weeks.

FT: Russia is running a disinformation campaign in Hungary to support Orbán

The Kremlin has launched a disinformation campaign intended to help Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, secure re-election next month, according to people familiar with the matter, The Financial Times reports. Russia is said to have endorsed a plan by the Social Design Agency, a Kremlin-linked media consultancy under western sanctions, to support Orbán’s Fidesz party by spreading messages on social media designed in Russia and shared by influential Hungarians. A proposal prepared by the agency for the Kremlin last year reportedly presents Orbán as the only candidate capable of preserving Hungary’s sovereignty and dealing with global leaders as an equal. It contrasts him with his main challenger, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, describing Orbán as a “strong leader with global friends” and Magyar as a “Brussels puppet with no outside support”.

The proposal also outlines “information attacks” targeting Magyar, whose party currently leads in opinion polls. The campaign aims to portray Tisza as marked by “incompetence, division and secret agendas”, highlighting controversial party figures and depicting Magyar as dependent on the EU. Reports by the independent outlet VSquare said three officers from Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency had recently been posted to the embassy in Budapest, prompting Magyar to call for their removal and declare: “Russians, go home”. The agents are believed to be linked to Sergei Kirienko, Putin’s deputy chief of staff, who has previously overseen similar campaigns. The effort comes amid growing tensions between Budapest and Kyiv, after Orbán vetoed a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine following a dispute over a damaged oil pipeline. The Social Design Agency’s proposal warns that direct Russian backing could prove counterproductive, noting: “While interfering in election narratives, one should take into account that direct support from Russia could have the opposite effect.”

21 Research Center: Fidesz is gaining strength, but Tisza still leads

Fidesz's deficit has decreased among those who say they will vote, but the Tisza Party still has a significant lead, according to a survey by the 21 Research Center, commissioned by 24.hu. According to estimates, Tisza would win 115 of the 199 seats if the elections were this Sunday.

According to the survey, 92 percent of voters would vote for one of the two major parties, with all other parties combined receiving 8 percent, of which 6 percent would go to Mi Hazánk, and 1 percent each to the Democratic Coalition and the Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party. Among the entire population, Tisza has a 38-30 advantage, while far-right Mi Hazánk is at 4 percent. Among party voters, the score is 51-41 in favor of Tisza, with Mi Hazánk standing at 6 percent. Thanks to the mobilization of Fidesz supporters, Fidesz has somewhat caught up with Tisza among those who say they will definitely vote, with Tisza now at 53 percent and the government at 39 percent among definite party voters. The latter is the highest Fidesz figure since October 2024.

Hungary seizes Ukrainian vehicles carrying cash and gold

Escalating tensions between Hungary and Ukraine has intensified after Hungarian authorities impounded two Ukrainian bank vehicles transporting millions of euros in cash and gold bars across the country. Seven Ukrainian citizens accompanying the convoy were detained. Hungarian officials said those arrested had intelligence links and suggested the funds might be of questionable origin. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, accused Budapest of “taking hostages", while also alleging that Viktor Orbán had manufactured the scandal for political gain ahead of Hungary’s elections next month.

Hungary’s national tax and customs administration said it had launched a money-laundering investigation into the shipment, which it said contained $40m, €35m in cash and 9kg of gold, adding that one of those detained was a former Ukrainian intelligence general. Ukraine’s state savings bank, Oschadbank, said its staff had been transporting the money between Austria and Ukraine on a "routine trip", carried out by road because of restrictions on air travel during the war. Orbán’s political director, Balázs Orbán, questioned the legitimacy of the shipment, writing on X that armoured vehicles carrying large amounts of cash and gold were not typical of normal financial transactions.

EU should rely less on unanimity after Hungary veto, Dutch PM says

Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten has called for the European Union to move away from unanimity in decision-making, pointing to Hungary’s last-minute veto of a €90bn loan to Ukraine as evidence of the system’s shortcomings. Speaking during his first trip to Brussels since taking office, Jetten said the new Dutch government favoured reducing the number of decisions requiring unanimous approval at EU level. “This is a clear example of why that is important because we cannot explain to our constituents that Europe is sometimes way too slow in reacting to great issues that affect us all,” he told reporters.

Jetten urged Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, to respect the agreement reached by EU leaders in December after lengthy negotiations. Under that compromise, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic agreed to support changes to EU budget rules in exchange for being exempted from joint borrowing. Orbán’s veto relates to the suspension of Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, which Kyiv says was damaged in a Russian drone attack on 27 January and has not resumed operations. Orbán, however, has accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy of deliberately shutting down the pipeline for political reasons ahead of Hungary’s elections. The European Commission has called on Kyiv to repair the pipeline and on Budapest to lift its veto, while Hungary and Slovakia have proposed a fact-finding mission to inspect the damaged section.

European Commission says Zelensky’s remarks about Orbán are unacceptable

The European Commission has rebuked Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky over his remarks widely interpreted as a threat against prime minister Viktor Orbán.

Zelensky said on Thursday: “We hope that one person in the European Union will not block the 90billion euros, otherwise we will give this person’s address to our armed forces. Let them call him and talk to him in their own language.” Hungary took offence at the comments amid an intensifying dispute between the two countries.

Responding on Friday, the European Commission criticised the language used by the Ukrainian leader. “Specifically in relation to the comments made by President Zelenskyy, we are very clear as the European Commission that that type of language is not acceptable. There must not be threats against EU member states,” the commission’s deputy chief spokesperson, Olof Gill, told reporters, in a rare public condemnation of the leader in Kyiv.

Orbán deploys troops to energy facilities over alleged Ukrainian threat

Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has ordered heightened security at energy facilities, including the deployment of the military, after alleging that Ukraine is seeking to disrupt Hungary’s energy system. Budapest has accused Kyiv of withholding Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukrainian territory to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia. Ukrainian officials reject the claim, saying the pipeline was struck in a Russian drone attack. In a video posted on social media, Orbán said Ukraine was using “an oil blockade” to pressure Hungary and that Hungarian national security services had indicated Kyiv was “preparing further actions to disrupt the operation of Hungary’s energy system”, though he provided no evidence. He said soldiers and equipment would be deployed to guard key facilities, with increased police patrols around power plants, distribution stations and control centres. A ban on drone operations was also introduced in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, which borders Ukraine.

The move comes as Orbán intensifies an anti-Ukraine campaign ahead of April’s parliamentary elections, widely seen as the most challenging contest of his 16 years in power. He has portrayed Ukraine as a serious threat to Hungary’s security and cast himself as its guarantor. Hungary and Slovakia, unlike most European countries, have maintained and even increased imports of Russian oil and gas since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, receiving a temporary EU exemption from a ban on Russian oil imports. Druzhba has not delivered oil since 27 January, and Ukrainian officials say repairs are dangerous and dependent on Russia halting attacks on energy infrastructure. In recent days Hungary has threatened to block a €90bn EU loan to Kyiv, vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia, and signalled it would obstruct further EU assistance until oil shipments resume.

German Foreign Minister: "Hungary is betraying its fight for freedom and trampling on its own heritage"

"The government rejects the increasingly open German attacks and attempts to interfere in the Hungarian election campaign," Hungarian state news agency MTI quoted Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó. At a press conference prior to a public forum held in the city, the minister responded to Johann Wadephul's statement regarding the blocking of European Union sanctions against Russia, saying that "Hungary is betraying its own fight for freedom and trampling on its own heritage."

According to Szijjártó, the German foreign minister has been conspicuously active in attacking Hungary in recent days. "I think it's a bit much when a German person lectures Hungary and Hungarians about historical heritage. We reject this, just as we reject any attempt to interfere in the Hungarian election campaign. I suggest that the German government also adhere to this in the coming period," he explained.

Tisza has a 20-point lead among decided voters, Medián poll shows

Tisza party holds an 11-point lead over Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz among the entire voting-age population and a 20-point advantage among decided voters, according to a new Medián poll reported by Hungarian weekly, HVG. Among voters with a declared party preference, Tisza stands at 55% to Fidesz’s 35%. The difference narrows to 13 points when turnout certainty is factored in: 97% of Tisza supporters say they are certain to vote in April’s election, compared with 85% of Fidesz voters.

Compared with Medián’s previous survey, Tisza has gained two percentage points while Fidesz has lost two. Among those certain to participate, Tisza improved by four points and Fidesz dropped by four, widening the gap between them in that category by eight points. The far-right Mi Hazánk is polling at 6%, the threshold for entering parliament. Other smaller parties, including the Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party and the Democratic Coalition, remain at 1–2%, with the rest collectively below 1%. Medián noted that recent controversies such as the battery factory in Göd have attracted widespread attention, with 89% of respondents saying they had heard about them.

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Szijjártó says Hungary will stop diesel fuel shipments to Ukraine

Hungary will suspend diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline resume, the foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, said. No crude oil has reached Hungary and Slovakia via the pipeline since 27 January, when it was struck by Russia, and deliveries have not restarted. Budapest has blamed Ukraine for the disruption, with Szijjártó accusing Kyiv of “political blackmail” and insisting that all technical, physical and logistical conditions are in place for the resumption of shipments. The halt has led the Mol Group to ask the energy ministry to release strategic oil reserves, while the European Commission has urged Ukraine to restore the pipeline’s operation.

Szijjártó said Hungary’s oil supply remained secure, citing three months of reserves and the expected availability of Russian oil from mid-March. While EU rules prohibit Russian oil imports, Hungary and Slovakia have exemptions for pipeline transport and have notified the European Commission of their intention to import Russian crude until pipeline deliveries are restored. Mol has ordered 500,000 tonnes, with shipments due to arrive at a Croatian port in early March and reach refineries in Hungary and Slovakia within five to ten days.

Hungary and Slovakia have also asked Croatia to allow the transport of Russian crude via the Adriatic pipeline, despite earlier disputes over its capacity. A recent study has also found that, since the start of the Russia's invasion, Hungary and Slovakia have substantially increased their dependence on Russian oil rather than reducing it.

Hungary is the most corrupt EU country according to Transparency

Hungary and Bulgaria have once again been ranked as the most corrupt countries in the European Union, according to Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index. Both states scored 40 out of 100, with Hungary’s result slipping by one point and placing it 84th out of 182 countries, alongside Cuba, Tanzania and Burkina Faso. The index notes that Hungary, together with countries such as Venezuela, Syria and South Sudan, belongs to a group that has experienced sustained declines in scores since 2012, a trend the report links to long-term erosion of integrity systems driven by democratic backsliding, institutional weakening and entrenched patronage networks. In 2012, Hungary’s score stood at 55 points.

Compared with 2024, Hungary lost one point and fell from 82nd to 84th place globally, reflecting what Transparency International Hungary described as a continued failure to address rule-of-law deficiencies and curb systemic corruption. Between 2012 and 2025, Hungary’s score measuring resilience against public-sector corruption fell by 15 points, the steepest decline among EU member states. By contrast, the Baltic states showed sustained improvement, with Estonia ranking first in the region, followed by Lithuania with 65 points and Latvia with 60, widening the gap between the region’s top performers and the lowest-ranked countries to 36 points.

Trump assures Orbán of his total endorsement at Board of Peace meeting

US President Donald Trump expressed his strongest backing yet for Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, as he faces a tight election on 12 April. Speaking at the first inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace initiative in Washington on Thursday, Trump gave his “complete and total” endorsement of Orbán, telling those present that “not everybody in Europe loves that endorsement, but that’s okay” and praising the Hungarian leader’s policies particularly on immigration. Orbán, who is trailing the opposition in most opinion polls, has increasingly looked to Trump’s support as he campaigns for a fifth consecutive term in office.

The remarks followed a visit to Budapest earlier in the week by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who said Orbán’s re-election would be in the national interests of the US. After Trump’s comments, the forint erased its intraday losses against the euro. According to analysts, a victory for Péter Magyar’s opposition Tisza party could help unlock EU funds frozen over Orbán’s policies, improve relations with Brussels and put Hungary on a path towards euro adoption. Orbán has previously sought a potential “financial shield” from Trump, an option Rubio appeared to leave open. Orbán remains among the few European leaders not to distance himself from the Board of Peace, which has drawn support mostly from political allies with a populist outlook.

Opposition leader suspects former girlfriend behind secretly recorded sex tape

Hungary’s opposition leader, Péter Magyar, who is leading opinion polls ahead of April’s parliamentary elections, has accused Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party and his former partner of preparing a smear campaign involving a secretly recorded sex tape. The allegation marks a further escalation in an already tense campaign. Magyar, whose Tisza party currently leads Fidesz in surveys, said he believed the governing party was planning to release intimate footage allegedly recorded using surveillance equipment. “I suspect they are planning to release a recording, recorded with secret service equipment and possibly faked, in which my then-girlfriend and I are seen having intimate intercourse,” he wrote on social media.

Magyar said the media had received a photograph of a bedroom accompanied by the message “coming soon”, suggesting a video release was imminent. The image has since circulated online, fueling public debate, although no video has appeared. “I am a 45-year-old man, and I have a regular sex life, with an adult partner,” he added. The same image is displayed on a website bearing the name of Tisza’s vice-president, Márk Radnai, alongside the date “2024.08.03”, though Radnai said the domain is not his. Fidesz representatives have denied any role in distributing the photograph. Under Hungarian law, publishing sexually explicit images without consent constitutes a criminal offence. The claims come amid campaign tensions, including reports of activists being attacked and candidates targeted with deepfake videos. On Friday Magyar said he is seeking legal actions.

Workers at Samsung battery plant in Göd have been exposed to toxic substances

An intelligence report presented to Hungarian ministers in 2023 concluded that workers at Samsung SDI’s battery plant in Göd had been exposed to far more serious health and safety risks than previously acknowledged, according to an investigation published this week by Telex. Commissioned by the government amid suspicions that contamination at the factory was worse than publicly admitted, the report detailed systemic occupational safety failures and poisonings. While deficiencies at the plant were already known and had resulted in fines worth tens of millions of forints, the intelligence findings described more severe, previously concealed problems. Internal measurements reportedly showed extreme contamination levels, including a case in which a worker inhaled carcinogenic substances at 510 times the legal limit. Ministers were also shown evidence that the plant’s ventilation system could not filter fine toxic dust and that contaminated black powder was at times released into the open air through the roof.

Samsung SDI’s Göd facility, originally a television screen factory before its conversion to battery production in the mid-2010s, began manufacturing electric vehicle batteries in 2017 and has since become central to Hungary’s strategy of building a battery industry it considers economically strategic. According to Telex, cabinet discussions revealed divisions, with some ministers, including Antal Rogán reportedly arguing for suspending operations, while foreign minister Péter Szijjártó opposed closure, citing economic and investor concerns. The government ultimately opted not to halt production, granting the company time to remedy the issues while imposing what Telex described as symbolic fines relative to revenues. The outlet also reported that leaked internal documents suggested Samsung executives discussed countering the investigative newsroom Átlátszó after it reported on safety and environmental concerns, anticipating regulatory scrutiny. Szijjártó dismissed the Telex report as fake news.

Opposition leader says they are not building a "light" version of Fidesz

In an exclusive interview with 444, Péter Magyar, leader of Tisza party, they already have draft legislations and scenarios prepared for victories of varying proportions - a simple majority and a supermajority." There are areas where this is perfectly in place, 100 percent, and there are areas where our experts are still working. The handover will not be the same as after a four-year cycle. A system has been built up here over 16 years, so we have to be very careful to ensure that, for example, documentation is not shredded," Magyar said adding there are also necessary legislation, whether it be healthcare reform, amendments to the 2026 budget, the establishment of the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, or even the abolition of the Sovereignty Protection Office.

He expressed he doesn't like the term "Fidesz-light." "We are not building Fidesz-light or Viktor Orbán 2. My colleagues and I had civilian lives. Not to feel sorry for ourselves, but it was a much more pleasant life and a more balanced private life than the current situation." He stressed that one of Tisza's main objectives is to rebuild the system of checks and balances and maximize the prime minister's terms of office.

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Orban recieves "Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election" from Trump in a social media post

US President Donald Trump has endorsed Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orbán, ahead of the country’s parliamentary election, praising his illiberal ally as “a truly strong and powerful Leader” in a post published on Thursday.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US president complimented Orbán for strengthening ties between Budapest and Washington. "Relations between Hungary and the United States have reached new heights of cooperation and spectacular achievement under my Administration, thanks largely to Prime Minister Orbán," Trump said. He continued: “I was proud to ENDORSE Viktor for Re-Election in 2022, and am honored to do so again. Viktor Orbán is a true friend, fighter, and WINNER, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Hungary”

The endorsement comes as Orbán faces his toughest elections since his Fidesz party returned to power in 2010. An opinion poll published on Tuesday showed Hungary’s centre-right Tisza party leading Fidesz.

Hungarian links found in the Epstein files, financier was fixated on a Budapest apartment

The newly released Epstein files contain numerous references linking Hungary to the financier accused of sexual offenses, with hundreds of documents mentioning Hungarian individuals and even Viktor Orbán. Emails indicate that he may have travelled to Budapest on several occasions, with repeated mentions emerging in his correspondence with Haakon Gundersen, a Norwegian film producer who has worked on a number of Hungarian productions in recent years.

The precise nature of the relationship between the two men remains unclear, though their exchanges suggest a hierarchical dynamic. Budapest first featured in their correspondence in October 2016, when the billionaire instructed Gundersen to transfer ownership of a Budapest apartment held by his company to a person identified as “Edward”. Subsequent emails show the property was located at 70 Király Street, where Gundersen’s production company, Alphaville Virtual Studios Kft., is still registered, according to Hungary’s company register. In early 2017, the billionaire pressed for the apartment to be sold, asking when and for how much; Gundersen replied that it could be sold within four to six weeks for €240,000. Later emails refer to visits to Budapest and disputes over the property’s title deeds, though it remains unknown how much time the billionaire spent in the city or what he did there. Gundersen has denied having ties to him.

The files also include correspondence with Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, who is mentioned thousands of times in the documents and had financial links to the billionaire; in January 2019, when Rød-Larsen asked for an address in Budapest, he was given that of the Király Street apartment.

Hungary bans three Ukrainian military officials

Hungary has banned three Ukrainian military leaders from entering the country, accusing them of being “responsible for forced conscription”, government spokesperson Gergely Gulyás said on Thursday. The ban extends to the entire Schengen area. Gulyás said the decision followed the 2025 death of József Sebestyén, a Hungarian man from Transcarpathia and the more recent death of another Hungarian man with health problems during conscription. In a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that Ukrainian citizens involved in “forced conscription” would be immediately barred from Hungarian territory. He cited information from Hungary’s foreign ministry alleging that in January a Hungarian man was taken from the street in the Berehove district of Transcarpathia for conscription, became unwell at a training centre due to a heart condition and later died.

Last summer Hungary initiated a Schengen-wide ban against Robert Brovdi, the highest-ranking ethnic Hungarian in the Ukrainian army, who as commander of drone units oversaw the Ukrainian strike on the Russian section of the Druzhba oil pipeline supplying Hungary and Slovakia.

Ukraine responded by banning three senior Hungarian military officers. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s embassy in Budapest said Ambassador Sándor Fegyir and Hungary’s interior minister, Sándor Pintér, had met to discuss bilateral cooperation, including the education of Ukrainian children in Hungary, the continuation of a Hungarian scholarship programme for Ukrainian students and Ukrainians imprisoned in Hungary.

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Prosecutors file charges against Karacsony for Pride

Budapest’s mayor, Gergely Karácsony, has been charged by the V. and XIII. district prosecutor’s office over organising the 2025 Budapest Pride. Prosecutors have proposed imposing a fine, according to an announcement on their website. Karácsony was questioned on 1 August in connection with the event, and his complaint against the charges was rejected in mid-August. The case follows legislative changes introduced by Hungary’s parliament in the spring, when the constitution was amended to elevate children’s right to “healthy development” above the right of assembly, alongside changes to public assembly laws banning gatherings deemed to breach the so-called Child Protection Act.

Karácsony had announced the Pride march as a municipal event, but police classified it as a public assembly and banned it. Despite the prohibition, the march went ahead at the end of June, becoming the largest Pride event ever held in Hungary. Prosecutors said the mayor was aware of the police ban issued on 19 June, did not seek legal remedy and proceeded with organising the event after the decision became final. Responding on Facebook, Karácsony said he had gone “from being a proud suspect to a proud defendant”, arguing that this was the price of standing up for freedom. He added that prosecutors intended to impose a fine without a court hearing and said he would continue to stand for “freedom”, insisting that the march demonstrated “there is life outside this regime."

Controversial comments by Lazar risk alienating Roma voters

Speaking at a public forum, Transportation Minister János Lázár was answering a question on demographic decline when he argued that, because Hungary was not accepting migrants, it would need to rely on “internal reserves”, which he identified as the Hungarian Roma community. He went on to suggest that unpopular jobs, including cleaning toilets on InterCity trains, would have to be filled in "by gypsies". While the mobilisation of Roma workers has been official policy for years , Lázár’s wording provoked widespread criticism. Employment among Roma people has risen steadily since the mid-2010s but still lags far behind that of the non-Roma population.

The backlash carried political weight because Roma voters live in key constituencies and have previously supported Fidesz. The opposition moved quickly: the Tisza party’s leader, Péter Magyar, shared the clip of Lázár’s remarks, while a video response from a Roma teacher linked to the party drew more than a million views. Roma organisations and public figures also demanded clarification. Lázár initially defended his comments before issuing a public apology at a Fidesz rally, saying he was “truly sorry” to any Roma he had offended and thanking them for their contribution to Hungary. The scale of the reaction appears to have prompted swift damage control from the government.

Hungary says Ukraine has summoned its ambassador

Ukraine has summoned Hungary’s ambassador to Kyiv, according to Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó. The summon came two days after Budapest called in Ukraine’s ambassador, with Szijjártó saying at the time that Hungary would defend its sovereignty “by all means available”. He said the Hungarian government was not surprised by Kyiv’s response, adding that Ukrainian officials objected to a planned national petition in which Hungarians will be asked to give their opinion on "Brussels and Kyiv’s intention to spend Hungarian money on Ukraine’s operation and armament."

Szijjártó said he had still received no explanation for what he described as rude remarks by President Volodymyr Zelensky about PM Viktor Orbán, and Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha's comments. He also claimed that, based on the meeting in Kyiv, Hungary expects Ukraine to interfere in the upcoming Hungarian elections in support of the opposition Tisza party. The latest exchange follows a week of escalating rhetoric between the two countries.

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Orbán backs Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ at World Economic Forum

US President Donald Trump launched the “Board of Peace” on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the founding charter was signed by leaders from 22 countries, including Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán. Introducing Orbán as a “tough guy”, the US president oversaw the signing ceremony on the forum’s second day. Orbán later shared details of the event on Facebook, saying Hungary had joined because war threatens economic stability through inflation, sanctions and high energy prices, and arguing that participation in international initiatives aimed at preventing conflict was essential to protecting national security.

Hungary and Bulgaria are the only EU member states to have joined the board so far, with several other EU countries declining to participate amid tensions linked to Trump’s dispute over Greenland, while the UK has said it is “not ready” to join because of Belarus’s involvement. In remarks at the ceremony, Trump described the Board of Peace as “one of the most important bodies the world has ever seen” and said it would work with the United Nations to “end conflicts around the world”, though few details have been given about its operation. According to the charter, the board aims to promote stability, restore lawful governance and secure lasting peace in areas affected by conflict, citing the need for a more flexible and effective "peacekeeping" body to succeed institutions it says have failed.

Orbán responds with heated message to Zelensky's criticism

Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orbán, posted a heated message on his X after Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused him of acting against European interests during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Zelensky criticised Orbán, whom he described as Russia’s closest ally within the European Union, saying: “Every Viktor who lives off European money while trying to sell out the European interests deserves a smack upside the head,” and warning that comfort in Moscow should not translate into European capitals becoming “little Moscows”.

Orbán, who has repeatedly used Hungary’s EU veto to block or delay support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s invasion, addressed Zelensky directly in his response. He claimed it was Zelensky, not Vladimir Putin, who was prolonging the war, which will enter its fourth year in February, and wrote: “I am a free man who serves the Hungarian people,” contrasting his position with that of the Ukrainian leader, whom he said had failed to end the conflict despite extensive assistance from the US president. Orbán attended the Davos forum for the first time in 26 years.

Szijjarto says Greenland is not a matter for the European Union

Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, said Budapest would not support a unified European Union position on Greenland following recent remarks by US president Donald Trump, arguing that the issue does not fall within the bloc’s remit. Speaking at a press conference in Prague, Szijjártó said Hungary regarded the question of Greenland’s future as a bilateral matter, adding: “We see this as a bilateral issue that can only be resolved through negotiations between the two parties (…) I do not consider this to be a matter for the European Union.”

Szijjártó said Hungary will not join any joint EU statement on the issue. The Czech government has also so far declined to back Denmark, saying the issue should be resolved through an agreement with the United States.

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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.

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Trump praises Orbán ahead of April elections

US President Donald Trump has wished Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán “best of luck” in his election campaign and hinted at a possible visit to Budapest, underlining the close ties between the two leaders in a letter Orbán shared on Facebook. The message followed a White House meeting on November 7, after which Trump granted Hungary a one-year exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy. In the letter, Trump praised Orbán’s “bold leadership” and said he looked forward to “deepening cooperation” on defence, energy, and illegal migration, adding: “You have always stood firm to defend the principles that make Hungary such a tremendous place – faith, family, and sovereignty.”

Orbán, a far-right leader who has been in power for 16 years, faces his toughest elections, amid economic stagnation, rising living costs, and a child abuse scandal in a government institute that has strengthened an opposition challenger who leads most polls. The election is expected to be held in April. Trump and Orbán also discussed possible financial assistance in November, though Trump later rejected Orbán’s claim that Washington had agreed to up to $20bn in support. Orbán admitted on Monday that Hungary had not secured the level of backing it initially sought, but that talks were ongoing. Trump also thanked Orbán for an invitation to visit Hungary, saying his team would “be in touch” about scheduling. In contrast, Orbán noted a visit by a “high-ranking” US politician was likely before the election

Legendary filmmaker Bela Tarr dies at 70

Béla Tarr, the legendary Hungarian filmmaker whose most known for his slow-paste black-and-white films, including Satantango and Werckmeister Harmonies, has died at the age of 70. He died on Tuesday in a Budapest hospital after a series of “long and serious” illnesses, according to his stepdaughter, Réka Gáborjáni. Tarr’s work, focused on marginal lives and psychological states, with his camera lingering on faces and landscapes to express emotions. The bleak rural settings of his film were not mere backdrops but integral to his vision of human endurance.

Though widely celebrated on the European festival circuit, including with multiple awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, Tarr’s films never achieved broad popular appeal. Satantango, his seven-and-a-half-hour 1994 adaptation of László Krasznahorkai’s novel, and Werckmeister Harmonies, also based on Krasznahorkai’s work, came to define his uncompromising style, praised by filmmakers such as Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant, and by critics including Susan Sontag, who called Satantango “enthralling. Tarr himself insisted that his films were about more than story, arguing that cinema should encompass “time, space, things not directly connected to the storytelling”, and repeatedly returned to what he described as a single, enduring subject: human dignity.

Orbán says US move in Venezuela may help shape global energy prices

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán said the United States’ decision to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro should benefit global energy markets, arguing on Monday that, with control of Venezuelan oil reserves alongside those of the United States, Washington could wield substantial influence over prices and create a “more favourable global energy situation” for Hungary. The comments came after U.S. Special Forces captured Maduro in Caracas over the weekend and took him to New York to face drug charges. US President Donald Trump, who has exempted Hungary from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy ahead of the elections, signals interest in Venezuelan oil.

Orbán, speaking at an international news conference, said he believed the combined reserves could amount to 40-50 per cent of the world’s total and emphasised the potential positive impact on energy markets, while Budapest continues to import Russian oil and gas and has signed a five-year liquefied natural gas supply deal with Chevron as part of efforts to diversify.

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Péter Magyar: The ruling party has fallen

Just like on January 1, 2025, Péter Magyar gave his New Year's speech a few minutes after midnight, accompanied by the national anthem. The president of the Tisza Party began his speech with five numbers: 26, 48, 56, 67, and 89, which he said were defining years in Hungarian history. Four of the five years he referred to were 1848, 1956, 1867, and 1989. The fifth, however, was not 2026, as many might have thought, but 1526, the year of the Battle of Mohács, a warning that the division of the nation "always comes at a heavy price."

"The country cannot have a leader who does not put the welfare of Hungarian children first, who does nothing for years while knowing that thousands of children are being abused," said Magyar, referring to the recent child abuse scandal. He also criticized the prime minister for his sensitive moves in terms of national policy and for increasing poverty. In his words, Orbán "will betray our Hungarian brothers and sisters in Upper Hungary, Transylvania (...) his main task is not to eliminate poverty, but to enrich his own family."

Magyar said, the election should not be about anger or revenge, nor even about victory. "Above all, it should be about our common hope," a country where "the state is not an enemy, but an ally." According to Magyar, "everyone can see that the current government has failed. It has lost the trust of the people. They also feel that this is the end."

Fidesz voters split over government response to abuse allegations

More than half of Hungary’s population is critical of the government’s handling of the abuse allegations linked to the juvenile detention centre on Budapest’s Szőlő Street, according to a representative poll conducted by the 21 Research Center (commissioned by Telex) . The survey suggests that even within its own ranks, Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party can rely on the backing of only a relatively narrow segment of voters. The case, which has come to encompass a series of allegations involving a state-run institution, has resulted in the arrest of the facility’s former director and his partner on suspicion of human trafficking and forced labour, alongside charges of abuse of office and misuse of a firearm. Since then, several more suspects have been questioned, with multiple former employees now in custody or under criminal supervision, many accused of abusing minors held at the centre.

The poll highlights how deeply politicised the affair has become. A quarter of respondents said the government bears responsibility for what happened, while smaller proportions blamed the institution’s staff, its director, or, in a minority of cases, the minors themselves. Views diverge sharply along party lines: most Fidesz supporters tend to fault the centre’s employees, while voters for the opposition Tisza party overwhelmingly place responsibility on the government. Dissatisfaction with the authorities’ response is widespread, with more than half of respondents rating it poor or very poor, and only a small minority judging it positively. Notably, even among Fidesz voters, approval is unusually low by the party’s standards, underlining the extent to which the Szőlő Street affair has become a politically damaging issue for the ruling party.

Ukrainian politician once on Hungary’s most wanted list resurfaces with public project in Beregsurány

Natali Vasilyeva is an influencer from Berehove. She tries to bring a little cheer to the small town since the war started. Her videos on TikTok are primarily aimed at the Ukrainian population. However, on Sunday she crossed the border to make a promotional video from a free parking lot on the Hungarian side, in the immediate vicinity of the Beregsurány border crossing.

The video shows that commuters will find a perfect location next to the border crossing, with a free parking lot with 300 spaces available from Monday for those who leave their cars on the Hungarian side. The video shows a container with a company name on it: BeregParking Ltd.

BeregParking Ltd is owned by a resident of Tiszakerecseny named János Antipov, and its managing director is Anti Viktor , who is registered at the same address and whose mother has the same name as János Antipov's mother. In other words, they are brothers, and both are Hungarian citizens. Anti Viktor topped the Hungarian police's most wanted list in 2019.The 37-year-old Ukrainian-Hungarian dual citizen was wanted on suspicion of instructing two Hungarian men to place a wreath with threatening messages at the home of a border guard. Those who placed the wreath at the house were found, partly thanks to the assistance of the National Defense Service in the investigation. However, Anti Viktor was not found, which is why he was placed at the top of the wanted list.

His real name is Vitaliy Antyipov, a local representative known for his anti-Hungarian sentiments. Anti Viktor/Vitaliy Antyipov was previously the leader of the Poroshenko party faction in Beregszász, and he obtained Hungarian citizenship under a false name.

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Orbán warns against asset seizures and questions who the aggressor is in the Ukraine war

Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has criticised the European Union’s decision to raise a €90bn loan to support Ukraine, dismissing proposals to use frozen Russian central bank assets as legally risky. Speaking to pro-government media after a summit of EU leaders, Orbán said the alternative plan was effectively abandoned after Belgium raised concerns that Russia could successfully challenge the move in court, potentially triggering severe financial consequences. Although most EU leaders said they reserved the right to use the seized assets to repay the loan, Orbán argued that Hungary could not accept a precedent that might endanger its own foreign currency reserves held abroad, adding that Budapest would consider relocating those reserves if such confiscations became possible.

Orbán said the final agreement, which uses the EU budget as collateral, would not impose financial obligations on Hungary, Slovakia or the Czech Republic, but warned that Ukraine would be unable to repay the loan, leaving participating states responsible unless Russia is defeated. Framing the decision as a step towards escalation, he argued that European leaders were acting under the illusion that supporting Ukraine would come at no cost, while questioning basic assumptions about responsibility for the war. Orbán said Hungary must avoid being drawn into conflict, comparing the present moment to Europe’s slide into the world wars of the 20th century. He said Hungary lacked the strength to withstand the political pressure this would have brought, adding that the question of EU membership remained open but had not yet reached a breaking point.

Slovak president signs law criticizing Beneš decrees punishable

Slovak president Peter Pellegrini has signed an amendment to the national criminal code that makes it a criminal offence to publicly question the post-World War II Beneš decrees, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from minority groups and political figures in Slovakia and neighbouring Hungary. The legislation, passed by the Slovak parliament earlier this month, was originally intended to strengthen penalties for minor theft, but was expanded in committee to include measures against alleged foreign interference in elections, restrictions on so-called “repentant witness” testimony, and the criminalisation of public denial or challenge to the legal framework established by post-war settlement documents widely understood to refer to the Beneš decrees. Pellegrini said he had chosen not to veto the bill, adding that responsibility for the law lies with the government and parliamentary majority that approved it.

The most contentious aspect of the amendment is the provision making it punishable to question the decrees, which were issued in 1945 by the then Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš and provided the legal basis for confiscation of property and collective punishment of ethnic Germans and Hungarians after the war. Under the new rules, publicly denying or challenging the legitimacy of the post-war settlement could result in penalties of up to six months in prison. Critics say it effectively disproportionately affects Slovakia’s Hungarian minority, many of whom continue to face unresolved property disputes tied to the decrees. The Hungarian minority party in Slovakia has condemned the law and organised protests, while an adviser on minority affairs resigned in protest. Politicians in Hungary, including Viktor Orbán, said they are seeking clarification about the law’s implications.

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Tisza party leads protest over abuse in juvenile correction facility

Thousands marched through Budapest on Saturday in protest over alleged abuse at a juvenile correction facility, after security footage surfaced showing the violent mistreatment of minors in state care. The protest was organised by the opposition Tisza party after videos emerged about an institution, showing its former acting director brutally assaulting children, including slamming one boy’s head against a table and repeatedly beating and kicking another while restraining him on the ground. The footage caused immediate public outrage over Hungary’s child protection system.

The man seen in the footage resigned a day before the videos were released and was arrested shortly afterwards. Police raided the facility, while the minister heading the prime minister’s office, Gergely Gulyás, announced that all five of Hungary’s juvenile detention centres would be placed under police supervision and that an investigation had been launched. As the inquiry expanded, four additional employees were arrested on suspicion of abuse, with one accused of aiding and abetting. The case has further unsettled the government because it echoes the most damaging scandal of Fidesz’s 15 years in power: earlier this year, president Katalin Novák and former justice minister Judit Varga resigned after it emerged that Novák had pardoned the former deputy director of a children’s home who had coerced victims into withdrawing testimony against a paedophile director, with Varga having countersigned the decision.

Attempts by the government to contain the fallout have failed. Ministers initially stressed that the victims were "not orphans" and described the institution as “practically a prison, listing the alleged crimes of those held there, a response that drew sharp criticism from psychologists and the public alike. Addressing the crowd on Saturday, Tisza party leader Péter Magyar said an internal 2021 report on child protection was not about correctional facilities but about children entrusted to the state’s care. “You knew about these atrocities and did nothing,” he said.

Hungary seeks damages from the EU court over asylum ruling

Hungary is taking legal action seeking damages from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over a ruling on its asylum regime, justice minister Bence Tuzson announced in Budapest. The case stems from infringement proceedings brought by the European Commission over Hungary’s migration rules, which culminated in a December 2020 judgment against the government. While Budapest says it took steps in line with the commission’s recommendations, it did not fully bring its legislation into compliance. Tuzson stressed that Hungary is not challenging the final judgment itself, but is instead pursuing compensation, arguing that EU treaties require institutions to make good any damage caused to a member state.

The minister claimed the court failed to apply key principles and rules in its decision, describing the ruling as ideological and political rather than legal. The government earmarked €1.5m in its 2025 budget to pursue the case, including hiring international legal experts, after deciding last year to proceed even at high cost. Hungary was fined €200m by the ECJ for deliberately circumventing EU asylum rules, with an additional €1m accruing daily, a penalty the court described as an unprecedented and serious breach of EU law. Under EU treaties, damages claims against EU institutions fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the ECJ, meaning Hungary would need to persuade the court to rule that its own final judgment was unlawful to obtain compensation.

Orbán says Russia would respond to EU action on seized assets

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán flew to Brussels on Tuesday evening to attend an EU summit, travelling on a military aircraft alongside senior figures from the country’s pro-government media ecosystem. During the flight, Orbán held a private briefing with members of his entourage, including Dániel Deák, a prominent social media figure affiliated with Megafon, who shared details of the discussion in online posts.

According to those accounts, Orbán told the group that ahead of the summit, he had written to Russian president Vladimir Putin to ask how Moscow would respond if the EU moved to use frozen Russian state assets, and whether Russia was tracking how individual member states voted. Orbán said Putin replied that Russia would adopt strong countermeasures but would take into account each country’s position. The prime minister said he opposed the proposed EU move, describing it as a further step towards escalation. Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, who had arrived in Brussels earlier, also stated that the government had consulted Moscow in advance.

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"I didn't promise him, but he certainly asked for it," Trump tells POLITICO about 'financial shield' Orban says he promised him

Hungary’s foreign minister, Peter Szijjártó, has tried to clarify Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán after Donald Trump publicly denied offering the Hungarian leader a financial “shield.” In an interview with Politico, the former US president said, “No, I didn’t promise him, but he certainly asked for it,” contradicting Orbán’s earlier statement that Budapest could access up to $20bn under an agreement with Washington. Orbán, who faces a tough election next year, had said that Hungary could receive a financial shield following his meeting with Trump in November.

Szijjártó said on Tuesday that “no agreement was in fact reached on any $20 billion, just as no one had claimed,” insisting instead that Orbán and Trump had agreed only to begin talks on “a new type of financial cooperation” that could provide some form of protection. Orbán’s government, grappling with a third year of stagnation, has introduced tax cuts, wage increases and food vouchers to bolster domestic support, while presenting potential US backing as proof that Hungary can secure alternatives to frozen EU funds, which remain blocked amid a long-running rule-of-law dispute.

EU to keep Russian assets frozen despite Hungary's objection

The European Union has decided to keep €210bn in Russian state assets stranded in Europe remain frozen indefinitely, after member state ambassadors endorsed a new legal mechanism granting emergency powers to the European Commission. The Danish Council presidency confirmed on Thursday that capitals had backed a revised Article 122 proposal by a clear majority, paving the way for formal adoption on Friday. The measure, which will stay in force until Russia ends its war against Ukraine and pays reparations, represents a significant setback for the Kremlin’s hope of recovering the funds as part of a future peace settlement, an idea promoted by Donald Trump but rejected by European governments. The approach also sharply limits the ability of pro-Kremlin states such as Hungary and Slovakia to veto extensions of sanctions and return the money.

Under the new rules, the current requirement for unanimous renewal of sanctions every six months will effectively be circumvented, removing a route by which Russia-friendly governments could force the release of the frozen assets. EU officials argued that unblocking the funds would risk severe economic disruption and leave the bloc exposed to potential threats. Hungary has formally challenged the decision, claiming it breaches EU law and the Commission’s neutrality, while Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, separately warned against any arrangement that might oblige his country to support Ukraine’s military spending. The Commission originally proposed the mechanism to reinforce a wider initiative to mobilise the frozen assets for Kyiv, most of which are held at Euroclear in Belgium.

Majority of Hungarians fear election interference from Moscow

A new survey by pollster Medián indicates a shift in Hungarian public attitudes since the 2022 outbreak of the war: perceptions of Ukraine have deteriorated, while views of Russia have improved. The findings suggest that years of multibillion-forint government campaigns have helped Viktor Orbán reshape public opinion, fostering growing scepticism toward the West and a rise in pro-Russian attitude, even as most Hungarians still believe the country belongs in the European Union. The result, the report notes, is a political landscape in which many now regard Ukraine as a greater threat to Hungary than Russia, despite Russia being the aggressor in the conflict.

The survey highlights how dramatically these attitudes have flipped. At the start of 2023, 45 percent of respondents viewed Russia as a threat and 35 percent said the same of Ukraine. The polling reverses that picture entirely. Medián also found that concerns about outside interference in next year’s elections are widespread, with 83 percent of Hungarians believing foreign involvement is possible. A majority of those respondents consider interference from Russia the most plausible scenario.