‘Throughout the seminar, one of the central themes that dominated the discussions, panels, and the overall atmosphere was the dichotomy between optimism and pessimism in how we confront reality. As conservatives, we often lean toward pessimism, but this isn’t entirely accurate, as deep within, we possess a profound desire for hope.’

‘Before I left for America on this trip, I complained to a Magyar friend about how stubborn Hungarians are, and how they refuse to change their ways of doing things, even when there is a plainly better way. “You’re right, we are like that,” she said. “But consider that our hard-headed temperamental conservatism is also the thing that makes us willing to stand up to Brussels and tell them to go to hell.” Touché.’

Despite BRICS countries’ impressive recent expansion and acquired regional and international leverage both economically and politically, the US dollar’s position as the global reserve currency seems unshakable at present…Upon examining the situation globally, it can be observed that 90 per cent of all foreign exchange transactions in the world were conducted with the help of the US dollar.

‘As modern consumer society has made consumption the root of identity, man has become a prisoner of the constant renewal of consumer demands…Contrary to early capitalist societies, people have completely reduced themselves to the self-as-consumer. The short excitement that accompanies consumption is all that modern man has left.’

‘Artificial intelligence (AI) literacy will undoubtedly be of paramount importance in the future, so teaching it, rather than letting children find harmful, addictive or otherwise destructive content themselves online is going to be the biggest challenge of protecting our youth.’

‘The post–1989 period has not been free from debates and conflicts on how Hungary could and should assert its national interest while integrating into the Western order. The Left has been anxious about not integrating into and aligning with the “developed” West fast enough, while Conservatives have feared the loss of tradition, identity, and national consciousness in the melting pot of accelerating globalization.’

‘The Hungarian people, who cherish freedom, will do everything in their power to defend their sovereignty. Just as in 1956, when we were the first Eastern European country under communist dictatorship to stand up against Moscow, Hungary is now leading the fight for freedom against the oppression of Brussels.’

‘The U.S. has dramatically evolved since its founding, when tariffs were the only source of revenue for the federal government. Despite the higher costs falling on American consumers and the harms to U.S. employment and production, especially in the manufacturing sector, both the Trump campaign and the Biden–Harris administration have continued to defend the trade war tariffs.’

‘Scholz’s statement is the first ray of light piercing the fog of war that has shrouded Europe for the past two years. It could be downplayed, but Germany remains one of the EU’s most influential member states, and Berlin’s wright is undeniable, despite its current economic challenges. The experience of recent years shows that what Germany pushes for in the EU often becomes reality sooner or later.’

‘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.’

‘Donald Trump’s ‘‘peace through strength’’ strategy had given the impression that he was stronger than his opponent in foreign policy, especially since no new wars were initiated under his presidential term. Harris, on the other hand, has been desperately attempting to prove that she can offer the kind of muscular leadership expected by Americans from their commander in chief.’

‘Hungary gave Western Europe time to prepare itself economically and militarily for centuries of struggle with the Turks. It is true, however, that Hungary projected the false impression that it alone could hold back the Turkish advance, which proved to be a tragic mistake. One thing is certain: the European public had much to be grateful for to the Hungarian armies of the time for these victories.’

‘How many times has the US ambassador intervened in Hungary’s internal affairs through statements, social media posts, or other means? The figure is likely well over eleven. And how many times has the US President or Vice President labelled Hungary’s democratically elected prime minister a dictator? The answer is twice—which is two times more than it should ever be.’

‘In sum, the report reflects the political views and values of the EU elite and can be seen as a tool to turn a problem into a crisis—an ‘existential challenge’—to justify the extension of EU powers at the expense of national sovereignty and decision-making.’

‘When Hungarians see emissaries from the imperial city on the Potomac expressing “concerns” about Hungarian policies, they should know that the U.S. ruling class is also “concerned” about ordinary Americans who don’t shut up and obey Washington diktats. That is cold comfort, but at least we patriotic conservatives, both Hungarian and American, are in the struggle together.’

‘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).’

The events of 7 October will forever be etched in Israel’s history as a day of immense tragedy and resilience. That day was a moment when the nation confronted the depths of brutality, but also discovered a strength it never knew it needed. Amid the profound loss and an escalating fight for the right to exist free from terror and fear, one message reverberates louder than ever: Israel will endure, and its people will not be broken.

‘A new study finds that 80 per cent of immigrants in the labor force are more likely to become entrepreneurs. Immigrant entrepreneurs have tended to have a more profound impact on overall labor demand by starting companies that hire new workers, creating a positive ripple-effect on the economy. In fact, as reported by Forbes, an estimated 45 per cent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, among them America’s top companies.’

‘We all want to leave our children a world worth living in. There is no dispute about this among the members of European nations. Protecting the created and built world is not only our goal but also our duty. But to do so, we need sensible solutions. Firstly, we need to involve all stakeholders. The voices of those who bear the burden of the green transition must also be heard and listened to.’

‘I believe that the true ontological essence of conservatism is contained in the definition: conservatism is the making present of actuality. In this way, conservatism is bound both to the particularities of specific belonging cultures and to the wider belonging civilization…Conservatism as a political philosophy arises when the address of the aforementioned actuality is threatened.’

‘Disillusionment in the West with Ukraine’s performance and ability to win the war has been rising for over a year. While a lot was expected from last year’s Ukrainian counter offensive, it ended up recapturing less than half the land Russia took in 2023. This year’s balance is not much better. Albeit it is true that Ukraine made an extravagant capture of lands in Kursk, on its own sovereign lands it claimed few to no successes.’

‘Albeit few expected Mongolia to actually make the arrest, the case is nevertheless indeed a blow to the ICC’s credibility and generally to the Western institutional system. The unsurprising development of Putin walking away free exposes the fallacy of Western international institutions of having based their policies in the past couple of years on morality. The reality is that countries pursue their self-interest first and foremost, rather than doing “the morally right thing”.’

‘Ukraine is losing this war, indeed has likely lost it, and Washington is looking for a scapegoat for its colossal strategic failure. Viktor Orbán, who was right about this war from the beginning, is that scapegoat. If Harris wins in November, we can expect a narrative coming out of Washington saying that Ukraine and its allies would have prevailed if it had not been for Hungary stabbing Ukraine in the back.’

Péter Magyar of the Hungarian TISZA Party is trying to hand the Fidesz-KDNP coalition its first electoral defeat in twenty years while carrying unprecedented personal baggage with him. After his ex-wife, his recent ex-girlfriend has also come public with allegations of domestic abuse against him. This all comes following leaked footage showing him in a nightclub, dancing with girls much younger than him.

‘Hungary may well find, as Australia has, that trade and investment with China can create long-term vulnerabilities as well as immediate economic benefits. After Australia called for a transparent international enquiry into the origins of the Wuhan virus, the Beijing government imposed bogus safety bans on some $20 billion worth of our exports. Despite the Australian government’s attempts to “normalise” relations, there’s now routine harassment of Australian ships and planes exercising freedom of navigation in the areas Beijing wants to dominate.’

‘For those whose hearts beat on both sides of the Atlantic, the more productive consideration is what this election signifies for U.S.–Poland relations. Poland, like the United States, is bitterly divided between cosmopolitan urban areas and more conservative and religious exurbs and rural areas. After eight years of single-party Law & Justice rule, Polish conservatives are momentarily weak and banking heavily on a second Trump administration.’

‘We are at the start of a new era of stilted social relations, endless jobsworths protecting themselves from liability, grindingly rigid hiring rules, untold chilling effects, and general sclerosis in the arteries of capitalism. “The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state,” said Tacitus. To which I would add: the more numerous the lawyers, the more inured the people.’

‘To maintain social order, legitimate authority needs to be guarded so that popular sovereignty cannot derail in a popularity contest, which we witness today, for example in the American elections. It means that our leaders need to be honest about the human condition as well as provide a stability in which each person, in line with their talents and destiny, can thrive.‘

‘Since the start of the war, 8 million Ukrainians have fled their country; another 3 million have emigrated to Russia. Aside the mass defections, because of Ukraine’s birth rate collapse to the lowest recorded level, Zelenskyy has been unwilling to mobilize men aged between 18 and 25—typically the bulk of any fighting force. The fear is that, since most of these men are childless, should such die or become incapacitated, future demographic prospects would dim further.’

Hungarian national team captain Dominik Szoboszlai scored for Liverpool during their 3–1 win over AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League. On the same day Bayern Munich’s game ended in a rare 11-goal scoreline against Dinamo Zagreb, with the German side battering the Croats 9–2. But it seems that the fan fervour is just not the same as if this all had happened last year. There is a clear reason for that: the drastic UCL format change went into effect at the start of this season.