Staff at Hungary’s embassy in Paris have received a life threat in an email, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Saturday, adding that French police were searching the premises at the time of his post.
The sender of the email had attached the image of a home-made bomb, but such a device has not yet been discovered, Szijjártósaid.
Szijjártó said the email “is believed to have arrived from a neighbouring country,” adding that the Hungarian secret services were also investigating the case.
Read also:
Hungarian opposition politician teams up with French national TV to film the Orbán mansion – VIDEO and more HERE
Hungarian opposition politician Ákos Hadházy has revealed new details about the luxurious Hatvanpuszta estate tied to PM Viktor Orbán’s father. Hadházy has challenged the Prime Minister’s claims of modest living, sparking debates on transparency and accountability within Hungary’s government.
Controversial Hungarian opposition politician teams up with French media
As Index reports, a French state television crew, assisted by Hungarian opposition politician MP Ákos Hadházy, conducted a revealing aerial investigation of the Hatvanpuszta estate, a lavish property tied to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán‘s father. Despite Orbán’s claims of modest living, the wealth accumulated by his family and close associates has far surpassed that of other Hungarians. Frustrated by the lack of domestic media coverage on the estate—nicknamed “Pusztaversailles” by Hadházy—the MP collaborated with the French crew to document the opulent complex under construction. The estate, reportedly valued at EUR 15 million, is registered in the name of Orbán’s father, Győző Orbán, though the source of its financing remains unclear.
Photo: Facebook / Hadházy Ákos
Modest way of living?
The Hungarian opposition has raised concerns over PM Viktor Orbán’s wealthy estate, which spans 6,000 square metres and features multiple swimming pools, a massive library, a grand ballroom, an underground car park, and even a tunnel. Ákos Hadházy, an independent MP and vocal critic, has used his pilot’s licence to fly over the site and document its development, likening it to a “mini-Versailles.” Speaking to French TV, Hadházy remarked that in a functional democracy, such excesses would lead to the government’s downfall.
The Hungarian opposition politician has criticised the stark contrast between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s modest personal lifestyle and the immense fortunes amassed by his family and close associates. While Orbán resides in a small village of 1,500 people, reportedly spending weekends smoking ham, those in his inner circle—including his father, son-in-law, and friends—have accumulated significant wealth. Notably, Hungary’s largest football stadium, the Puskás Arena, was constructed near his home, raising further questions about the intersection of public funds and personal proximity.
Hungarian opposition politician Hadházy writes in a Facebook post:
We also flew over Hatvanpuszta with the French public television crew, since the Hungarian party-state television has NEVER mentioned the Pusztaversailles, which symbolizes the Fidesz regime. It would all be very good if the French knew what was behind Viktor Orbán’s propaganda: the most corrupt politician in Europe, who had to lie more and more because he had stolen too much.
Asset declaration
According to Index, the Democratic Coalition challenged PM Viktor Orbán’s 2023 asset declaration, citing reports that he and his family allegedly use the Hatvanpuszta mansion, registered under his father’s name, for work meetings. Despite these claims, the property is absent from Orbán’s official declaration of assets. The Parliament’s Committee on Immunity dismissed the opposition’s case within two weeks, further fuelling criticism over transparency and accountability in Orbán’s administration.
An Albanian Antifa activist accused of committing acts of violence at a Budapest rally was arrested in Paris last Tuesday, the man’s attorneys told the AFP news agency.
Hungarian authorities have requested 32-year-old Rexhino Abazaj’s extradition so he can be held accountable “for his role in violent conflicts in Budapest in February 2023”, AFP said.
He is accused to have been a member of a group clashing with the participants of a demonstration held in connection with the anniversary of the Nazi breakout of the Castle District during the siege of the capital in February 1945.
Abazaj’s attorneys said he would not accept the arrest warrant, triggering a review of the request which could last several months, AFP said.
Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, has had successful talks in Budapest with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the leader of the Austrian People’s Party, his party said in a statement on Thursday.
Talks focused on strengthening Hungary-Austria relations and intensifying bilateral political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries, the statement added.
Photo: FB/Magyar
In addition to domestic policy, the sides reviewed major European issues, it said.
They discussed the need for strong European regulations against illegal migration, and they were in agreement that all diplomatic means must be used to end the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible, it added.
According to the statement, the talks will continue in Vienna. Magyaris also scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, it added.
Photo: FB/Magyar
Magyar said both offered their help for him but he said the Tisza Party would like to expand independently.
Read also:
Surprising: Péter Magyar’s Tisza party ahead of PM Orbán in latest polls but won’t field candidates on next election – read more HERE
Beyond politics: The most embarrassing TikTok moments of Hungarian politicians – details in THISarticle
Europe must recognise its own limits and give member states the tools to act independently, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in Budapest on Friday, ahead of an informal meeting of European Union heads of state and government.
Meloni supports PM Orbán’s call for peace
Although “many pretend that certain debates were just surfacing”, the issue of comptetitiveness had been on the agenda since Hungary published its programme for the presidency, as the US measures to protect their economy required an answer, she said.
“We must ask not what America can do for us but what Europe can do for itself,” shesaid, according to a statement from the Italian prime minister’s office.
Photo: FB/Orbán
The main focus is on the distribution of funds, “and whether we really want to give tools to member states to achieve their strategic goals.” Member states should have more independence in the matter of defence, too, she said.
She said she supported Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s call for peace in Ukraine, but said that “as long as the war lasts, Rome will stand by Ukraine.”
Michel calls for joint efforts to improve EU competitiveness
In the past months, the European Union has come to a concensus on cooperation to make the community more competitive both within the EU and with third partners, European Council President Charles Michelsaid in Budapest on Friday, ahead of an informal EU summit.
Michel said the Draghi Report, with its clear recommendations, was an excellent basis for discussion.
Answering a question, Michel said the recent US election had left the burning issues of climate change open, adding that the recent floods in Spain had pointed to the EU’s obligation to react fast in such situations.
Concerning the recent elections in Georgia, Michel raised a serious suspicion of fraud and said the process should be investigated.
‘Let’s protect our common European interests!’, Macron said
French President Emmanuel Macron, at a plenary session of the European Political Community’s summit held in Budapest on Thursday, called for a common approach to protecting European interests, saying that Europe “must write its own history”.
Macron said that a turning point had been reached in European history.
In connection with “the war started by Vladimir Putin” and technological advances taken by China, Macron said the question was whether Europe wanted “to read history written by others or write its own”.
The French president said economies of European member states and the bloc’s defence system were “strong”, noting that the EU was a bloc of 440 million people while the European political community represented 700 million people.
Macron urged Europe “not to disappear from geopolitics” and to take action “and protect together our European interests and to believe in our strategic autonomy and sovereignty.”
He said Europe should simplify its rules, boost its competitiveness through innovation and rethink its internal market, he said.
Speaking about the Russia-Ukraine war, the French president said that there were various standpoints on the issue, adding that “we have the same interest” in Russia “not winning this war”.
He called for the establishment of a European security area, with NATO playing in it a key role, and he warned Europe against “delegating its security to the Americans”.
Meanwhile, Macron called for effective solutions to the problem of illegal migration and urged an intensification of efforts in Europe to boost economic growth and Europe’s competitiveness through innovation.
He also urged the “real” integration of energy networks, decrying the lack of a uniform European approach in this area.
Macron called the European democratic model an important topic and urged Europe to review it, adding that a Europe was needed that simplified the rules, strengthened competitiveness through innovation and rethought its internal market, he said. Noting cyberattacks and manipulation in the Georgian and Moldovan elections reported by election observers, he also congratulated Moldova’s president-elect and added that Georgia looked towards Europe and had confirmed its commitment to democracy. Europe should rethink its own democratic model, he said, adding that democracy did not mean providing infrastructure alone; this would mean liberal democracies being “swept off the table”. Europe, he added, was capable of acting as a strong geopolitical power but it had ceded this role geopolitically and technologically to the US. Europe must take back control if it wants to be strong, Macron said. “There are herbivores and there are carnivores. If we remain herbivores, the carnivores will eat us. So I think it would be good if we were omnivores,” the president said.
Read also:
PM Orbán: Hungary’s aims in the American-Chinese conflict in line with the Americans’ – read more HERE
VIDEO: How rude! Romanian President showed his back to PM Orbán for 20 seconds – details in THISarticle
France’s Framatome will deliver fuel rods to Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant from 2027 under an agreement signed on Friday, Attila Steiner, the state secretary for energy policy, said at a press conference in Budapest.
Steiner called the agreement, signed by Framatome and MVM Paksi Atomeromu, “an important step” from the perspective of supply security. The agreement was preceded by a memorandum of understanding signed by the Energy Ministry and Framatome in September 2023, he added.
The agreement was signed by FramatomeCEO Bernard Fontana and MVM Paksi AtomerőműCEO Peter Janos Horvath and deputy-CEO Pal Toth in the presence of Energy Minister Csaba Lantos.
Steiner said Paks had built up a significant strategic inventory of fuel rods in recent years.
Fontana said the agreement paved the way for Paks to get fuel rods in the long term in a dependable manner. Framatome is happy to participate in the diversification of Paks’s fuel rod supply, he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the swift and full implementation of recommendations contained in a report on European competitiveness at a meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the Elysee Palace, the French presidential office said on Wednesday.
At a working dinner on Tuesday evening, the two leaders exchanged views on European matters, focusing on the current Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union, on continued support for Ukraine, and the security and defence challenges, the statement said. They also discussed preparations for a summit of the European Political Community to be held in Budapest on Nov 7, it added.
Macron and Orbán on 22 October 2024. Photo: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán
Macron and Orbán also discussed preparations for an informal meeting of the European Council to be held in Budapest on Nov 8, centered on European competitiveness. The meeting will be attended by former Italian Prime Minister and former President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi, who wrote the strategic analysis on European competitiveness.
The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations between Hungary and France. Macron said France was ready to intensify its partnership with Hungary in several strategic areas, including defence and security issues such as energy delivery and nuclear energy, and wants to develop bilateral trade in the framework of the EU internal market, the statement said.
The world premiere of the 10-episode Rise of the Raven TV series was held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes during MIPCOM, one of the most important annual events in the film, television, and streaming industries. The screening, held in a packed auditorium, was attended by the series’ creators, Hungarian and international stars and producers who arrived on the famous red carpet, where the first episode of the series was enthusiastically received by a professional audience.
Photo: Cannes
Rise of the Raven, a series created with the support of Beta Film and the National Film Institute (NFI), has reached another milestone, with the first part of the upcoming series being presented to the biggest content producers and buyers in the film, television and streaming industry. MIPCOM is a significant event for the entertainment industry, marking the first opportunity for industry professionals to deeply engage with the most ambitious Hungarian television production to date.
Beta Film, based in Munich and a major player in the industry, made significant efforts to promote Rise of the Raven in international markets. Koby Gal Raday, a co-producer from Beta Film who has overseen the project since its inception, commented:
“We are delighted and grateful to have successfully held the world premiere of Rise of the Raven at MIPCOM yesterday. It was an incredible experience to watch the opening episode of this special series with our talented cast and crew in the iconic Grand Auditorium in front of a full house. It was the perfect stage to bring the power and magic of Rise of the Raven to audiences around the world.”
Photo: Cannes
Robert Lantos, executive producer of Hunyadi, remarked during the screening: “The theme is one of the greatest untold stories of world history. Since the 15th century, bells have rung at noon to commemorate Hunyadi and his soldiers’ victory at the Battle of Belgrade, but while everyone hears the sound, few in the world know the story. We created this series to change that.” Standing next to the executive producer on the steps of the Festival Palace were the Hungarian and international producers of the series, including Tibor Krskó, executive producers Dr. Kinga Hazai and Cecília Hazai, as well as Oliver Auspitz, Andreas Kamm and Ari Lantos.
The world premiere was also attended by Gellért L. Kádár, who plays the role of János Hunyadi, Vivien Rujder, who plays the role of Erzsébet (Hunyadi’s wife), and Franciska Törőcsik, who portrays Hunyadi’s first love, Mara Branković. Other cast members walking the red carpet included Mariann Hermányi, Ernő Fekete, Elena Rusconi, and Thomas Trabacchi. All four directors of the series were present: Robert Dornhelm, who directed the first episode, alongside Orsi Nagypál, Attila Szász, and showrunner Balázs Lengyel met the international professional community, and Balázs Lengyel summarized the Cannes experience as follows: “Yesterday, we presented the first episode of Rise of the Raven to a crowded audience of MIPCOM professionals. This is a particularly important moment for us, because it is through these professionals that this Hungarian story can reach the most distant TV screens in the world.”
Photo: Cannes
At the world premiere, Vivien Rujder was dressed by Daalarna, Franciska Törőcsik also chose her dress from the Daalarna collection, and her jewellery was provided by Swarovski. Stylist Bea Merkovits recommended a Zhoja evening gown for Mariann Hermányi, complemented by Yana jewellery. Gellért L. Kádár and Ernő Fekete’s appearances were styled by Miklós Schiffer, who selected their outfits from the Roland Divatház Hugo Boss collection.
The Rise of the Raven series, set to air on TV2 in 2025, is based on Bán Mór’s highly successful book series. One of the production’s unique aspects is the historically accurate portrayal of characters, with actors speaking in their native languages, immersing viewers in the historical events that shaped the Kingdom of Hungary and all of Europe.
The Patriots for Europe (PfE) has “a great significance” in the European Parliament, and the cooperation between Fidesz and the French Rassemblement National (RN) is especially important within the party group, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Paris on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of a meeting with RN president Jordan Bardella, he said that the party is an ally of the Hungarian government, and sits with Fideszand the Hungarian Christian Democrats (KDNP) in the third largest party group of the European Parliament.
At the meeting, Szijjártósaid, according to a ministry statement, that they would mostly review Europe-related political issues, as several of the two parties’ approaches to challenges facing the continent were similar.
Marine Le Pen (c) and RN president Jordan Bardella (l1) with PM Orbán (r2) in Brussels. Photo: FB/Jordan Bardella
The two parties agree on border protection and tightening migration regulations, which “could remedy one of Europe’s greatest problems, the migration crisis,” Szijjártó said. “Europe’s external borders must be protected, and it must be made clear that entry to Europe is only possible through legal and regulated channels; immigration must be stopped rather than managed,” he said.
Europe of nations
“Also, we both believe in a Europe of nations, and are protecting our sovereignty. Unfortunately, we had to face many attacks from Brussels on that score. Our sovereignty would definitely suffer, if the requirement of unanimous decision was scrapped on issues where it is currently in place,” he said.
That would turn the EU into “the alliance and server of a few large member states, and midsize and small countries would have no other choice but to agree with them.”
Hungary, on the other hand, wants to represent its own interests in the EU, he said.
RN is the largest party in PfE, and Fidesz gives the only prime minister in the group, Szijjártó noted.
“It’s the same on the matter of foreign affairs. I am the only one representing the PfE in the Foreign Affairs Council, so cooperation with the party group is especially important when it comes to working in the EP and the European Council,” Szijjártó said.
Energy cooperation between Hungary, France ‘outstanding’
Cooperation between Hungary and France in the area of energy is “outstanding”, Szijjártó said after a meeting with Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the French energy minister, in Paris on Wednesday. In a statement issued by his ministry, Szijjártó said energy was “the most successful area of bilateral cooperation” between Hungary and France, adding that the sides were “in full agreement” on the use of nuclear energy.
He augured a “dramatic” increase in demand for electricity to power heating and cooling systems, industrial capacity and electric vehicles. Nuclear energy is the “only affordable, safe and stable” means to meet that demand, he said. “Without nuclear energy, there can be no green transition in Europe, and without nuclear energy, there can be no economic competitiveness on the continent,” he added.
He pointed to the establishment of a coalition of European countries that use nuclear energy and see the issue as one “based on facts and science” not as an “ideological, political or philosophical” question. French companies are playing a “key role” in the expansion of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant, delivering the control system as well as the generators and turbines, Szijjártó said.
Read also:
Attention! Orbán cabinet introduces stricter rules on guest worker employment – read more HERE
Minister talksabout the Hungarian economy’s future: 3-4% GDP growth, SME program, strict rules for Airbnb, rentals
The National Film Institute (NFI) said on Monday that this week’s Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon will feature a screening of Hungarian director Alfred Deesy’s 1920 silent film After Death.
The film, remastered in 4K as part of a Belgian-French-Hungarian project, will feature in the festival’s “Sublime moments in silent film” section, the NFI said.
After Death, “a rare example of the silent film era’s popular ghost stories”, is among the three Hungarian fantastical silent films that have survived from the 42 that were produced.
The NFI noted that Deesy’s film is an adaptation of a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux, who is also known for The Phantom of the Opera.
After Death stars internationally famed actress Kamilla Hollay in the lead role, and is also recognised for its rich colour palette and unique technical elements.
The film was remastered in 2023 as part of the Association of European Cinematheques’ (ACE) A Season of Classic Films programme supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe scheme.
The single almost-complete film copy can be found in the Royal Belgian Film Archive.
MÁV-START, a key player in Hungarian rail transport, has taken a significant step toward modernizing its locomotive fleet by testing Alstom’s multi-current Astride electric locomotives. This move is part of the MÁV-VOLÁN Group’s 5-point transport action plan, aimed at enhancing the quality and reliability of rail transport in Hungary.
The Group’s twofold strategy focuses on the long-term procurement of new vehicles while leasing high-quality, second-hand locomotives to address short-term operational needs. As part of this strategy, MÁV-START recently conducted a successful test run of these Alstom locomotives between Budapest and Hatvan. Though not yet in passenger service, these trial runs are vital to ensure the locomotives meet operational and safety standards before fully integrating into the Hungarian railway network.
According to the official site, the company plans to lease 27 locomotives, with an initial order of 15 and an option for 12 more. These new locomotives are expected to replace some of the older V43 traction units with a maximum speed of 120 km/h. In contrast, the Alstom locomotives can reach speeds of up to 160 km/h and are equipped with advanced safety and driver assistance systems, ensuring higher operational efficiency and timetable regularity.
This modernization effort is essential to meet the growing travel demand and improve the overall passenger experience. MÁV-START is also working to expand its fleet by leasing additional second-hand vehicles, similar to the Siemens Eurosprinter locomotives introduced last year. If the Alstom locomotive trials prove successful, the company will proceed with the formal lease agreement, and passengers can expect to see these modern, high-speed trains in service as early as next year.
The Hungarian railway company has received a lot of criticism recently for operating with even more delays and cancellations than usual. In addition, the Minister responsible for public transport, János Lázár, canceled previous procurements several years ago and did not place any orders instead, resulting in massive chaos on Hungarian rail lines. Now it seems they are trying to cushion this with a second-hand, presumably expensive, solution.
Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s political director, suggested in an interview shared last week that the Orbán cabinet would not fight against a Russian invasion like President Zelensky’s Ukraine. Today, the French and German ambassadors sent a démarche to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, writing that Orbán’s words were outrageous to the entire NATO. German Ambassador Julia Gross said yesterday that the Hungarian government had disembarked the road of the two nations’ friendship.
Would Hungary fight against Russia?
According to Szabad Európa, German and French ambassadors in Budapest submitted a joint démarche to Hungary’s foreign affairs ministry today. The step came after Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s political director, suggested in an interview that his government would not defend the country against Russian aggression like President Zelenskydoes. He said they would not have recommended Zelensky to lead his country and nation into a “defensive war” against Russia. He said we [Hungarians – ed.] learned that in 1956: Hungary grasped that “we must be cautious with Hungarian lives”. We covered the story HERE.
Some insiders said Balázs Orbán can become Hungary’s next foreign minister. Photo: FB/Balázs Orbán
Orbán’s thoughts resulted in an outrage in Hungary. Heroes of the 1956 revolution and freedom fight rejected his suggestion that their brethren died in vain, and politicians and other members of public life demanded Orbán’s immediate resignation. However, PM Orbán called his namesake’s words only an error, and the political director remained in place. Balázs Orbán’s first reaction was a communication offensive against the leftist politicians and influencers. Later, he apologised for his “ambiguous” words and said he would fight against Russia in case of a war.
On Thursday, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office said that the government considered the issue as closed. That means PM Orbán does not mean to replace Balázs Orbán and he will remain the prime minister’s political director.
German-French démarche followed Orbán’s words
However, his thoughts stirred up a lot of dust even abroad. Germany’s Ambassador in Hungary, Julia Gross, said the Hungarian government got off the road of the friendship of the two nations at the Memorial Day of the German Unity celebrated yesterday in Budapest.
Julia Gross and Jonathan Lacôte submitted a joint démarche writing that the thoughts expressed by Orbán are insulting and contradict the spirit of NATO and the joint defence.
Photo: FB/Germany’s Embassy in Budapest
Szabad Európa says that a démarche is the mildest form of expressing protest in diplomacy. However, it is unfamiliar between allies. Based on the information of Szabad Európa, a diplomat handed over the demarche to the Foreign Minister of Hungary, but he was not welcomed according to the protocol. Regularly, the minister or one of his secretaries receives such diplomatic documents.
German Ambassador Gross slammed the Orbán cabinet
It was also unfamiliar between theoretically allied countries how Julia Gross, the German ambassador, talked about the German-Hungarian relationship in Vigadó yesterday. She slammed the Hungarian government’s pro-Russia policies and criticised the Orbán cabinet for the more than one-year-long delay of Sweden’s NATO accession.
That was the first time that no Hungarian government official was present in the celebration of German unity. The official explanation is that the government held a meeting in Geszt’s renewed Tisza Castle, accepting Minister János Lázár’s invitation.
Photo: FB/Orbán
Photo: FB/Orbán
Szabad Európa added that PM Orbán met with the leaders of German carmakers active in Hungary in the last few weeks. Márton Nagy, Hungary’s national economy minister, also held talks with them. The German carmakers did not support the EU’s Chinese car tax but also expressed an explicitly pessimistic opinion about the future of the European carmaking industry.
Szabad Európa asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry for comment but has not received an answer.
UPDATE: German envoy ‘encroached on Hungary’s domestic affairs’
Hungary’s foreign minister has summoned the German ambassador to Hungary in connection with a speech which “grievously encroached on Hungary’s domestic affairs” in a way that “violated” its sovereignty.
Péter Szijjártó added in a Facebook post on Thursday that the envoy’s speech yesterday was “completely unacceptable”, adding that “we always expect respect from ambassadors serving in our country.”
“We have called the ambassador into the ministry of foreign affairs and trade in the afternoon,” the minister said.
Hungary to vote against punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs, says FM Szijjártó
Hungary will cast an “emphatic no” vote on a European Union proposal on punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday. Those tariffs are “harmful and dangerous”, Szijjártó said at a cabinet meeting in Geszt, in the south of the country. He noted that EU member states would take a vote on the proposal on Friday.
“The bureaucrats in Brussels are preparing for a ritual killing of Europe’s future competitiveness tomorrow,” he said. He added that European automotive industry representatives had protested “tooth and nail” against the measure and pointed to the local industry’s “extraordinarily close cooperation” with their Chinese counterparts.
He said Hungary was the “best example” of that cooperation, a place where partnerships between German car makers and Chinese suppliers were “close and in harmony”. He added that alliances with Chinese suppliers were a “fundamental element” of many big European car makers’ strategies, while they also saw China as a “very important market”, and many had manufacturing facilities there.
He warned that moving forward with the punitive tariffs would result in retaliatory measures, and said Chinese officials had already announced heightened scrutiny for some farm and food imports from the EU. Szijjártó said he had spoken with executives of the biggest German automotive industry companies during the week and they had taken a “unanimous” stand against the proposed tariffs.
Read also:
Controversy: Putin supporters invitedto the 29th Budapest International Book Festival
Czech President criticisesPM Orbán for undermining European unity amid Ukraine conflict
The Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK) said on Monday that Hungarians won one gold and two bronze medals at the WorldSkills 2024 championships in Lyon.
Hungary has been a member of WorldSkills International since 2006 and WorldSkills Europe since 2007.
At last year’s European Championships, EuroSkills Gdansk 2023, the Hungarian team achieved a historic success. Tamás Bandúr and Zsolt Koncsik became European Champions in the IT Systems Operator Team Competition, and with the highest score achieved by Hungarian competitors, they also won the title of Best of the Nation. In all the events, the highest scores were awarded to Jos de Goey – Best in Europe.
WorldSkills Lyon 2024
There were 1,383 registered competitors at a competition of professions on September 10-15. General information about WorldSkills Lyon 2024:
71 registered member countries (69 member countries registered competitors, 2 member countries only experts)
Professional competition in 59 official disciplines + 3 demonstration disciplines
Hungarian participation in 21 disciplines with 25 competitors, 21 experts, 3 Team Leaders, 1 official delegate, 1 technical delegate, 1 technical delegate assistant
Olivér Mrakovics won gold in the web technologies category, MKIK said. Zsolt Koncsik was awarded bronze in IT network systems administration, and Kornel Stefan took bronze in IT software solutions for business. Hungarians also took home 18 medallions for excellence.
Hungary takes a gold at WorldSkills 2024. Photo: MTI
Hungary takes a gold at WorldSkills 2024. Photo: MTI
Summary of results:
Source: MKIKSource: MKIK
At the WorldSkills General Assembly 2024, Members chose to hold the WorldSkills Competition 2028 in Aichi after a compelling bid from Japan, the official site said.
Hungary’s wealthiest man, Lőrinc Mészáros, has purchased a new private jet expanding his fleet. Sources suggest he has already travelled to France and Mallorca using his latest acquisition.
Mészáros buys new private jet
Forbes pointed out that a recent report from Átlátszó revealed that a Bombardier Challenger 3500 private jet with Austrian registration OE-HOZ, linked to Hungarian billionaire Lőrinc Mészáros, arrived in Budapest from Vienna in July. The jet, operated by the same Austrian company that manages another plane used by the Mészáros circle, landed in Hungary around the same time as a helicopter used by the businessman’s family, suggesting coordination between the two aircraft. The helicopter likely transported the pilot of the private jet from Vienna to Hungary.
This jet, part of the businessman’s ever-expanding fleet, seems to mark an upgrade following last year’s controversy surrounding his luxury yacht. After landing in Hungary, the private jet flew to the South of France and then to Palma de Mallorca, where his luxury yacht, the Rose d’Or, was also anchored, according to maritime tracking data. This further reinforces the connection between the mysterious jet and the business circle of Hungary’s richest man. According to Átlátszó, the private jet cost around HUF 9.6 billion (around EUR 24 million).
Based on Szabad Európa’s diplomatic sources, Chad’s President, Mahamat Déby, will visit Budapest next week, as the programme appears in the diplomatic schedule of the two countries. The Chadian President is in Beijing and plans to visit Budapest before returning home. He was due to come in June, but owing to the violent clashes between the army and Islamist groups, he could not.
According to Szabad Európa, plans are about multiple high-level meetings and bilateral agreements covering defence cooperation, Hungarian economic aid, joint fight against international terrorism, halting illegal migration, and strengthening cultural ties.
Signing the defence cooperation would mean that the mission of 200 Hungarian soldiers can start in the unstable Central African country within the framework of a complex support programme.
Gáspár Orbán’s (the Hungarian prime minister’s only son) presence during the negotiations in N’Djamena raised alarms for opposition politicians who want to know what interests the Hungarian soldiers will protect in the country. Some sources saidbefore that the Orbán cabinet would like to gain access to uranium reserves to aid Russian interests, which is why the prime minister sent his son to the country. Others saidthe Chad mission was Orbán Jr’s idea, and that it would serve the extension of Hungary’s influence in far-away regions to find new business opportunities.
Azbej Tristan, the head of the Hungary Helps Programme, told 24.hu that Captain Orbán was in Chad as an officer of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
Azbej Tristan said farewell to Chad before. Hungarian soldiers may go to the country now. Photo: FB/Azbej Tristan
Szabad Európa wrote that the French would help Hungarian soldiers since the Hungarian Defence Forces did not have the experience and equipment for such a complex mission.
Opposition politicians fear the entire mission serves only the interests of some government-close business circles.
Official explained why Hungary helps Africa’s Chad
Hungary’s aid to preserve stability in Chad is serving, among other goals, to curb the number of migrants to Europe and to protect Christians, the state secretary for aiding persecuted Christians told public television on Friday.
External help is crucial to preserve stability in central Africa, a region blighted by political instability, desertification, food scarcity and religious persecution, especially that of Christians, Tristan Azbej said. This could lead to tens of millions of migrants leaving the region for Europe, which would have “unforseen consequences” for the continent, he warned.
Chad has an outstanding role as a country that, even though one third of its citizens are in need of humanitarian aid, acccepts the fifth highest number of refugees in the world, Azbej said. That warrants preserving the stability of the current government, he added.
The government’s Hungary Helps programme offers help in handling acute crises such as the aftermath of natural disasters, and supports the counts with medical, engineering and agricultural expertise, Azbej, who is also head of the programme, said.
Chad and the neighbouring countries are home to the most migrants in the world, Azbej said. “Whatever happens in the Sahel impacts the future of Africa and Europe. If people living here can see their future in their own country, the migration weighing on Europe may ease … but if the stability of the countries here crumples one by one, we may be facing a general disaster of migration,” he said.
Photo: FB/Azbej Tristan
In the wake of surging Islamist terrorism in the region, the persecution of Christians is also a significant problem, he said. Hungary is supporting the Chad government’s efforts to ensure the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Christians, he added.
Read also:
PM Orbán’s only son, Captain Orbán serves in an African country – read more HERE
Konkoly won gold in women’s 400m freestyle in the S9 category. Her time was 4:39:78, while the World record is 4:23:81 set by Du Toit Natalie from South Africa. Congratulations!
Lakeisha Patterson from Australia received the silver medal, while Vittoria Bianco from Italy won the bronze.
Photo: MTI
The Paris Paralympic Games started on Wednesday. The competition was held in the Paris La Défense Arena, Forbes wrote.
Photo: MTI
The 22-year-old athlete competed in the S9 category. She first represented Hungary at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and won a bronze medal in the 100-metre butterfly S9 event. She was only 14 years old then. At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, she won a silver medal in the 400-metre freestyle S9 event. She won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, held in Madeira.
Photo: MTI
Photo: MTI
Photo: MTI
Following her bronze in 2016, she received the Hungarian Bronze Cross of Merit.
Zsófia Konkoly is an outstanding talent
The student of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Pécs won the gold medal at the World Para Swimming Championships in women’s 200-metre individual medley in the SM9 category and defended her world champion title in Manchester in 2023, pte.hu wrote.
“I have a sporty family, my mum played handball, my dad played soccer. When my brother went swimming, I wanted to go too. I came into contact with the world of swimming when I was six years old, my brother had asthma, and they suggested swimming to him. Once, I went to one of his training sessions, where I discovered that those who are good get a balloon from the coach. I also wanted to get it, so I started swimming. Later on, I loved it, and it became an important part of my life. Since then, they haven’t been able to get me out of the pool”, she told glamour.hu in 2023.
The Paris Paralympics will end on 8 September.
Read also:
Hungarian athletes included among 100 best Olympians – read more HERE
Miraculously, the 19-year-old swimmer could finish 5th in the women’s 10km marathon swim in the Seine at the Paris Olympic Games today. Afterwards, Bettina Fábián disinfected with pálinka, the traditional Hungarian spirit. Have you ever tasted pálinka?
The Hungarian swimmer prepared in the River Danube
Bettina Fábián did not swim yesterday in the Seine because she did not want to risk an infection in the polluted water. French authorities said yesterday that the bacteria level of the river decreased below the limit.
Betti saidbefore her swimming that her training was successful, but she was afraid of the Seine, the currents in the river, etc.
Photo: MTI
She said the water was not as dirty as she thought, and currents made swimming hard. Downstream times were around 7.5 minutes, while upstream increased to 13.5 minutes.
Swimmers needed to complete six rounds, and since Betti trained in the Danube, turns were better for her than for the others. Therefore, she could advance in each turn. Moreover, she stored her energy better, so in the end, she could finish in the 5th position.
She disinfected with pálinka after the contest
Betti was the second youngest among the winners and said training in the Danube helped her the most because currents could not carry her away most of the time. “I think this is a very good result on my first Olympics”, she concluded, and we can only agree with her.
The last metres of her swim:
After she got out of the water, she disinfected with some pálinka sips, the traditional Hungarian spirit. Then she drank Coca-Cola.
Here is the video (the Hungarian Swimming Association wrote below the video that they did not support alcohol consumption):
Congratulations, Betti!
Read also:
Bugs Bunny interviewed Hungarian 3X Olympic Champion – check out the video HERE
The foreign ministry has contacted 165 Hungarian citizens living in Lebanon and offered them help to leave in the wake of a recent escalation of events in the Middle East; 18 Hungarian citizens and their family members are returning to Hungary in a joint operation with the defence ministry, the foreign minister said on Thursday.
Péter Szijjártósaid on Facebook that despite all the concerns raised in Europe, events in recent days had increased the risk of escalation in the Middle East conflict.
“Beyond promoting peace at all international forums and trying to prevent an escalation of events, the government’s primary responsibility … is to guarantee the safety of Hungarian people,” he said. As part of this effort, 165 Hungarian citizens staying in Lebanon were contacted by phone or electronically in the past few days, he added.
Photo: FB/Szijjártó
After receiving confirmation that they were all well, the ministry offered its help for their safest and fastest return to Hungary, provided by a Hungarian Army aircraft, he said. Eventually 18 Hungarian citizens accepted the opportunity, including seven children, and direct relatives of these Hungarian families, he said.
Photo: FB/Szijjártó
“It was unfortunately not the first such operation carried out in the region, and as it had been done before, we informed our allies about the Hungarian operation and told them that we could also help them with returning their citizens home,” he said.
A Hungarian Army aircraft has recently left Lebanon’s airspace carrying 18 Hungarians and 11 foreigners, including five Czech, a French and a Slovak citizens.
Photo: FB/Szijjártó
Read also:
Hungarian foreign minister: the EU should contact President Bashar al-Assad – Read more HERE
