Orbán Hosts AfD’s Alice Weidel in Historic Meeting Amid Progressive Outcry
Viktor Orbán hosted Alice Weidel, co-chair of the German right-wing party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), in Budapest on Tuesday, becoming the first sitting prime minister to officially receive one of the party’s leaders. While the two addressed key challenges facing Europe, progressives—both online and in person—protested the meeting, labelling Orbán and Weidel as fascists.
USAID-Funded Transparency Ranks Hungary ‘Most Corrupt’ in EU — Are We Surprised?
Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index has once again ranked Hungary as the most corrupt member state of the EU, placing it alongside Burkina Faso and Cuba for the third consecutive year. However, this time, we exactly know the reason why. Our commentary.
‘I got so much from this country: a career, a family, a new life’ — A Conversation with Adam LeBor
‘I picked a character—for example, Klára Andrássy or my late father-in-law, Róbert Ligeti—and just wrote out their story. Then, I had the key dates. Then, I wrote out the next one. And then I did it date by date: what was happening in spring 1941? What happened in 1942? Therefore, some chapters cover a shorter time—in 1942 and 1943—and the main story is about diplomacy in trying to change sides. But in 1944, after the Germans invaded, there were many, many stories going on and many characters,’ Adam LeBor told Hungarian Conservative.
4 April and the Hungarian Traumas of Imperialism
‘4 April was a day of paying fealty to the “Heroic Army of the Soviets” and celebrating the military force upholding the Iron Curtain. Celebrating the same army that plundered its way through our homeland, and the system that was born from it, be it already watered down by the 70s and 80s: it was a holiday that never quite fit into the organic Hungarian tradition.’
Trump Pushes France to ‘Free Le Pen’ – And Why He’s (Mostly) Right
US President Donald Trump has joined the chorus of right-wing leaders around the world in condemning the conviction of French opposition figure Marine Le Pen and calling for a fair trial. What makes the case appear even more politically compromised is the role of Richard Ferrand, President of the French Constitutional Council and a close ally of Emmanuel Macron—who himself has faced legal proceedings related to corruption in the past.
The Failure of Collective Security
‘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.’
Orbán Confirms Hungary’s ICC Exit, Eyes Sovereignty and Reform
Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confirmed in a radio interview. He criticized the ICC as a political tool and outlined Hungary’s 2025 agenda, touching on economic reforms, drug policy, and foreign relations.
Ceasefire Hopes in Ukraine and Le Pen’s Conviction: A Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
A general ceasefire in Ukraine may be possible this year, experts suggest, though peace remains distant. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen faces a prison sentence and a five-year election ban, potentially reshaping the future of France’s National Rally party.
Changing Migration Policies in EU Member States
‘The proposals of some governments and the thinking behind them may raise questions about the future of the new asylum and migration pact, which is due to enter into force in 2026 and includes the idea of binding quotas. Nevertheless, practice shows that Member States want to see fewer and fewer migrants on their territory.’
Hungary’s Time to Shine — First-Ever EU–Central Asia Summit Kicks Off
The first-ever EU–Central Asia summit has just kicked off as Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa arrived in Uzbekistan. Brussels is now trying to assert its influence over the region, which is widely seen as one of the future economic and trade powerhouses. However, most EU member states lack the deep connections and relationships with the Central Asian republic, except for one: Hungary.
