At MCC Feszt 2025 in Esztergom, panellists Patrick Deneen, Chad Pecknold, Gladden Pappin, and István Kiss discussed whether we are living in a post-liberal age. They argued that liberalism is collapsing under its own contradictions, while Hungary’s national policy offers a compelling alternative grounded in tradition, family, and sovereignty.
‘…just recently, during the EU–China summit hosted by Xi, not only was there no Chinese delegation to welcome European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other top EU leaders, but the Chinese autocrat also made them take a bus to reach the summit venue. This does not look like a man who is on his way out.’
Hungary’s gross domestic product has grown by 0.2 per cent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, which translates to a 0.4-per-cent growth quarter-to-quarter, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) has reported.
During the opening panel of MCC Feszt 2025 on Thursday, Balázs Orbán declared that the European Commission had betrayed European citizens by accepting the humiliating terms of the US–EU trade deal and that Ursula von der Leyen should resign. Joined by Patrick Deneen and James Orr, the panellists explored the prospects of a world beyond liberalism.
In April, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest amid international controversy over an ICC arrest warrant. Hungary, rejecting the court’s legitimacy, announced its withdrawal from the ICC, later formalized in May. The ICC has since launched non-compliance proceedings, while Hungary claims the court is politically biased and vows not to cooperate.
Hungarian wineries continue to enhance their global reputation through dedication, innovation, and tradition. The Ministry of Agriculture awarded St Andrea Winery the prestigious Winery of the Year title for its long-standing excellence and family-driven legacy.
Esztergom will once again host MCC Feszt, one of Hungary’s most prominent intellectual festivals, kicking off Thursday with a diverse mix of public debates, lectures, and concerts. Headliners include Peter Thiel, Sebastian Kurz, and Dominic Cummings, with nearly 50,000 visitors expected, according to MCC Director General Zoltán Szalai.
After months of negotiations between Brussels and Washington, Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump announced a new EU-US trade deal. Though hailed as a success by the Commission President, the agreement disproportionately favours the United States, risking Europe’s strategic overdependence on Washington. Additionally, the deal delivers a serious blow to Hungary’s economy.
‘Every industrial revolution—and we are in the midst of a new one led by the tech aristocracy—goes through motions that breed new speech and social contracts…The real lesson from this debate is for the new tech-right aristocracy to figure out how they want to wield their power to achieve that equilibrium.’
‘When people asked me whether I’m Hungarian or Argentine, I used to say: “I’m 50 per cent Hungarian and 50 per cent Argentine”—until I heard someone saying they were 100 per cent of both. Since then, that’s what I do, too.’