‘The memory of the martyrs of Christmas invites us to recognize that the season is not only about joy and blessings but also about sacrifice and steadfastness. These saints and unnamed heroes, who gave their lives for Christ, teach us that true love is never easy. Yet, through sacrifice, we partake in the light that Christ’s birth brought into the world.’

‘As Christmas approaches, even the most steadfast conservative is faced with a profound seasonal dilemma: should one opt for an artificial tree or remain loyal to the natural variety? The question is more than a practical matter—it is imbued with philosophical, aesthetic, and cultural significance.’

‘The total EU debt-to-GDP ratio is nearing a staggering 90 per cent. EU citizens are being forced into collective debt against their will, with Hungarians then even denied access to funds. That is a ludicrous scenario. It’s like a bank forcing a person to take out a mortgage loan, then refusing to actually disburse the loan, but sending debt collectors to recover the repayments. This is where we stand in Europe today.’

‘For Hungary, Clement’s tenure offered little tangible support during one of its darkest eras, while his broader legacy includes the catastrophic Sack of Rome, the expansion of Protestantism, and the Anglican schism. Today, he is remembered not as a leader who rose to the challenges of his time, but as a figure whose reign epitomized the turbulence and contradictions of the Renaissance papacy.’

‘Persecution based on one’s ethnicity is unacceptable in any form, whether directed at Jews or anyone else. However, when this persecution is carried out by foreign groups arriving illegally, exploiting state resources, and disregarding our laws and culture, every fellow European should be outraged.’

In recent years the real estate market in Budapest has seen dramatic price increases. The price of newly built flats rose by 13.9 per cent within a year, reaching an average of 3,260 euros per square metre in 2023. Rental prices have also continuously risen: the average monthly rent per square metre increased to 11.3 euros, further exacerbating young people’s housing difficulties. Purchasing an average new build property in Budapest requires 10.4 years of gross average earnings, placing the city in the middle range in European comparison.

‘Hungarian law explicitly forbids public spaces from bearing the names of individuals who played a part in establishing, consolidating, or perpetuating the totalitarian political regimes of the 20th century. Those who respect Horn’s accomplishments in his later years as prime minister or his contributions to the political left are entitled to their views, yet such respect cannot override the concerns regarding his actions during the Communist dictatorship. Especially not in Budapest—in the city of the Pest Lads.’

‘Orbán is disinclined to vote on cementing anti-Russia sanctions for three years or sending more billions of dollars to Kyiv until after the US election. The race for the White House is incredibly tight, and the candidates stand starkly opposed on this critical issue. Forcing through the will of one side just days before an election and locking them down for three-quarters of their rival’s term would violate every democratic norm, principle, and value.’

‘In 2007, the combined economy of the six European nations in our example was more than ten times larger than that of the six Asian countries. Over the past 17 years, these Asian countries have grown by over 300 per cent—tripling in size—while Europe’s leading economies expanded by just 19 per cent. This means that the more than tenfold difference in 2007 has shrunk to just over four times (4.17).’

Kenya’s approach to religious diversity is equally remarkable. It is a deeply Christian country, yet the coastal region, like much of East Africa, is mixed, even Muslim-majority in some areas. Despite this, there is an almost unique religious harmony. Mosques and churches coexist peacefully, and schoolgirls, whether in hijab or not, walk to school together as friends.