Politics

Hungary’s PM Orbán wants this Balkans country to join the EU ASAP

Whatever happens in world politics, Hungary and Montenegro can count on each other, “see each other positively” and have no political or economic conflict, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Thursday, after talks with Montenegrin counterpart Milojko Spajic in Budapest.

Orbán welcomed Spajic’s first official visit to Hungary, and that they were able to discuss bilateral and international issues alike.

The Brics summit, “the summit of the eastern world”, is under way in Kazan with 31 countries in attendance, and Hungary is about to host a “meeting of the West”, with the leaders of more than 40 countries expected, Orbán said.

“We can now speak openly of the EU’s ailments; since Mario Draghi published his report, this taboo has become an open topic,” Orbán said.

Orbán said that currently, the European Union’s enlargement was one of the most important international issues. The bloc’s competitiveness is falling, its economic weight in the world waning, he warned, adding that and Hungary is promoting to inject “new momentum and resources” in the bloc’s economy by the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans.

Montenegro is possibly the best-prepared country in the region, Orbán said, praising the region’s states for doing a “fantastic job” in adapting the EU’s judiciary system. Nevertheless, not a single chapter of the accession process had been concluded in seven years, he said.

The EU had “neglected” Western Balkans enlargement and the process had started to lag then stopped, Orbán said. The Hungarian presidency of the European Council had pledged to “change that sorry state of affairs,” he said. Four chapters are expected to be closed in December, “which is a huge step”, and four others are close to being concluded, he said.

Bilateral cooperation between Hungary and Montenegro has also been thriving, with bilateral trade “breaking records nearly every year”, and Hungarian companies playing an important role in Montenegro’s economy, Orbán said. Electricity trade and Hungarian bank OTP are thriving, Podgorica is connected “with several European cities” by Hungarian discount airline Wizz Air, and Hungarian telecom company 4iG is the second largest player on the Montenegrin market, he said.

Orbán noted that Montenegro also welcomed Hungarian companies and invited further invesetors at the talks on Thursday.

“We have agreed that this is a good path and we designated new areas for economic cooperation,” Orbán said.

EU to close four chapters on Montenegro accession in December, says FM Szijjártó

The European Union and Montenegro will close four chapters on the latter’s EU integration, in December, before the end of Hungary’s EU presidency, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday, adding that it would mark “great progress” in the community’s enlargement in the Western Balkans.

Integrating the Western Balkans is “in the interest of the European Union, as the EU’s competitiveness and weight in global politics and in the economy appears to be diminishing,” the foreign ministry quoted Szijjártó as saying. He added that “the only way out is through finding new momentum and fresh energy, which could mostly be borrowed from the Western Balkans.”

FM Szijjártó in Budapest Montenegro — Photo: FB/Szijjártó

Integration of the region is also in the interest of Hungary “since we, living in the neighbourhood, know the difference between times when the Western Balkans is in peace and calm and when it is not,” he said.

Szijjártó noted that the integration process had slowed down, adding that the EU and Montenegro had not concluded a single one of 33 open chapters in the past seven years. He said the first four chapters were scheduled to be closed at an EU-Montenegro conference in Brussels on December 17, adding that he would chair the meeting on behalf of the Hungarian government.

The chapters to be concluded concern Montenegro’s performance in terms of the common foreign and security policy, the media in Montenegro, intellectual property and industrial strategies in the country, the minister added.

Concluding chapters with Montenegro is “a great step”, he said, but added that “enlargement requires further work since it is clear that the matter is surrounded by a lot of hypocrisy in Europe.” “Whereas almost everybody supports enlargement publicly, behind closed doors that support is not nearly as enthusiastic,” he added.

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October 25, 2024

Recent poll: Tisza Party gains momentum, outshining Hungary’s leading Fidesz Party

A survey conducted between 9 and 15 October with 1,000 participants reveals that the dominance of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz Party could be at risk, as the rising Tisza Party gains significant ground among key voter groups, particularly in urban areas and younger demographics. Here’s what a political analyst has to say about the newest numbers.

Tisza to leave Fidesz in the dust?

As Szeretlek Magyarország reports, a recent poll by the 21 Research Centre reveals that the Tisza Party has overtaken Fidesz among voters who are certain to cast their ballots, with 42 percent support compared to Fidesz’s 40 percent. However, among the broader population, the governing Fidesz party still holds the lead with 29 percent, while the Tisza Party trails at 26 percent.

Besides these two, only the Mi Hazánk Party (Our Homeland Party) would enter parliament, as other parties such as the Kétfarkú Kutya Party (Two-tailed Dog Party) and DK (Democratic Coalition) stand at 4 percent each. In the poll, 98 percent of Tisza Party voters believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, a sentiment shared by 71 percent of all respondents.

Demographical data

The recent poll also highlighted party preferences across demographics. The Tisza Party holds a strong lead over Fidesz among younger voters aged 18-39, while Fidesz dominates among those aged 65 and over. Educational attainment also shows a divide, with Fidesz leading among those with primary and secondary education, whereas the Tisza Party is favoured by voters with higher qualifications. A surprising finding is the geographic breakdown: Fidesz leads only in villages and smaller municipalities, while the Tisza Party has overtaken them in the capital, county capitals, and other cities.

assassination plot against Orbán — Photo: FB/Péter Magyar

Political analyst reacts to the poll’s results

Szeretlek Magyarország also writes that political analyst Gábor Török noted on Facebook that while the Tisza Party’s lead falls within the margin of error, this marks the first time in 18 years that such a result has emerged. He also highlighted that opinion polls not only reflect political realities but can influence voter decisions and political behaviour. The survey data, particularly regarding gender, age, education, and location, offer insights into the shifting dynamics between Fidesz and the Tisza Party.

According to Török, the poll shows a notable gender divide: Fidesz remains more popular among women, with 30 percent supporting the ruling party, compared to 22 percent backing the Tisza Party. Conversely, men tend to favour the Tisza Party, with 31 percent supporting it compared to Fidesz’s 27 percent. Additionally, women are more likely to be undecided voters, with a third of them unsure, while only a quarter of men fall into this category. This gender gap, along with other demographic factors, illustrates the fascinating competition between Hungary’s leading political parties.

Tisza MEPs ‘voted for migration, against Hungarians’, says Fidesz MEP

MEPs of the opposition Tisza party have voted “in favour of migration and against Hungarians” several times in the European Parliament, the head of the Fidesz-Christian Democrat (KDNP) delegation said on Thursday, adding that Tisza MEPs voted to speed up the implementation of the EU’s migration pact at the EP vote on the 2025 EU budget.

Tamás Deutsch told Hungarian journalists that Tisza MEPs also supported an EU proposal to raise by 10 billion euros funds for ensuring the welfare of migrants. In another vote, they supported a proposal “that says it was right to fine Hungary for 200 million euros for rejecting migration and for operating legal and physical barriers to keep migrants out.”

Further, Tisza MEPs voted against a proposal to allocated 2 million euros to fund Hungary’s maintenance of the border fence, he said.

The opposition MEPs were ready “to fulfil EU expectations and help turn Hungary into an immigration country by forcing it to allow in illegal migrants. We will not allow that, and we will thwart Tisza’s attempts,” Deutsch said.

Fidesz MEP Csaba Dömötör noted that Tisza had earlier said that they would align their position with that of the European People’s Party. “Their alignment to Brussels means more migration, more war expenditures and less financial support for Hungary. Rather than giving up a little bit of sovereignty, this spells damage that will be hard to repair,” Dömötör said.

“Those who hold dear Hungary’s sovereignty, culture and financial independence can only count on the MEPs of Fidesz-Christian Democrats,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Fidesz delegation said in a statement that the “leftist majority of the EP voted for a war budget” in a vote on budget amendments. “This budget will finance ongoing institutional blackmail, the rule-of-law jihad, the madness of gender ideology and woke, and the Soros network,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Fidesz rejected the amendments in line with its Patriots for Europe party family, it said.

PfE MEPs have also called for the monies Hungary is entitled to be paid as soon as possible, and guarantees that those sums would not be spent for other purposes, the statement said. They have also called for the “discriminative decision” excluding Hungarian universities, researchers and students from the Horizon and Erasmus programmes, it said.

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October 25, 2024

Strengthening Hungary-Türkiye ties: New agreement targets joint aid, cultural cooperation

türkiye hungary mou agreement cooperation

Cooperation in international development is enhancing Hungary-Türkiye ties, with an MoU signed between the Hungary Helps Agency and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, Tristan Azbej, the state secretary for aiding persecuted Christians, said on Thursday, noting agreements made during his visit to Türkiye.

“I’m certain we can translate this agreement into joint actions right away,” he wrote on his Facebook. “People suffering in crisis zones must be helped … and providing appropriate aid can prevent migration from the Sahel region and elsewhere.”

He noted the areas of food safety, educational development, advancing women’s rights and protecting the cultural heritage of Christians, Muslims and other religions as potential points of joint action.

Meanwhile, he said Türkiye was grateful for help Hungary provided after the earthquake in the south of the country, adding that both countries had shown solidarity last year with suffering communities around the world. “The cultural heart of earthquake-stricken Osmaniye province is beating again,” he added.

Hungary handed over a cultural centre and restored the Béla Bartók memorial exhibition within, he said, noting that Bartok had “preserved the treasures of Turkish folk music in this province in 1936”.

Tuzson: Hungary supports Türkiye EU integration

Hungary supports Türkiye’s European Union integration, Bence Tuzson, the justice minister, said after signing a cooperation agreement with Turkish counterpart Yilmaz Tunc in Budapest on Thursday.

The two ministers agreed that leaving Türkiye out of the EU would be the bloc’s loss rather Türkiye’s.

At a joint press conference, Tuzson expressed sympathy over a recent terrorist attack in Ankara claiming five lives, and said that Hungary condemns all kinds of terrorism.

The cooperation accord focusing on the exchange of information in the areas of law and IT, strengthens the two countries’ strategic partnership, Tuzson said, highlighting Türkiye’s advanced IT systems in legislation and its “huge progress in legislation in the past 20 years”.

Tuzson said the EU should in the future “pursue an enlargement policy based on merit rather than on ideologies”, and he insisted that the bloc should “recognise the efforts of countries that have made progress in the area of enlargement” such as Türkiye.

The minister called for an EU that was “as open as possible”, adding that Hungary sought to be a hub for European businesses and ventures outside the community. “This applies to the area of law,” he added.

Enlargement is in the primary interest of the EU rather than of countries outside the EU because “enlargement could boost Europe’s competitiveness,” he said, adding that an invitation has been extended to Turkey to attend the EU’s competitiveness conference in November.

Referring to the recent terrorist attack in Ankara, the Turkish minister blamed the Kurdish PKK party, and he pledged to continue Türkiye’s fight against terrorism and to protect the Turkish people.

Tunc said bilateral relations were problem-free, adding that the accord signed on Thursday was an addition to an earlier agreement on judicial cooperation.

He said his country had met all EU requirements concerning its accession but the EU was discriminating against Türkiye. He insisted that in many areas the EU’s treatment of Türkiye was illegitimate, but he also expressed Türkiye’s determination to join the bloc.

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October 24, 2024

Hungary’s new Highway Code will shock drivers and transform road safety

The Ministry of Construction and Transport has pledged to introduce a new Highway Code by 31 March 2025, which will be presented by the Hungarian government. For several months, experts from the Ministry and the Hungarian Institute of Transport Science and Logistics, alongside various external specialists, have been collaborating on drafting the legislation. Five dedicated working groups are focused on incorporating the feedback and suggestions received so far into the updated traffic regulations.

According to Vezess.hu, the Ministry’s representatives will periodically brief the press on the planned reforms. So far, they have outlined the key principles of the new Highway Code, proposed updates to the process for obtaining a driving licence, and introduced initiatives aimed at motorcyclists and pedestrians. Recently, they unveiled specific proposals addressing a wide range of everyday concerns for road users, from honking to parking. Dániel Zách, an automotive journalist, told ATV that many of the new traffic rules are already being observed in practice but are not yet enshrined in law. He highlighted the “zipper principle,” which helps maintain smoother traffic flow when the right lane is closed, as an example.

Key changes

Lane and parking changes

The new Highway Code introduces a concept known as the “protection lane”, designed to safeguard pedestrians and cyclists. This new rule allows vehicles to pass in the centre of the lane, rather than staying strictly to the right. Additionally, the term “waiting” has been replaced by “parking”, and changes have been made to the terminology around stopping lanes to prevent misunderstandings. The draft legislation also proposes a new sticker system to indicate the driving abilities of older drivers.

Speed limit changes

There are significant adjustments to speed limits under the new Highway Code. The current motorway limit of 130 km/h will remain, though certain stretches may see this increased to 140 km/h in the future. Outside built-up areas, a new speed limit of 90 km/h is proposed for buses, trucks, and trailers. Another key proposal is the introduction of a mandatory two-second gap between vehicles on motorways, aimed at improving safety.

Changes in signalling and lighting

New rules have been outlined for the use of indicators, requiring drivers to signal at least two seconds before making a manoeuvre. The use of horns will be restricted to accident situations, while emergency whistles will also be permitted to prevent accidents. Additionally, there will be stricter regulations on seatbelt use for children, with greater responsibility placed on drivers. Under the new rules, children under the age of three must be accompanied by an adult when travelling by bus.

When will these changes take effect?

It is expected that the final version of the new Highway Code will take at least another year to be completed. The aim is to have the proposed legislation finalised by the end of March 2025. However, there will be a lengthy transition period before the New Highway Code comes into effect, which is likely to take between six and twelve months. As a result, the earliest penalties under the updated regulations are not expected until late 2025 or early 2026.

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October 24, 2024

Szabad Európa: Far-right youngster employed by Hungarian Embassy in Washington to maintain ties with Trump supporters

Since at least February 2021, American citizen Taylor James Ragg has been working as a political assistant at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington. Despite being under 30, Ragg has already built a significant political history within far-right circles.

According to Szabad Európa, Ragg’s role at the embassy is reportedly to manage relations with the Trump-aligned segment of the Republican Party.

About Ragg, the far-right youngster working at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington

Ragg has been active in the American far-right movement for at least seven years. His since-deleted Facebook profile shows that he joined several far-right groups and confirmed his attendance at their events. This is significant because some of these groups were involved in organising the August 2017 rally in Charlottesville, where Ragg was present.

On the night before the planned demonstration on 12 August, white supremacists held an unsanctioned torchlit march on a university campus. Video footage from the event helped Szabad Európa identify Ragg using facial recognition software.

The outlet also reported that Ragg socialised with white nationalist Richard Spencer and previously interned for a U.S. senator. Last year, he attended a CPAC conference in the U.S., where two Hungarian leaders from the Center for Fundamental Rights, Péter Törcsi and Magor Ernyei, were also present.

Both the embassy and Ragg have so far declined to respond to Szabad Európa’s inquiries.

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October 24, 2024

Fidesz MEP calls for scrapping EU migration pact and lifting fines against Hungary

Kinga Gál, the chair of the Fidesz-Christian Democrat European Parliament delegation, has called for “the bad EU migration pact” to be “chucked out” and for fines against Hungary for stopping migration to be lifted.

The outgoing European Commission’s “big mistake” was to force through the EU migration pact, Gál, who is also the first deputy leader of the Patriots for Europe group, told an international press conference on Wednesday, adding that the pact imposed “old and bad solutions” to problems of which the pact itself was a focal point.

She said mass illegal migration endangered Europeans, ruined the continent and compromised Schengen free movement. “Radical change is needed,” she declared.

Gál said protecting the external borders should be a priority, and she argued that asylum applications must be assessed beyond Europe’s borders. Also, she called for cooperation with countries from where migrants originate and travel through, while people who have no legal right to stay in the EU should be “sent back”.

The Fidesz politician said Hungary in 2015 had been the first EU member state to highlight the perils and unsustainability of mass illegal migration, and ever since the country had advanced proposals on how to strengthen and control the external borders and prevent irregular migration while putting its advice into practice.

Gál said that while more and more EU member states demanded stricter controls at the EU borders and a clamp-down on migration, the European Commission was “harshly punishing” Hungary for protecting the EU borders, which she called “outrageous” and “hypocritical”.

Tamas Deutsch, the Fidesz-Christian Democrat European Parliament group leader, noted that the EP decided on its position on the 2025 EU budget at its plenary session on Wednesday.

He said Fidesz argued for a EU budget that advanced peace and stopped illegal migration while strengthening national sovereignty.

The Patriots’ bill would have provided the union with effective means for stopping illegal migration and protecting external borders, such as procuring border protection equipment and building and maintaining border fences.

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October 24, 2024

Shocking parking fee hike in Budapest: Residents of this district face a staggering 17x increase!

At its most recent meeting, the Municipality of Erzsébetváros approved a substantial increase in parking fees, set to take effect on 1 January 2025. Residents will have to pay an annual parking fee of HUF 36,000 (EUR 90) for the first car and HUF 72,000 (EUR 180) for the second car.

This change represents a significant increase from the HUF 2,200 (EUR 5) per year for the first car and between HUF 45,000 (EUR 111) and 150,000 (EUR 372) for the second car, depending on the environmental classification. With the implementation of the new system, the annual parking costs for residents will rise by more than 17 times according to Telex.

Reasons behind the parking fee changes

The reason behind the change is straightforward: free or low parking fees encourage car traffic, which diminishes the livability of districts. According to the signatories of the proposal, parking charges should be proportional to the use of public spaces, reflecting their value. The goal is to motivate residents to seek alternative parking options and to ensure the maintenance of public spaces while creating green areas. The district’s mayor, Péter Niedermüller, explained that Erzsébetváros is overcrowded with cars, and the current local parking fee for residents is merely symbolic, only covering administrative costs.

According to Index, the Fidesz government opposed the decision, referring to it as a punitive tax and pointing out that the municipality is facing significant financial challenges. Mayor Péter Niedermüller defended the increase, explaining that the district’s parking spaces were overburdened. He noted that 9,450 parking permits had been issued to residents, while there were only 7,203 parking spaces available—resulting in an average of 1.3 cars per parking space.

The results of the vote on the parking fee increase were as follows: the four-member Fidesz faction voted against, while the other factions, along with Mayor Péter Niedermüller, supported the proposal with ten votes.

Previous parking fee changes

In 2023, Elizabeth City limited households to two parking permits and altered discounts for second cars, reducing discounted permits from 1,142 to 610. The city also established residential parking, reserving 30% of spaces for permit holders from 6 PM to 7 AM. However, further development of this initiative is on hold. Péter Niedermüller, the mayor of Erzsébetváros, highlighted the social and health impacts of over-subsidized parking, including reduced green spaces and rising air pollution, which is linked to increasing asthma cases, while free public parking remains more attractive to residents.

The long-term impacts

Erzsébetváros is not the first district to raise parking fees, as Józsefváros did the same in 2023. Other districts are likely waiting to see the public reaction to the newly approved changes in Erzsébetváros, and it is possible that this could lead to similar adjustments in parking fees elsewhere. The impact of these changes can be viewed in two ways: financially, it may be beneficial for districts to raise parking fees, but this could come at the cost of public outrage from residents, depending on which concerns weigh more heavily.

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October 24, 2024

Transport minister Lázár: Hungarians will always be right

Minister of construction and transport János Lázár told an event in the Hungarian Opera House of Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár), commemorating the 68th anniversary of the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, that “it is worth paying attention to the Hungarian people because Hungarians are eventually always right”.

Lázár said, “this was the case in 1848, in 1956, and it will be the same in 2024”. All national holidays, he said, carried the message of national cohesion. “Hungarians bound by their language, culture and history always lived in minority, but instead of self-abandonment, this taught them that they can only rely on themselves,” he added.

Gulyás: 1956 belongs to whole Hungarian nation

The majority of the fighting took place in Budapest but 1956 was an outstanding Hungarian achievement that belonged not only to the capital but the whole of the Hungarian nation, the head of the prime minister’s office said in Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda) on Wednesday.

Gergely Gulyás told a commemorative event at the Gloria Victis memorial in Miercurea Ciuc in Szeklerland, marking the 68th anniversary of the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, that “the reception of the 1956 revolution beyond the borders demonstrated that the mother country’s unfaithfulness to the nation, inspired by the internationalists during Communism, did not end up destroying national cohesion”.

Hunor Kelemen, the leader of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), told the event that even if Transylvanian Hungarians were freer now than 68 years ago, their freedom was still under threat. “Just as the heroes of the Hungarian freedom fight risked their lives fighting for the future of their nation, we must also fight for a free future,” he added.

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October 24, 2024

Orbán meets Macron in Paris: here is what they talked about

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 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.

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October 23, 2024

Péter Magyar rallies opposition at Budapest demonstration, calling for change in 2026

péter magyar demonstration 23 october tisza party

At today’s 23 October demonstration in Budapest, Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, delivered a passionate speech at Bem József Square, later leading the crowd to Széna Square. He fiercely criticised Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of betraying the legacy of 1956, and emphasised the need to return to the principles of unity and resistance against oppression.

péter magyar demonstration 23 october — Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

Péter Magyar outlined a bold vision for the 2026 elections, announcing the start of a transparent selection process for future leaders committed to Hungary’s prosperity, Economx reported. He promised reforms in healthcare, education, and the economy, including restoring the national reputation, reclaiming stolen assets, and enhancing social welfare programs. Additionally, Magyar pledged to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, reinstate the independence of local governments, and limit prime ministers to two terms.

The demonstration also targeted former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, with Magyar blaming both Orbán and Gyurcsány for Hungary’s struggles over the past two decades, stating that their leadership has left the country in a political, economic, and moral crisis.

The event marked the Tisza Party’s commitment to offering a patriotic government, aiming to put Hungary back on an upward trajectory by 2026.

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October 23, 2024

Slovakia terminates decades-old citizenship agreement with Hungary

Robert Fico Viktor Orbán new ally oil transit citizenship agreement

Slovakia has officially decided to terminate its citizenship agreement with Hungary, which was originally signed in 1961. The Slovak government, under the leadership of Robert Fico, has argued that the current arrangement is unconstitutional, particularly when it comes to the citizenship status of children with parents of dual nationality.

Slovakia terminates citizenship agreement with Hungary

The agreement originally stipulated that children born to parents of mixed Slovak-Hungarian nationality would receive the citizenship chosen by their parents. If the parents could not agree, the child would automatically be granted the citizenship of the country in which they resided. However, Slovakia now plans to end this agreement, as the government believes it is unconstitutional to deprive a child of Slovak citizenship against their will, especially in cases involving minors, Új Szó reports.

Interestingly, the Slovak government also noted that Hungary had unilaterally declared the agreement void in 1999, meaning Slovakia has been the only party upholding its terms for over two decades. The agreement was initially designed to prevent dual citizenship for minors, but it now conflicts with Slovakia’s constitution, as well as European citizenship agreements and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In addition to terminating the agreement with Hungary, Slovakia is also cancelling a similar agreement with the former Soviet Union, which now only applies to Russia. The termination will take effect 12 months after the other party is notified, and Slovakia’s parliament must also approve the decision.

Does this change dual citizenship for Slovaks of Hungarian descent?

Despite this development, the situation for Hungarians living in Slovakia, particularly those in the Felvidék region, remains unchanged. Under Slovakia’s strict 2010 law, anyone who acquires a second nationality—such as Hungarian citizenship through Hungary’s simplified naturalisation process—will lose their Slovak citizenship. According to Index, this law was introduced in response to Hungary granting dual citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living abroad in 2010.

While Slovakia amended its dual citizenship law in 2021, the changes still do not allow Slovaks of Hungarian descent to hold both Slovak and Hungarian citizenships without losing their Slovak nationality. Under the revised law, only those who have lived abroad for at least five years or who acquire foreign citizenship through marriage or adoption can retain their Slovak citizenship. This means that only Slovaks of Hungarian descent who have been residing in Hungary for at least five years can safely apply for Hungarian citizenship without losing their Slovak status.

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October 23, 2024

Hungary becomes EU’s most expensive state to run all the while underfunding healthcare

orbán and rogán hungary most expensive state to run

In 2023, Hungary officially became the European Union’s most expensive state to run, with the government spending 8.1% of its GDP on public administration, security, defence, and local municipalities. This expenditure—outlined in a recent budget report submitted to Parliament—places Hungary ahead of all other EU member states, where the average is 5.9%. While Hungary’s lavish spending on state operations stands out, its healthcare system remains severely underfunded, drawing sharp criticism.

Hungary spends too little on healthcare, education

The financial report revealed that, while the state spent HUF 6,119 billion (EUR 15.23 billion) on its operations, healthcare received a mere 4.7% of GDP, placing Hungary at the bottom of the EU rankings, Népszava reports. In comparison, the average EU country allocates 7.7% of GDP to healthcare, significantly more than Hungary. Despite an increase in nominal terms to HUF 3,554 billion (EUR 8.85 billion), high inflation caused the real value of healthcare spending to drop by 7.8%, a reality that healthcare professionals and the public are increasingly feeling.

on-call system healthcare — Photo: depositphotos.com

Education spending faced similar struggles. Though the government allocated HUF 2,901 billion (EUR 7.22 billion), a 12% increase in nominal terms, the nation’s inflation rate of 17.6% meant that in real terms, spending actually decreased by 5.6%. This leaves Hungary trailing behind the EU average, with the country spending 3.9% of its GDP on education compared to the EU average of 4.9%.

At the same time, state propaganda received more

Despite cutbacks across essential public services, there was one notable exception: government propaganda. The Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, led by Antal Rogán, received HUF 18.1 billion (EUR 45 million) more than originally budgeted for government communication tasks, alongside HUF 35.5 billion (EUR 88.4 million) extra for events.

Meanwhile, the country’s defence and law enforcement sectors also felt the pinch. The 3.2% budget cut, when adjusted for inflation, amounted to a real-term reduction of 21%. This drastic decrease in funding left security forces under strain, with rising debts accumulating towards the end of the year, necessitating emergency financial interventions.

orbán and rogán — PM Orbán (left) and Antal Rogán (right). Photo: Facebook/Orbán Viktor

Hungary’s high costs extend beyond public administration. The state also stands out for its generous spending on business subsidies and cultural activities, which includes sports and religious support. These areas have long been a priority for the Orbán government, often at the expense of healthcare and education.

In conclusion, the data highlights the stark imbalance in Hungary’s budget priorities, as the country allocates disproportionately high sums to operating the state while underfunding vital sectors like healthcare and education. This spending pattern raises significant concerns, especially given the country’s ongoing economic challenges and rising inflation.

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October 23, 2024

Opposition statements: Orbán spat in the face of 1956 heroes, ‘Russians, go home!’

péter magyar tisza party 1956 revolution

Hungarian opposition parties have made statements in connection with the commemoration of the anti-Soviet uprising 68 years ago, in 1956.

Green party LMP said in a statement on Wednesday that October 23 sent the clear message that when a people stood up for its own freedom, “even if their struggle fails, their sacrifice will not and cannot be in vain”. “Our heroes gave their lives so the next generations could weigh the true sense of freedom, so their children and grandchildren would not live in servitude.”

The Dialogue-Greens party said in a post on Facebook that the “regime” of Viktor Orbán had “spat in the face of” the 1956 heroes, adding that “we must create a new community based on values”. “We’re once again living under oppression: a narrow elite has stolen Hungary and closed its doors to the West while opening its doors to the East once more.”

Jobbik Hungary Movement deputy leader Koloman Brenner said: “We hold the [1956] flag high and proclaim the revolution’s central motto, “Russians, go home!”

Speaking at a commemoration held at the statue of Péter Mansfeld, who was executed at a tender age in Budapest, the Jobbik politician said those who flooded the streets in 1956 were “Hungarian patriots who wanted to live in freedom in their own country”. Jobbik, he added, objected to any attempt to falsify history, “whether by a Russian textbook in which the heroes of fifty-six are described as fascist mobs, or by Fidesz career patriots”.

Socialist Party leader Imre Komjáthi marked the national holiday on Tuesday evening in Kaposvár, in southern Hungary. Speaking at a commemoration at the statue of martyred prime minister Imre Nagy, a native of Kaposvár, Komjáthi said the holiday was a celebration of freedom and heroism.

The heroes of 1956 “burned with a yearning for freedom and love of the homeland,” he said, adding that statements “belittling the memory of our fallen compatriots are unacceptable”. “People who use sovereignty as a rhetorical tool against an imaginary enemy, but who would offer the keys of the country to an aggressor in real trouble have no place in Hungarian politics,” he said.

At the Democratic Coalition’s commemoration in Budapest, party leader Ferenc Gyurcsány said that Hungary was living “in an upside-down world where traitors are making to be celebrating the holiday of freedom and national independence on behalf of the community”.

The revolution had aimed to rid Hungary of Russian-Soviet rule, he said. “That’s what it was about, and then it’s about how everyone who watches Ukraine’s fight against Russian rule in disgust is a traitor.”

“There’s a special place in hell for those who maintain neutrality in times of moral crises,” he said. “The Hungarian government is even worse, because they are simply taking the murderers’ side … and betraying the cause of fifty-six, that of Hungarian freedom and independence…” he said.

The party’s board members laid a wreath at the memorial at the Square of the Heroes of 1956.

Péter Magyar, the head of the opposition Tisza Party, and the party’s Budapest representatives laid wreaths at the New Public Cemetery in the capital. The Tisza Party laid flowers at plots 301, 300 and 298 at the graves of martyred Prime Minister Imre Nagy and other 1956 heroes. “Glory and respect to the heroes without whom Hungary would not be free in its current form,” the statement said.

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October 23, 2024

Orbán: Brussels wants to plant puppet government in Hungary

Brussels wants to oust Hungary’s national government which pursues an independent policy which they find intolerable and plant a puppet government in the country, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a speech of commemoration in Budapest’s Millenaris Park on Wednesday, marking the 68th anniversary of the 1956 revolution and freedom fight.

Orbán said Hungary was faced with a decision about whether to “bow to the will of foreigners, the will of Brussels” or to resist it. “This grave decision awaits Hungary right now,” he added. “Our reaction must be as clear and unambiguous as it was in 1956,” he declared. Orbán said Hungary would not take part in struggles between empires.

“We want one thing only, to live in peace here in the Carpathian Basin … according to our rules while seeking our own happiness.” Referring to the Russia-Ukraine war, he said Europe’s economy was “falling into the war” and “millions of families” would be “ruined” unless action was taken to stop the tendency. “Let’s not drop this, my friends!”

Orbán: 1956 shows ‘we must fight solely for Hungary’s freedom’

PM Orbán said at the commemoration of the 68th anniversary of the anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 that the revolution had shown that “we must only ever fight for Hungary and Hungarians’ freedom”.

Pressure from Brussels was growing on Hungary and its government, Orbán told the event held at the Millenaris Park in Budapest. “We Hungarians also have to decide whether we want to go to war against Russia.” “Our political opponents think that we should: they say the moral of 1956 was that we should fight for Ukraine; indeed in Ukraine.” The world is closer to a world war than ever in the past 70 years, Orbán said.

“Everyone pretends not to see that the emperor has no clothes.” He said Europe’s leaders, “the Brussels bureaucrats”, had led the West into a “hopeless war”. “Their heads are addled by the hope of victory and they see this as the West’s war against Russia that they have to win, bring the enemy to its knees and squeeze them for everything they’ve got.” Orbán said they were trying to push the entire EU into the war. “They have published the new victory plan which amounts to expanding the war,” he added.

Orbán: Empires will do everything to guarantee there’s a Hungarian who invites them in

“Hungarians are a freedom-loving and freedom-fighting people”, Orbán said. He declared that no occupier had succeeded in taming Hungarians. He said that empires preferred to be invited in and “will do everything to guarantee there’s a Hungarian who calls them in”. But Hungarians, he added, did not “tolerate humiliation”. “All puppet governments and empires should understand and never forget that we waged the brightest freedom fight of world revolutions. We taught them forever: never hurt Hungarians,” he said. The prime minister thanked special guests at the event who helped to protect the country during the recent floods.

Orbán: Hungary not afraid of ‘imperialist blackmail’

Hungarians have proven “a hundred times” that they will not give in “if the current empire blackmails them”, Orbán said.

“We know they want to force us into war,” Orbán said in Budapest’s Millenaris Park. “We know they want to dump migrants on us. We know they want to hand our children over to gender activists.” Referring to the opposition Tisza Party and its leader, Péter Magyar, Orbán said Hungarians knew that “they have picked the puppet government and party they want to install, and they have their man for the job … the ideal candidate to head a puppet government”.

Orbán: ‘We shall not allow Hungary to be turned into a vassal of Brussels’

“We shall not allow Hungary to be turned into a puppet state, a vassal of Brussels,” Orbán said. Speaking at the celebration at Budapest’s Millenaris Park, Orbán said the 1956 revolution had created unity and a common will but had lacked the strength necessary to take sovereign action. “Today, the right-wing government has the backing of strong national unity, a common will and strength,” he said. “Today, there’s an opportunity to take sovereign action, and I promise you that we shall use it.” “To be Hungarian means to fight; this is the message and the demand of the heroes of fifty-six.” “We Hungarians can and will do it. We will do it again,” Orbán said.

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October 23, 2024

VIDEO – Budapest mayor Karácsony: Fifty-sixers ‘knew only a brave nation can be free’

Gergely Karácsony Russian and Belarusian diplomats (Copy)

Fifty-sixers “knew precisely that only a brave nation can be free”, Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest, said on Wednesday in a video message uploaded to YouTube to mark the occasion of the October 23 national holiday.

“They also knew that the courage of the nation was possible only by belonging together,” Karácsony said of the 1956 uprising against Soviet rule. He noted that he was spending a part of the national holiday in Strasbourg at a summit of European mayors, but he felt it was important for him to declare, quoting Hungarian author György Faludy, that 1956 was not a memory, nor the past, nor history, but “a piece of my heart…” “Let’s not allow this heart, our heart, to be torn out…” he said.

The mayor added that a power “that only thinks of itself and puts its interest before values, and mixes up the aggressor with the victim … is capable of projecting onto the present day and declare that Hungarians should lie down before the aggressor and give up everything — freedom, independence, and the homeland.” “What’s totally unforgivable is a nihilistic policy that puts all values in parentheses and subordinates everything to its own power interests…” he said. “I and many others trust that this country, including … Budapest, will not lie down, kill ourselves, or surrender…” he added.

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October 23, 2024

1956 Revolution: National flag raised in front of Parliament

1956 revolution 23 october flag parliament

The national flag was raised with military honours in front of Parliament on Wednesday in the presence of Speaker of Parliament László Kövér and defence minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, marking the 68th anniversary of the 1956 revolution and freedom fight.

1956 23 october flag parliament — Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi

Representatives of military and state organisations attended the ceremony, where the national anthem was played and Parliament was draped with flags with a hole in the middle, symbolising the October revolution that began with a peaceful demonstration and turned into an armed uprising against the Communist dictatorship of Matyas Rakosi and the Soviet occupation. Parliament declared October 23 an official national holiday in 1991, which was confirmed by the 2012 Fundamental Law.

1956 23 october flag parliament2 — Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi

Hungary-US relations focus of ceremony in Washington

American Hungarians “who enrich the cultural, economic and political fabric” of the United States are vital to fostering relations between the two countries, a government official said at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, DC, at an event commemorating the 1956 uprising.

He said Hungary and the US worked closely “in handling global challenges, from security and defence cooperation, to innovation and trade; and we remain united in protecting democracy”, Tibor Toth, finance ministry state secretary for macroeconomic and international affairs, said. Hungary’s ambassador to the US, Szabolcs Takacs, called the struggle of October 1956 “a fight for freedom” as much as a revolution. “Hungarians are incapable of putting distance between them and 1956 as it is part of who we are,” he said. Hungary, he added, believed in strong alliances based on strong and sovereign nation states, and was interested “in a strong United States that contributes to global stability”.

Secretary of State of Indiana Diego Morales thanked Hungarians for investing in the mid-western federal state and contributing to it through their culture and customs, adding that further developing economic, cultural and scientific relations between Indiana and Hungary had been a priority of his since taking office last year. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy toward Russia and Central Europe, Sonata Coulter, and foreign diplomats working in Washington, as well as members of the Hungarian community there, also attended the event.

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October 23, 2024

Orbán: The West is panicking over migration, the greatest problem threatening to pull the EU apart

Orbán cabinet may continue to block EUR 45 billion loan scheme for Ukraine until the US elections safety

Western leaders are “in panic” over illegal migration, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a press conference after a Hungarian-Slovak-Serbian summit on the protection of the European Union’s external borders in Komarno (Revkomarom), in southern Slovakia, on Tuesday.

“Panic only breeds bad decisions,” Orbán said, pointing to measures such as suspending free movement within the Schengen area and re-introducing border controls, “so illegal migration dismantled the greatest achievement of the European Union, free movement across the borders.” It was predictable that the crime rate would grow and the migration pact would exacerbate rather than solve the problem, “so the pact is the problem itself,” he said.

Migration ‘greatest problem’

Photo: FB/Orbán

The greatest problem threatening to pull the European Union apart is migration, Orbán said, calling for change, adding that the EU’s migration pact “must be thrown out” and all new solutions have to be sought.

Speaking after a Hungarian-Slovak-Serbian summit on the protection of the EU’s external borders in Komarno (Revkomarom) in Slovakia on Tuesday, Orbán said that while migration was itself a serious problem, “it will destroy cooperation within the bloc” when coupled with bad leadership. “The prime minister of Slovakia and I are ready to participate in creating new rules because the current ones must certainly be forgotten and new ones must be drafted,” Orbán said.

Orbán: Cooperation with Slovakia, Serbia in Hungary’s vital interest

Cooperation with Slovakia and Serbia is in Hungary’s vital interest, and Hungary is ready to continue it “in its current form”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a press conference after a Hungarian-Slovak-Serbian summit in Komarno (Révkomárom) in Slovakia on Tuesday.

Slovakia is among Hungary’s ten most important economic partners, and bilateral trade with Serbia has grown six-fold during the presidency of Aleksandar Vucic, Orbán said. He said Serbian-Hungarian ties also played a role in Hungary’s economic neutrality through Serbia’s free trade agreement with China. Serbia and Slovakia are also crucial for Hungary’s energy independence, Orbán said.

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October 22, 2024

Budapest district considers setting up a company to run historic coffee shops in the Castle District

The municipality of Budapest’s 1st District is mulling setting up a company to run the historic Ruszwurm coffee shop and its stablemates in the Castle District, the district’s mayor, Lászlo Böröcz (Fidesz), said on Monday.

The goal is to keep the beloved coffee houses operational, despite a HUF 300 million (EUR 751,000) debt owed to the local authority by the current owner, Böröcz said. In the 2010s, the municipality terminated the owners’ contract as they could not agree on the lease, and the coffee shops have been operating without permits since, he noted.

The lawsuit ended with a top court ruling that Ruszwurm owed HUF 300 million (EUR 747 thousand) to the municipality, and the premises should be vacated, Böröcz said. The owner, Miklós Szamos, said in 2023 that he had been “asked to pay protection money”, Böröcz said. “That statement is hard to prove now”, Böröcz said, adding however that once the relationship between Márta V. Naszályi, who was the district’s (opposition-delegated) mayor at the time, and Szamos had soured, the district leadership “had an interest in closing those coffee shops”.

Since the municipality has no hope of recovering the money owed, it has offered to take over the running of the coffee houses and their 40-50 employees and equipment once the court decision has been executed, which is scheduled in the coming week, he said. Böröcz said that once the legal and material requirements were at hand, he would submit a proposal to the councillors in early November, and the coffee houses could open as early as December.

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October 22, 2024