A spy war has erupted between Hungary and Ukraine, with both countries expelling diplomats amid allegations of espionage and political subversion. At home, Hungarian officials now suspect the opposition’s actions—including a controversial leak by Péter Magyar—may be tied to Ukrainian intelligence efforts to destabilize Prime Minister Orbán’s government.

Polish MP Dariusz Matecki has issued an appeal to the Hungarian people, warning them not to fall victim to the same ‘Eurocratic’ takeover that destroyed Polish sovereignty. In an open letter posted on X, Matecki—currently facing politically charged prosecution in Poland—urged Hungarians to resist EU interference in the parliamentary elections in 2026.

Since taking office in December 2023, Donald Tusk has been dismantling the pillars of Poland’s rule of law. While international media have focused on politically charged prosecutions of former officials, one aspect of this vicious campaign remains largely untold: it involves serious rights abuses, psychological torture, and intimidation directed at civil servants.

White smoke signalled history in the making: the Catholic Church has elected its first American pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, emerged from the conclave with a call for peace and dialogue. A veteran of Latin American ministry and Vatican leadership, he inherits a Church reshaped by Pope Francis—and still deeply divided.

As the second Trump administration passed its first 100 days in office, statements by US officials signalled that Washington might withdraw from peace talks in Ukraine due to the lack of tangible progress. But is President Trump truly turning his back on Kyiv and Moscow—and if not, what comes next?

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has published an audio recording—hyped as capable of toppling the government—featuring Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky discussing the army’s need to prepare for potential conflict. While the recording falls far short of expectations, it reveals much about Magyar himself and how detached from reality he appears to be.

India launched airstrikes into Pakistani territory on Wednesday night, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. Named ‘Operation Sindoor’, the strike is the most significant cross-border attack since the two nations last went to war—raising fears of a wider conflict in the region.

Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation has presented its annual Oeco-Index, an objective and comprehensive indicator of economic development. According to the index, Hungary ranks 18th in the European Union and 35th globally, outperforming countries such as China, Russia, and Italy.

‘Perhaps we will feel the Holy Spirit working in the Sistine Chapel,’ Cardinal Péter Erdő said in a video message posted on Facebook. The Archbishop of Esztergom and Budapest addressed believers as the College of Cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect the new pope.

The Bundestag has elected CDU leader Friedrich Merz as Chancellor of Germany in a second round of voting, following a historic failure to secure an absolute majority in the first round. Falling just six votes short, Merz became the first chancellor-designate in the country’s post-war history to require a second vote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that an overwhelming majority of Hungarians—around 70 per cent—support Kyiv’s EU bid, citing an ‘open survey’ conducted by the Hungarian opposition. While this claim is factually incorrect, Zelenskyy also issued a veiled threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, warning him not to block Ukraine’s accession or face consequences.

After the Canadian Conservatives faltered in last week’s federal election—amid a campaign dominated in its final months by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs—, Australia witnessed similar electoral dynamics, as the Liberal–National Coalition led by Peter Dutton lost to incumbent Anthony Albanese’s Labour Party in what had long seemed a certain win for the opposition.

George Simion, candidate of AUR, won the first round of Romania’s presidential election, finishing ahead of Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan. The two will face off in the second round on 18 May, as the country grapples with the most serious democratic crisis in its modern history following the constitutional court’s annulment of the previous presidential results last December on questionable grounds.

Viktor Orbán, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio were among those who criticized the decision by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency to officially designate Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as a ‘proven right-wing extremist’ party. The ruling grants the BfV expanded surveillance powers against what is currently the largest party in Germany.

‘It is vital for the future that American companies do not see Hungary as a mere independent market, but as a regional hub with 120 million consumers from Poland to Greece,’ Martin Zsarnóczky stressed in an interview with Hungarian Conservative. The President of the American–Hungarian Chamber of Commerce in New York explained that their goal is to support the presence of Hungarian and European firms in the US market.

‘President Trump’s confrontational approach to reshaping the global economic order has inadvertently revived support for elites, institutions, and incumbents—undermining populist conservatism around the world,’ noted Samuel Duncan, a senior Canadian conservative adviser, in an interview with Hungarian Conservative. Reflecting on the recent election results in Canada, Duncan emphasized that conservatives globally must recalibrate their strategies to respond effectively to these developments.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that National Security Adviser Michael Waltz will step down from his post to serve as the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. This marks the first major reshuffle of the administration, with Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff seen as a possible successor to Waltz.

In a speech marked by boastfulness and distortion, re-elected EPP President Manfred Weber, while repeatedly attacking Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, delivered a clear message to Hungary ahead of the 2026 elections: those who join the EPP are expected to strictly follow his political line, including military, financial, and political support for the war in Ukraine and Kyiv’s fast-tracked EU accession.

American conservative author Rod Dreher joined the Danube Institute’s new podcast, where he shared personal insights into his long-standing friendship with JD Vance and discussed the recently premiered documentary based on his 2020 book Live Not by Lies.

‘Illiberal democracy is more than a political model; it is a value proposition for the post-liberal era,’ political director to the Hungarian Prime Minister Balázs Orbán emphasized in a recent opinion piece published on Index. In the article, he argues that illiberal democracy offers a functioning alternative to what he describes as increasingly anti-democratic liberalism.

Leading the polls for more than a year until just one month before the election, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party ultimately lost Monday’s snap election in Canada. The Liberals, led by Mark Carney, will form a government for the fourth consecutive time after an election largely shaped by US President Donald Trump.

A recently passed law now requires Members of the European Parliament to submit asset declarations in Hungary, in addition to those already required in Brussels. The legislation aims to promote transparency—a mechanism that, as recent corruption scandals have shown, is in poor condition within the European Union.

Donald Trump has now been in office for 100 days—an important milestone in any presidency. As a close ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Hungary had high expectations of the Trump administration. But what has actually materialized? In this article, we take a closer look at the first 100 days of Trump’s second term through the lens of Hungary.

After Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, articles and social media posts about Donald Trump wearing a blue suit flooded the internet, accusing the US president of intentionally breaching protocol and disrespecting the late pope by not wearing black. The wave of outrage was triggered by Fortune, which deliberately misled the audience with a manipulated cover photo and a suspicious headline.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced another temporary ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, this time to mark Victory Day—the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. The truce will last for three days, from 8 May until midnight on 11 May.

Speaking at the Trump Business 2025 Forum, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization Donald Trump Jr praised Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for defending Western civilization and serving the country’s national interests. The eldest son of US President Donald Trump also hinted at possible future US investments and cooperation in key sectors.

The Sarajevo court could bring new charges against Republika Srpska officials following a failed arrest attempt by a federal agency on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Wednesday. Federal authorities attempted to detain the president in the eastern part of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina; however, Bosnian Serb police prevented the operation.

Director General of the Center for Fundamental Rights Miklós Szánthó announced the establishment of the Hungarian–Polish Institute of Freedom on Friday. The institute, led by politically persecuted former Polish Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Romanowski, will focus on drawing attention to and providing transparency on how Donald Tusk’s government is dismantling the rule of law and democracy in Poland.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Orbán had a special relationship with the late pope, having met him on several occasions, most recently last December during his second peace mission to help end the war in Ukraine.

Polish PM Donald Tusk has been caught spreading disinformation on X, misleadingly portraying a recent speech by Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán as evidence that he is contemplating Hungary’s exit from the European Union. In doing so, Tusk appeared to be attempting to discredit the right-wing opposition PiS party—which maintains close ties with Orbán—just weeks ahead of the presidential election in May.