A panel on post-liberalism at MCC Feszt 2025 featuring Patrick Deneen, Gladden Pappin, and Chad Pecknold has drawn sharp criticism from liberal thinkers on X, who condemned the speakers’ praise for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his model of illiberal democracy.
‘Borders must be protected, peace must be established, and the US and Hungary are strong allies in this,’ Director General for the Budapest-based conservative think tank Center for Fundamental Rights Miklós Szánthó has also told the audience in his speech at the annual Young Republicans National Convention (YRNC) in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mercedes will establish Hungary’s largest car factory in Kecskemét, with production of next-generation models starting early next year. The investment secures Hungary a strategic position in Europe’s automotive and battery manufacturing scene.
How has the international community turned against Israel? Did Israel commit crimes against the civilian population in Gaza? What is the importance of Hungary’s friendship with Israel? We asked Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs about Israel’s changing international reputation at the MCC Feszt, organized by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC).
Sydney Sweeney has found herself at the centre of a woke outrage after critics accused her American Eagle advert of racism and sexism. Dutch right-wing political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek defended Sweeney, arguing that the backlash reflects a deeper cultural hostility toward white women—something she knows from personal experience.
Lando Norris claimed victory at the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix with a daring one-stop strategy, despite early doubts. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Mercedes driver George Russell completed the podium on a race day full of surprises.
At the closing day of the fifth MCC Feszt, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned of a new migratory threat while criticizing the EU’s war footing and leadership failings. From youth engagement to digital strategy, Orbán outlined Hungary’s key challenges ahead of the 2026 election—while calling for national resilience.
At MCC Feszt 2025 in Hungary, climate change sceptic Michael Shellenberger argued that fears over climate change are exaggerated, citing falling emissions and positive environmental trends. He and fellow panellists Leonardo Orlando and Liliana Smiech have criticized modern environmentalism as a pseudo-religion driven by fear and elite self-interest.
The UK’s two-party system is crumbling, argued panellists at MCC Feszt 2025, where Dominic Cummings declared that the Conservatives are ‘finished’. Joined by Mick Hume and Jacob Reynolds, he explored how Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, might upend the old order and take control of the state from entrenched bureaucracies.
At MCC Feszt 2025 in Esztergom, panellists Patrick Deneen, Chad Pecknold, Gladden Pappin, and István Kiss discussed whether we are living in a post-liberal age. They argued that liberalism is collapsing under its own contradictions, while Hungary’s national policy offers a compelling alternative grounded in tradition, family, and sovereignty.
‘Critics of the deal highlighted that—although some ridiculed the UK in May for agreeing to 10 per cent tariffs with Washington—the post-Brexit United Kingdom managed to strike a more favourable deal with the US administration than the economically more powerful 27-member European Union.’
In a radio interview, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized EU leadership over a failed trade deal with the US and introduced major housing and family support measures aimed at protecting Hungary’s middle class and boosting the economy.
New Mercedes Citaro diesel buses began operating in Budapest on Thursday as part of a broader transport upgrade. More than 300 modern vehicles will be added by 2027, with electric buses also set to arrive in the coming years.
Ferencváros beat the Armenian champions FC Noah 4–3 at home, thus 6–4 on aggregate, and have advanced to the third round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where they will face the Bulgarian side Ludogorets. Paks and ETO FC Győr have also made it through in their respective ties in the UEFA Conference League; however, Puskás Akadémia have been eliminated.
Hungary’s gross domestic product has grown by 0.2 per cent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, which translates to a 0.4-per-cent growth quarter-to-quarter, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) has reported.
During the opening panel of MCC Feszt 2025 on Thursday, Balázs Orbán declared that the European Commission had betrayed European citizens by accepting the humiliating terms of the US–EU trade deal and that Ursula von der Leyen should resign. Joined by Patrick Deneen and James Orr, the panellists explored the prospects of a world beyond liberalism.
Hungary has assumed command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission for the fourth time, deploying four Gripen fighter jets to safeguard the skies over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, reaffirming its role as a committed and reliable NATO ally.
Hungary’s government finalized the terms of its 3 per cent home loan programme, expanding eligibility and introducing new support for public servants, while also criticizing an EU–US trade deal and reaffirming its stance on national sovereignty.
Hungary’s top mobile providers increased EU roaming data limits and revamped subscription packages in early 2025, while agreeing not to raise prices in line with inflation, thanks to a government-backed deal, according to NMHH’s latest report.
This weekend marks the 40th Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix at a revamped Hungaroring. With McLaren dominating the season, Budapest is bracing for a high-stakes race that blends history, modern upgrades, and the sport’s fiercest rivalries.
Hungary will begin preparatory work to introduce American small modular nuclear technology into the country, FM Péter Szijjártó announced on Wednesday. Through a partnership between Poland’s Synthos Green Energy and Hungary’s Hunatom, the project will utilize GE Vernova’s BWRX-300 reactors to deliver reliable, emission-free power as industrial demand and household energy needs continue to grow.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has recently made an appearance on the Polish TV channel wPolsce24, where he talked about the adversarial relationship between him and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, the election victory of President Karol Nawrocki earlier this year, and a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
‘Signs suggest that Brussels is seeking to replicate the “Tusk model” in Hungary by installing a puppet government which serves its own agenda. The aim of the EU leadership is clear: to override the democratic will of the Hungarian people and eliminate our sovereigntist government. If they succeed, Hungary would likely not be the last—one by one, other Member States would surely follow.’
International and energy attorney Máté Tóth has criticized the new US–EU trade deal, calling it a ‘stunning defeat’ for Europe on Hír TV’s morning programme. He highlighted unequal tariffs—15 per cent on EU goods vs 0 per cent on US exports—and questioned Brussels’ $750B energy investment, warning that the EU is overcommitting financially and politically.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised Hungary for setting a global example with the renovation of the Hungaroring, calling the government’s investment and commitment a model for others during an exclusive interview ahead of the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix.
In April, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest amid international controversy over an ICC arrest warrant. Hungary, rejecting the court’s legitimacy, announced its withdrawal from the ICC, later formalized in May. The ICC has since launched non-compliance proceedings, while Hungary claims the court is politically biased and vows not to cooperate.
Hungarian police have dismantled a Budapest-based drug trafficking ring, arresting five suspects, including a teen who recently turned 18. Over 100 officers took part in the 21 July raid across multiple locations, seizing drugs, cash, and weapons.
Train services at Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station will be suspended from 25 August to 20 September for a major renovation project. The month-long closure will involve rerouted services, replacement buses, and extended travel times.
Péter Szijjártó didn’t mince words in criticizing Ursula von der Leyen, calling her a diplomatic embarrassment and slamming the US–EU trade deal as a humiliating defeat for Europe. Speaking on the Warriors’ Hour podcast, he said the EU would now pay the price for eight years of insulting Trump.
The euro plunged to $1.1565 on 29 July, down 1.6 per cent since the US–EU trade deal was announced—despite Ursula von der Leyen calling it a ‘huge deal’. Markets, however, delivered their verdict: the agreement heavily favours Washington, leaving Europe with rising energy dependence and economic uncertainty.