Just as before the 2022 parliamentary elections, the European Parliament’s rule of law mission visited Hungary this week. However, there are some crucial differences this time: not a single right-wing political group is represented in Tineke Strik’s delegation, and opposition leader Péter Magyar and his party are now openly and admittedly working against the interests of the Hungarian people.
Over the weekend both pro-government and opposition rallies were held across Hungary’s capital, Budapest. The demonstrations sent a clear message: both sides are preparing for next year’s election with full force, lending the 2026 parliamentary contest a level of significance not witnessed in Hungary’s political history for quite some time—and demonstrating that the country’s democracy is very much alive.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is currently in Türkiye, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. One of Orbán’s closest allies in the region, Erdoğan is facing unrest on a scale not seen in years following the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu on charges of corruption and alleged links to terrorism.
With the CDU–SPD coalition agreement presented on Wednesday, it has become clear that the new government, under the leadership of Friedrich Merz, will prioritize Ukraine’s interests over those of Germany and its people. Having failed to deliver on his own campaign promises, Merz is already paying the price for his political betrayal: Alice Weidel’s AfD has overtaken the CDU, becoming the largest party in Germany by a margin of one percentage point.
A pilot project showcasing urban-level applications of artificial intelligence has launched in Miskolc. The initiative will focus on boosting the economy, improving education, developing digital skills, and enhancing tourism through AI solutions.
‘Orbán and the Fidesz leadership are seeking lasting change to Hungarian politics and culture. They recognize that pro-life and pro-family issues are not just legal disputes; they are culture-wide struggles, and they must be addressed as such. Hungarian conservatives are not surrendering on these issues, and they are not acting recklessly…the Orbán government’s family policies are prudent.’
Amid growing uncertainty in regional energy supply, Hungary and Serbia have decided to take matters into their own hands by constructing a joint oil pipeline connecting the two countries. According to Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, the investment is valued at approximately $350 million.
The European Parliament is set to debate Hungary’s new legislative package, which includes amendments to the law on the right of assembly—labelled by progressives as a ‘Pride ban’—as well as stricter regulations on foreign-funded NGOs and media outlets. However, as democratic as it is, the EP has ‘forgotten’ to invite Hungary to participate in or respond during the debate.
According to POLITICO, Germany’s incoming government plans to call on the European Union to withhold funds and suspend voting rights from member states deemed to be ‘misbehaving’. The news fits into a broader, coordinated campaign by pro-war forces seeking to sideline Hungary—the only country currently standing in the way of the EU’s potential escalation into open conflict with Russia.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accused opposition parties of engaging in a ‘competition of provocations’ ahead of next year’s elections. Speaking on public Kossuth Radio, he addressed topics ranging from rural development and economic measures to European security and Hungary’s stance on war.
Hungarian Conservative is a quarterly magazine on contemporary political, philosophical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective.
