An election night in Budapest: Hungarian conservatives gathered in anticipation of a Trump victory at an event hosted by MCC and the Center for Fundamental Rights on 5 November. There were serious panel discussions with experts, but also plenty of fun, chatting, drinks and food, with attendees keeping their fingers crossed for the candidate on the right side of history.
Weerts Logistics Park has inaugurated a nearly 40,000 square metre, eco-friendly production facility in Vecsés for Canadian automotive parts supplier Magna International. The over 57-million-euro project utilizes cutting-edge sustainable technologies, including energy-efficient systems and rainwater recycling, ensuring green energy support throughout its operations.
According to Real-PR 93’s latest survey, if parliamentary elections were held this Sunday, Fidesz–KDNP would secure 44 per cent among decided voters, while the Tisza Party would reach 35 per cent. Mi Hazánk and the Democratic Coalition would also pass the parliamentary threshold, with 7 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.
The European Commission’s aviation safety agency EASA’s conference was hosted in Budapest, Hungary under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The emphasis was placed on the essential impact of human factors in ensuring safe operations at the event; as well as the aviation industry’s long-term challenges, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Democrat Mayor Matt Tuerk of Allentown, Pennsylvania tried to remove road closures in the city on the morning of the Trump rally despite them being announced as approved by the city the day before. The video of a Trump campaign staffer berating the Mayor went viral on social media. Eventually, the local police sided with the Trump campaign, and the event went down swimmingly.
In an unusual oversight, Hungary was left off the map in a geography textbook designed for fourth-grade students in Italy. Discovered by gyerekszoba.hu, the Noi Supereroi 2030 textbook instead shows Romania sharing borders with Austria and Slovenia—a puzzling omission still awaiting publisher response.
Moody’s Ratings has reaffirmed the European Union’s top ‘Aaa’ credit rating with a stable outlook, underscoring the resilient support provided by highly rated member states. Despite challenges like the recent downgrade of France’s outlook, the EU rating is expected to remain strong, maintaining access to competitive financing.
According to the OIDAC’s 2022/2023 report, there was a 44 per cent increase in crimes against Christians in those two years. In 2022, OIDAC documented as many as 749 anti-Christian hate crimes. The report points out that there is a reasonable probability that the actual numbers are higher, due to limited reporting as a result of the crimes’ chilling effect on victims, and the lack of media coverage. OIDAC found that Christian converts of Muslim origin are particularly vulnerable to violence.
The city, county, and military leadership got together in Székesfehérvár, Hungary to pay their respects to the fallen men and women of the Hungarian Defence Forces on All Saints’ Day, 1 November. Multiple wreath-laying ceremonies took place in different locations across the city on this solemn day.
Chief Operating Officer for the Hungarian oil company MOL György Bacsa recently spoke to the Financial Times about Western powers trying to pressure Hungary into giving up Russian oil imports, while they themselves continue to buy refined oil from Türkiye and India, countries that are still refining Russian crude oil, essentially ‘laundering’ the energy import.
The atmosphere surrounding Viktor Orbán’s visit to Georgia remains charged, with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson accusing the Hungarian Prime Minister of being pro-Russian. In response to this statement, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has summoned Sweden’s ambassador in Budapest.
The Budapest General Assembly has approved a comprehensive proposal package aimed at improving housing affordability, expanding the city’s affordable rental market, and optimizing existing real estate. The initiative seeks active involvement from both the central government and the EU’s structural funding.
MEPs of the newly founded right-wing populist Patriots for Europe political group in the European Parliament were invited to President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated rally at Madison Square Garden in new York City, New York. The Patriots in attendance shared a video on their X page, talking about their experience at the grandiose event.
While the European People’s Party, led by Manfred Weber and Ursula von der Leyen, is conducting an unprecedented smear campaign against Hungary—centred around allegations of corruption—the number of corruption cases linked to the political group continues to grow. Most recently, Weber’s chief of staff has been placed under investigation by Belgian and EU authorities.
The new legislation that bans UNRWA from Israel follows extensive debates within the country. Members of the Knesset in favour of the ban have pointed out a disconnect between UNRWA’s mission and the agency’s actual impact. Israeli officials have described UNRWA’s operations in Gaza as ‘rotten’, underscoring doubts about the agency’s ability to provide impartial and effective services while the agency has long become corrupt, involved in the spread of radical ideas and terrorism.
In a drive to support families amid challenging global conditions, the Hungarian government plans to double the family tax allowance in two stages, maintain tax exemptions for families with four children, mothers under 30, and individuals under 25, and extend the reduced 5 per cent VAT rate on residential property sales until 2026, the Ministry of Finance announced. Beside leaving more money in the pockets of families, the new tax amendments also aim to curb the grey economy and reduce administrative burdens.
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Monday. The two leaders praised the improving relations between their countries in recent years, which encompass not only infrastructure and energy projects but also people-to-people exchanges.
For the first time since early August, President Donald Trump is leading the national polling aggregate by RealClearPolitics over Vice President Kamala Harris. His current lead is just 0.2 points. However, he was underestimated by pollsters in the popular vote in both cycles he ran, in 2016 and 2020 as well.
In September, Hungary’s tourism sector saw continued growth, with nearly 1.5 million guests spending 3.6 million nights across the country, a rise from the previous year. Driven by a 5.8 per cent increase in international visitors, tourism revenue surged by 20 per cent, bolstering both Budapest and rural regions, according to official data.
The Hungarian government has launched a national consultation under the title Hungary Can Do It, inviting citizens to voice their opinions on a new economic policy aimed at strengthening Hungary’s economy, boosting wages, supporting small businesses, and improving housing affordability.
The Asia-Oceania Working Group (COASI) had an informal meeting in Budapest, Hungary earlier this month, hosted by the Hungarian EU Presidency. At the event, experts discussed such pressing issues as the current political and economic trade collaboration between the European Union and the countries in the Asia-Pacific area, the Indian general election in June of this year, and more.
S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Hungary’s investment-grade rating at ‘BBB minus/A-3’ for both foreign and local currency debt, with a stable outlook. The agency’s assessment highlights Hungary’s economic resilience, forecasting steady GDP growth, ongoing disinflation, and medium-term fiscal consolidation.
The latest Századvég poll indicates that Fidesz–KDNP maintains a strong lead in Hungarian party rankings, with 40 per cent support among politically active voters. Tisza follows with 31 per cent, while the Our Homeland Movement and the joke party Two Tailed Dog hold 6 per cent each. Meanwhile, left-wing parties remain below the entry threshold for parliament.
The UK government has confirmed that from June 2025 single-use vapes will be banned in England and Wales. The legislation aims to target environmental waste and counteract the products’ growing appeal among youth.
Tamás Deutsch, the leader of Fidesz’s European Parliament delegation, has accused the MEPs of the largest Hungarian opposition party TISZA of backing the EU’s migrant quotas and opposing the payment of the €1 billion Hungary had requested from Brussels as reimbursements for protecting the Union’s external borders.
While the prospect of North Korean soldiers arriving at the front lines is alarming, there are already many foreign mercenaries fighting on the Russian side in Ukraine. Moscow has trained mercenaries near Aleppo, with at least 100 Syrians believed to have joined the Russian army. A couple of months ago, the government of Nepal has demanded the Kremlin stop recruiting Nepalese into its military. Since the Crocus City Hall terror attack in Moscow, the Kremlin has also been recruiting Central Asian migrants, presenting them with the option of either serving in Ukraine or being deported back to their countries.
Newly elected Budapest District XII Mayor Gergely Kovács has vowed to remove the local Turul monument, which is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of World War II, due to its connection to fascism. However, Minister of Construction and Transportation János Lázár prevented him from doing so by placing the statue under historic monument protection.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán highlighted new government measures and plans regarding Hungary’s upcoming EU presidency, the Europe Summit, and recent Brussels policy interventions. He also addressed issues such as economic policy shifts and a national consultation on migration, speaking on public Kossuth Radio.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with his Montenegrin counterpart, Milojko Spajić, in Budapest, discussing shared goals in EU enlargement and enhancing bilateral trade. Orbán reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to supporting Montenegro’s EU accession, while both leaders welcomed deeper economic ties, particularly in investment.
Budapest continues to dominate the list this year, with only one school outside the capital—Lovassy László Gymnasium in Veszprém—breaking into the top ten at tenth place, consistent with previous years. Schools excelling in foreign language instruction, especially bilingual institutions, tend to hold an advantage in the rankings, though other criteria like exam performance remain key.