German MEP Freund Joins Budapest Pride Protest, Signals EU Meddling

Budapest witnessed rare protests in recent days, as demonstrators rallied against what they describe as a ‘Pride-ban’—an amendment to the law on the right of assembly, which imposes stricter conditions on mass events that violate the child protection law. Among the speakers was the infamous German MEP Daniel Freund, who effectively admitted that Brussels has been working for years to oust Viktor Orbán’s government, with the current demonstrations being no exception.

Karla’s Choice — A Review

‘Karla’s Choice: A John le Carré Novel by Nick Harkaway (Viking, 2024) has not yet been turned into a screen drama. But it is surely only a matter of time—and when that does happen, Budapest will at last be able to play itself. A strong Hungarian storyline and realistic local detail add extra layers of enjoyment to this accomplished spy thriller.’

Hungarian Bank OTP Looking To Acquire Maltese HSBC

According to the report by the Times of Malta, the Hungarian OTP Bank is the most likely bidder to acquire HSBC Malta, a subsidiary of the British multinational banking and financial services company HSBC. HSBC Malta currently has a market cap of around €550 million.

Poland’s Heart Turns Cold on Ukraine as Presidential Election Nears

Poles increasingly view support for Ukraine as a burden on the nation, with public sentiment shifting rapidly in a negative direction. This is clearly reflected in the rising popularity of Sławomir Mentzen, the presidential candidate of the right-wing Konfederacja, who is firmly opposed to the war and to unconditional support for Kyiv.

George Soros addresses the European Parliament in Brussels on 30 June 2016.

Soros Foundations Has Spent $90 Million on Brussels NGOs

Between 2016 and 2023 George Soros’ Open Society Foundations spent $90 million on funding Brussels, Belgium-based NGOs, a recently published study by the Center for Fundamental Rights has found. The spending accelerated in the year before the 2024 European Parliamentary election.

Hungarian Media Authority Disputes Press Freedom Report’s Objectivity

Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority has criticized the latest press freedom report by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, arguing that it presents a one-sided assessment of the Hungarian media landscape. The authority highlights methodological flaws and subjective claims in the report.

The EU Needs Hungary as Much as Hungary Needs the EU

‘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.’

Why Are the United States Presidential Elections So Close in the 21st Century?

The 2024 election marked the fourth consecutive US presidential election where the popular vote margin was within five points—an unprecedented occurrence in US history. The last candidate to win the popular vote by more than 10 points was Republican Ronald Reagan in 1984. Why are US presidential elections so close in the 21st century?