With the CDU–SPD coalition agreement presented on Wednesday, it has become clear that the new government, under the leadership of Friedrich Merz, will prioritize Ukraine’s interests over those of Germany and its people. Having failed to deliver on his own campaign promises, Merz is already paying the price for his political betrayal: Alice Weidel’s AfD has overtaken the CDU, becoming the largest party in Germany by a margin of one percentage point.
‘President Donald Trump, on his self-proclaimed “liberation day”, imposed sweeping tariffs of at least 10 per cent on almost every product that enters the U.S. from almost every country…with the aim of keeping jobs within the American homeland. What the president has done is reverting to the American “protectionism” of the 19th century, which economists call the Hamiltonian Statecraft.’
‘How does Hungary manage to stay on good terms with both Washington and Beijing, despite their growing rivalry?…Many observers explain this dual alignment as mere pragmatism—ideological kinship with the American right, economic opportunism with China. But that tells only part of the story.’
‘Russia occupies a unique…position in Huntington’s system of civilizations and in a broader sense in global geopolitics as well: it is simultaneously Western and non-Western, European yet distinct from Europe. This duality is not merely a philosophical or cultural curiosity but is…seemingly used as a strategic tool that some Russian regimes actively exploit in their international positioning.’
‘If we look at the crises that have damaged the EU in recent years, and evaluate them through the lens of the EU’s real interests, it becomes increasingly clear that Viktor Orbán is not the EU’s greatest threat—but its most pro-EU leader. In fact, he might be the only one.’
‘The UN, unlike the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is a collective security system; the latter is an alliance, which deals with a specific and specified threat and has military forces to address these threats. The UN is juridically neutral, and it is coerced to wait for a threat to emerge before it can consider action.’
‘It’s high time we tell our stories: paint them, etch them, carve them, and turn them into stained glass. The Palace of Culture in Marosvásárhely is a signal of triumph—a beautiful window into the culture of Transylvania and of Hungary. We need a shot of that cultural self-awareness and self-confidence on our side of the pond. We need some stained-glass ballads of our own…’
‘To suggest swapping Hungary for Ukraine simply because the Hungarian government does not fall in line on critical issues and instead maintains a consistent, principled position is not only impossible but reckless. It would trigger a series of developments that could ultimately lead to the EU’s collapse—a risk that already looms large.’
‘Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation…34 years ago, on this day, was the death of a Catholic churchman who not only helped build Christendom in the then French-speaking part of Africa, but who was also an apostle against modernism and a champion for traditional Catholicism, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.’
‘Likud joining forces with PfE shook the liberal establishment. This can be measured by the intensity of their rhetoric. Patriots ought to look out for such signals from mainstream media: wherever they try to undermine you, it means you have done something right. This is the signal to close ranks and pursue whichever course of action caused this reaction in the first place.’
Is the EU capable of defending itself against the Russian threat? Why is the US turning away from Europe? Is there fear in an atheist’s heart of meeting Jesus after death? How well-founded are our strongly held beliefs? We asked the American philosopher in Budapest.
‘The defence of democracy, human rights, and sovereignty cannot be contingent on political expediency or the geopolitical convenience of targeting smaller or less powerful states. A genuinely united Europe must demonstrate a consistent and impartial commitment to its principles, respecting the agency of all member states.’
‘One of the main consequences of falling birth rates is labour shortages, which hamper economic growth and the sustainability of pension systems. In a paradoxical twist, regional inequality is deepened by the depopulation of rural areas, while in urban areas, the increase of real estate prices still hinders young people from starting new families. Digitalization…could be a solution to these problems.’
‘Western media is…in a frenzy about an impending electoral upset in Hungary. Péter Magyar is being touted by some as “the biggest threat Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has faced in 15 years”. Much of this assessment is based on polling for the upcoming 2026 election…Yet when we look at the polling closely, we see that there are major discrepancies which lead one to seriously question its accuracy.’
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has reignited debates over historical authenticity, representation, and creative liberty in gaming. The controversy stems from its inclusion of a Black samurai protagonist, inspired by the 16th-century figure Yasuke. While some praise this as an overdue exploration of marginalized history, others argue it distorts Japan’s feudal past to fit modern diversity narratives.
As the Trump administration reshapes transatlantic relations, Hungary has a unique opportunity to position itself as a key player in the new order.
‘There is a historic chance for US–Hungary relations to peak, and it depends in no small part on the two leading players. Even though Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, in the last two decades, American Democratic administrations have been explicitly hostile towards it…With the US president behind him, Orbán could be much more effective in strengthening his conservative agenda in Brussels, which until now has been an uphill struggle.’
‘The final assessment in terms of the policy of appeasement would be that at the diplomatic and political level, the allies did indeed achieve their goals of buying time, mobilizing, as well as isolating Germany in the first months of the war from either Japan or Italy. They made Germany dependent on Soviet resources to sustain short-term operations, and pushed its economy on the brink of collapse.’
‘Hungary’s unique historical background and geographic location make it a harbinger of fresh geopolitical guidelines, political standards and new norms. The country’s pragmatism in international relationships and capacity to preserve its strategic autonomy while still engaging with world bodies provide important inspiration for countries negotiating the challenges of modern global politics.’
‘Like a great athlete, Jeff had the rarest of skills: an ability not to react to a pace set by others, but to set the pace to which everyone else must react. In conversation, this was especially evident. It was the hallmark of a great teacher, or mentor. In another life, where he did not dedicate himself to the study of radical movements, he had the presence of one who might have started one.’
‘According to von der Leyen: “The question is no longer whether Europe’s security is threatened in a very real way. Or whether Europe should shoulder more of the responsibility for its own security,” but rather: “Is Europe prepared to act as decisively as the situation dictates? And is Europe ready and able to act with the speed and ambition that is needed?”’
‘Peace in the region hinges on mutual respect for all sides—including the Serbs and Croats, who seek only to protect their security and self-determination. Brussels must cease pitting one ethnic group against the others, honour existing agreements, and call for an end to repression and a turn toward dialogue. Only through this path can Bosnia and Herzegovina secure a peaceful future…’
‘Strauss points away from the modern project of progressive enlightenment and toward an individual ascent out of modernity. Neither of the two premodern ways of life, biblical or philosophic, partakes of the modern hope in social progress, nor in the late modern historicism that would confine all thought to its time and place and obscure eternity. The fruitful antagonism of the two pre-modern ways of life stands in sharp contrast to the failed modern synthesis.’
After Kyiv expressed readiness for an immediate ceasefire following US–Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, EU leaders issued statements suggesting—or even claiming—that they had always been working toward peace. However, as the lone voice advocating for peace within the EU for a long time, Hungary knows precisely that Brussels has done quite the opposite over the past three years. Our commentary.
‘It’s a direct blow to the heart of world democracy! I have only one message: if democracy in Romania falls, the whole democratic world will fall! This is just the beginning—it’s that simple! Europe is now a dictatorship! Romania is under tyranny!’ leader of AUR George Simion told our site.
‘Christians are believed to have constituted about 30 per cent of the Syrian population in the 1920s. Before the Syrian civil war, they made up about 10 per cent of Syria’s people, a figure now diminished to about 2.5 per cent, falling from 1.5 million in 2012 to about 300,000 in 2022. Most Christians left for Lebanon, Europe and North America, escaping the war and Syria’s economic straits.’
‘President Donald Trump carried out his promise to impose 25 per cent tariffs with no clear rationale on America’s two biggest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. They were first due to take effect last month but then both countries were offered a last-minute reprieve.’
‘While the current US administration has acknowledged that Ukraine is neither militarily nor economically capable of overpowering Russia in a prolonged conflict, Berlin still regards Western involvement in Ukraine as a success. From the outset, however, Western analysis significantly underestimated Russia’s capacity for resilience.’
‘Now, that the new US administration is very clearly pursuing a different policy on Ukraine compared to its predecessor’s, Europe’s attitude should adapt too. The fact that European leaders’ messages after Friday do not signal any change in the EU’s policy demonstrates that Europe is unable or unwilling to realize that…the only way forward is to end the war on the Eastern front as soon as possible.’
‘As Francis’s tenure nears its close, we stand at a crossroads—what lies ahead? I pray for his renewed health, while recognizing the time has come—for Catholics, Christians of other traditions, non-believers, indeed all who cherish our shared Western civilization—to ponder and pray for the next pontiff. For the Church and the world now face trials that demand a steady hand to guide this succession’s course.’