Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced a historic wage agreement on Monday. Under this deal, Hungary’s minimum wage will see a cumulative increase of approximately 40 per cent over the next three years.
The second Budapest Ballet Grand Prix concluded with a dazzling gala at Müpa, celebrating winners from 31 countries. The event showcased Hungary’s rich dance heritage while fostering international talent and artistic collaboration.
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Hungarian-born Sebastian Gorka as director general for counter-terrorism in his new administration. Gorka, who previously served in Trump’s first administration, is a staunch supporter of Israel and takes a hardline stance against radical Islamic terrorist groups.
Hungary’s largest energy storage facility is being built in Szolnok, marking a significant step towards energy independence and sustainability. The project is part of broader efforts to expand energy storage capacity, crucial for balancing solar power’s weather-dependent output.
President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) Hunor Kelemen expressed gratitude for increased voter support in the first round of Romania’s presidential elections, highlighting the importance of mobilization ahead of the parliamentary elections on 1 December.
‘It’s very interesting to see to what extent we can acknowledge the fact that diaspora life automatically implies linguistic and cultural assimilation. There’s a growing geographical dispersion; mobility is very characteristic in North America…In 2018 we finally started to talk…about how we see the community, what our strengths and weaknesses are, what we can learn and what challenges we face.’
‘The President made a powerful comment on Ukraine: “Ukraine is fighting for our freedom every day—and we must work for its freedom too.” In light of this, she resolved that our top priority will continue to be “rallying partners to support with short-term needs and long-term reconstruction efforts”.’
‘The Third Budapest School strives to debate the one-sided, analytical, progressive, nihilistic aspirations that dominate American intellectual life, and to cultivate initiatives based on classical European philosophy. It does this by stimulating the formulation of important questions: in contrast to the activist Leninist “What is to be done?”, the Third Budapest School holds that the preeminent question is: “What is to be asked?” This means that the most important measure of all intellectual activity is reality. ’
‘Was Bannon alluding to decimation, whereby as punishment for cowardice or insubordination in the army, one soldier out of ten was picked to be executed, sometimes by their own brothers-in-arms? Would Steve march into the MSNBC newsroom with a dozen lictors? Would he have ten journos draw straws and make sure that Chris Haynes be one of them and that he get to draw the short one?’
‘Aside from a rare or every-now-and-then post, hardly anyone in the mainstream media—this goes for our politicians too—speaks to us about the Christian genocide in Nigeria at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. While Western politicians and certain of our own Catholic hierarchy are reticent, to say the least, to publicly speak about this—such silence is not only scandalous but inadvertently contributes to the persecution—our Catholic brothers and sisters are being slaughtered.’
In a ruling delivered on 12 November 2024, the ECHR condemned Denmark for deporting an Iraqi drug trafficker. The European judges established new principles in this case that could set a precedent and further limit States’ rights to deport foreign criminals. The ruling also undermines UN conventions on drug control.
At the World Science Forum in Budapest former President of the Republic János Áder highlighted a groundbreaking Hungarian methodology designed to replace GDP as the primary measure of economic performance. The new approach accounts for the environmental and social costs of economic activity, thus offers a transformative vision for evaluating progress.
With Austria’s veto lifted, Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of the Schengen area by 2025. The agreement was reached in Budapest under the auspices of the Hungarian EU Presidency, marking yet another success for the often-criticized presidency in recent weeks.
It’s official! As expected, US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman has announced his departure following Donald Trump’s victory. Pressman’s tenure will be remembered for his persistent criticism of the Hungarian government, and his exit may signal the start of a new chapter in Hungarian–American relations.
In a wide-ranging interview with Kossuth Radio, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed critical global and domestic challenges, from the Ukraine war and impending changes in US leadership to the ICC warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu, Hungary’s stance on peace, migration, and a realigned economic strategy.
Budapest faces a worsening drug crisis, with drugs cheaper and more accessible than ever, warns Alexandra Szentkirályi, leader of the Fidesz–KDNP faction in the capital city’s municipal assembly warned in a video posted on social media. She expressed harsh criticism of the city’s drug strategy, describing it as ‘pro-drug’ and covert drug liberalization, urging an immediate overhaul.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri on charges of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned the decision, stating that Netanyahu will not be arrested if he visits Hungary.
‘Europe must break out of this echo chamber, find its place in its relationship with Asia, and recognize that it is part of the Eurasian region. It must leverage all the advantages this position offers, because without doing so, we cannot compete with other global power centres,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned at the Eurasia Forum in Budapest.
‘It’s nice that a relatively small Central European country like Hungary could be in some ways a sort of laboratory for these kind of family policy experiments so that we could identify which policies had the most significant impact and which ones fell short of delivering the expected results,’ Heritage Foundation Senior Research Fellow Jay W Richards highlighted in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.
A newly published book unveils the rich history of Budapest’s iconic Várkert Bazaar. Chronicling its construction, transformation, and restoration, the book celebrates a landmark that has become a vibrant cultural and diplomatic centre. While you may not be able to read the book as for now it is only available in Hungarian, remember: if you happen to be in Budapest during the winter holidays, the Várkert Bazar is a must see!
‘The fact that the Ukrainians are both stretched out and exhausted, foreseeing their eventual defeat on the battlefield to the Russians, the use of ATACMS will extend the war into next year, at least until when Donald Trump takes over the reins in Washington. The new president would thus be historically blamed for losing Ukraine to our old Soviet adversary.’
The National Media and Infocommunications Authority’s Internet Hotline has made combating online abuse a priority with its autumn campaign, focusing on intimate image exploitation, grooming, and cyberbullying. This year’s campaign, supported by influencers like Pamkutya and the Mélylevegő Project, effectively reached younger audiences via social media and video-sharing platforms.
As Christmas approaches, experts warn of heightened cybercriminal activity and increasing online fraud. Representatives from financial, law enforcement, and victim support organizations highlighted the growing risks and prevention strategies at a conference in Budapest.
‘Trump 2.0 is a huge opportunity. Of course there are risks. Of course there will be things the administration does which I will disagree with. But the big picture is what matters. His victory is a victory for conservative forces across the world, a victory for foreign policy realism and for getting our means in line with resources.’
The Court of Justice of the European Union began its hearing on Hungary’s child protection law this week. Hungary faces opposition from 16 EU member states and the European Commission, which have labelled the law as ‘anti-LGBTQ’. A ruling against Budapest could carry significant and unforeseen implications for the future of the European Union.
‘I arrived in Hungary in September 2011…In the meantime, I visited Eger, Lake Balaton, Szekszárd, and Tokaj. It was then that I visited the Disznókő (Pigstone) vineyard in the Tokaj wine region for the first time, not suspecting of course that I would one day work with them. Anyway, I liked the wines and the Tokaj cellars…Today, one of my favourite styles of wine is Tokaji Aszú.’
Balázs Orbán, the political director to the Hungarian prime minister, has penned a detailed opinion piece on the achievements of the Hungarian EU presidency thus far. And there have been plenty: the successful hosting of two Budapest summits, the adoption of the Budapest Declaration, and the expansion of the pro-peace camp—all of which Hungary has influenced directly or indirectly.
Katalin Moldovai’s first feature film, Without Air, garnered both the Youth Jury Award and the prestigious Golden Debut prize at the 3Kino Festival in Prague, a showcase for the latest films from the Visegrád countries.
‘The EU can draw inspiration from global leaders like the United States and China. Both nations are integrating economic growth with environmental sustainability—whether through the American Inflation Reduction Act or the latest iteration of China’s Five-Year Plan. These strategies emphasize harmony between development and sustainability. The EU should adopt a similar approach.’
The World Science Forum (WSF) 2024 begins today in Budapest, focusing on the intersection of science and policy amidst global transformations. Hosting nearly 500 scientists and policymakers from over 100 countries, the event features discussions, awards, and exhibitions.