Speaker Kövér: the new European Commission works against Europe’s interests
The new European Commission “is now promoting in Europe the interests of private powers outside Europe” leading to further “political, economic, and social destabilisation” of the community, László Kövér, the speaker of Hungary’s parliament, told a session of the Patriots for Europe European parliamentary group in Budapest on Friday.
According to Kövér, Europe is “under a symbolic political, economic, and cultural carpet bombing”, while “the threat of an actual bombing of our continent is increasing by the day.”
Kövér said Patriots were “the first hopeful green sprig on the tree of Europe pruned by harmful hands” adding that the group had “a mission from the Lord of History” to create the conditions to rebuild Europe in a political, economic and cultural sense. He said patriotic forces in Europe were “protecting common sense against abnormality, at the level of ideologies”; they were “protecting patriotism against globalism at the political level, and protecting nation states from EU federalism and against plans to build an European United States at a legislative level.”
Kövér also called for cooperation with patriots in the United States to protect “democratic states as institutions of legitimate public power” from “private powers lacking democratic legitimacy, seeking to subject democratic states in a clandestine way.”
The Patriots for Europe adopted a political declaration urging a stricter migration policy.
Kinga Gál, the party group’s vice-chair, said the issue of migration was in need of the most urgent action, adding that a “migration crisis” threatened Europe’s future.
The Fidesz MEP said that before the EP elections the “pro-migration majority” in Brussels had forced through “old, bad solutions” contained in the migration pact, which encouraged migration rather than seeking to prevent it. European migration policy must be put on a completely new footing, she said.
The Patriots for Europe’s proposals call for effective external border protection and a complete ban on illegal border crossings, she said. Only people who have the right to enter and stay in the EU should be able to do so, she added.
Mass migration the gravest threat to Europe’s future
Jordan Bardella, the group’s chair, said mass migration was the gravest threat to Europe’s future, adding that the process was irreversible and transformed nation states, with enclaves and non-Western laws “formed everywhere”.
The group adopted a joint statement on migration at the meeting. Gal said the topic was chosen because the group saw it as the one requiring urgent action the most. “There is definitely a migration crisis in Europe, and it is threatening the continent’s future,” she said. Besides effective border control, the party group has called on the regular review of refugees’ asylum status, and asylum seekers who have committed crimes or subscribe to extremist views must be expelled from the EU, she added. They are also demanding “a firm stance against civil and lobby organisations organising illegal migration to Europe”.
They are calling on the EU to refrain from stopping member states from implementing stringent immigration regulations and for an opt-out option from the EU’s migration regulations. The EU should also withdraw all sanctions against member states for measures designed to stop illegal migration, she said.
The parties rejected the EU’s migration policy and all attempts at putting political pressure on member states and leaders fighting illegal migration effectively on their own authority, she said.
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Bahrein important pro-peace partner of Hungary, says minister
Hungary has confirmed its dedication to its pro-peace partner, Bahrein, the defence ministry said on Friday.
The ministry cited Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky saying after bilateral talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa that cooperation was needed to handle global and regional challenges. The statement added that this was the first occasion that a Hungarian defence minister had paid an official visit to Bahrein.
The minister said that ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world posed security challenges, and Hungary’s position was that Europe’s stability is unimaginable without the stability of the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). As a result, it is important to develop closer cooperation for handling global and regional challenges, he added.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that Hungary was committed to ensuring the stability of the MENA region. “For this purpose, we are continually increasing our presence in the region, and we cooperate with the countries that are open to stability and partnership, such as Bahrein,” he said. “We greatly appreciate the efforts by Gulf States to strengthen the stability of the Middle East,” he added.
He also said that “the cooperation between our countries is key not only for regional but also global security,” “We aim to further expand bilateral relations, with special regard to economic, security and humanitarian cooperation,” he added.
“Hungary and Bahrein as members of the global pro-peace majority, give priority to dialogue, cooperation and peacefully settling conflicts,” he said. “The intensifying competition between great powers threatens with the re-emergence of blocs in the world. We were in agreement that this could be counterbalanced with effective cooperation based on mutual respect and building connections,” he said.
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PM Orbán wants to overtake the trembling “fortress of Brussels”
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met on Friday evening members of the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament who are in Budapest for a meeting, the prime minister’s press chief said.
The prime minister told the event that the party alliance had been established to make Europe strong again, Bertalan Havasi said. “We are on the right path to achieve our goal, currently ours is the third largest group in the EP and we have chances to become the strongest by the end of the current term,” Orbán said.
He added that no matter where one looks in the world, to the east or the west, sovereigntist powers were emerging at elections.
“Only the fortress of Brussels is left to be overtaken,”
he added. “We must fight plenty more for that goal. We must fight for our people, for our sovereign nations, and for independent Europe,” he said. “It is only us patriots who represent the true opposition to the Brussels elite, the new voice of Europe, which makes Brussels tremble,” he said.
Orbán-Bardella meeting: ‘Patriots represent Europe’s future’
Orbán, the leader of ruling Fidesz, on Friday met Jordan Bardella, the leader of the French National Rally (RN) party, the PM’s press chief said. Orbán and Bardella discussed the political situation “after three party families of the European Parliament, the Socialists, the Liberals and the European People’s Party had set up a united front,” Bertalan Havasi said.
Patriots for Europe, the party family of Fidesz and RN, will fight against the “Brussels pact”, the party leaders said. “We are the opposition of the pro-migration and pro-war Brussels, Patriots are representing the future, and the parties of the Brussels pact are of the past,” Orbán and Bardella said.
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Hungarian opposition politician teams up with French national TV to film the Orbán mansion – VIDEO
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.
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.
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New Israeli FM praised Hungary’s “correct stance” while meeting FM Szijjártó
Israel’s new foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has expressed his appreciation of Hungary’s “correct stance”, and he will soon pay a visit to Hungary, the foreign minister said in Valletta on Thursday.
“Concerning Israel, we consider it regrettable that several European leaders have made statements in the recent period that set back relations with Europe,” the ministry cited Péter Szijjártó as saying on Facebook after his meeting with Sa’ar.
“Hungary continues to urge the convening of a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council which sufficiently emphasises the strategic character of relations between the EU and Israel,” he added.
The new Israeli FM Sa’ar visits Hungary soon
Szijjártó said the Israeli foreign minister expressed thanks for the chance Hungary has given Israeli soccer teams to play domesctic matches here, and he assured Sa’ar that Hungary continued to offer a safe location for the Israeli national team and Israeli clubs to play matches.
“In Hungary they need not fear scandalous scenes such as those unfortunately witnessed in western Europe as a result of the spread of modern anti-Semitism,” he said.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said Hungary was dedicated to its support for respecting the Lebanon ceasefire as it greatly contributed to the protection of Christian communities. “The Israeli foreign minister will visit Hungary soon, in mid-January,” he added.
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PM Orbán will veto the EU’s next budget if Brussels keeps funds frozen and says Ukraine is weak, Russia’s strong
“We are the new opposition to Brussels,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview to public radio on Friday.
Orbán said that alongside the formation of the new European Commission, the European People’s Party, liberals and socialists had entered into a political deal, with “direct consequences for Hungary” as they were “pro-migration, pro-gender and pro-war” and promoted an economic policy that was “bad for Hungary”.
“So we have to work as the opposition to Brussels,” he said. “We must put up resistance until we manage to take over the majority.”
The prime minister said the commission would “kill the European economy” due to a policy that led to high energy prices.
The Patriots for Europe family “must build a new majority in Brussels”, he said, adding that this was feasible “within the foreseeable future”. The Patriots and the Conservatives groups together, he added, were the second biggest alliance in the European Parliament and would “doom the Brussels government to failure”.
Orbán said Brussels wanted a government in Hungary that enforced its policies. “They want to redirect us, but this runs contrary to the interests of Hungary and we won’t side with them.”
“If this cannot be done using nice words, it will be done through a political fight,” he added.
Orbán said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party, considered Hungary “not as a partner, not even an adversary but an enemy… They have made their own decision: they want a change of government in Hungary.” He insisted that the Tisza Party was their preferred government in Budapest.
Hungary demands the frozen EU funds
Meanwhile, the prime minister said Hungary had more than 12 billion euros of European Union funding on its account, and it must receive the rest of those resources in 2027-2028 or the country would refuse to back the EU budget.
Orbán noted that over 12 billion euros of EU funding was on Hungary’s account and that could flow into the economy. That funding will not be drawn down, rather companies will undertake investments and developments and submit their invoices to the government which will send them to Brussels to get 12.5 billion of pay-outs, he said. That sum would meet the needs of the Hungarian economy until the end of 2026, he added.
He said Hungary, too, was entitled to additional funding but that would be an issue for the period after 2026. If funding not received in 2025-2026 was not transferred in 2027-2028, Hungary “will not vote for” the next seven-year EU budget, approval of which requires a unanimous decision, he added.
Orbán dismissed concerns over the arrival of Hungary’s EU funding, saying that while there were “inconveniences”, the funding would “doubtless” flow into the economy.
Hungary’s budget covers teachers’ wage rise
Orbán said transfers from Brussels would cover 12-15 percent of an increase in teachers’ salaries, but the remaining 85 percent would come from the central budget. He noted that two of Europe’s biggest economies were without a government or, more accurately, with a caretaker government. He added that it wasn’t worth making long-term agreements with a caretaker government. He said the situation was a little better in France, where the president was elected by the people, but the situtation was more difficult in Germany.
Orbán said the European economy was now in a “state of disintegration”, in part because of “bad economic policies” adopted by Brussels over the years that had raised energy prices and hurt the competitiveness of Hungarian businesses. He said families enjoyed protection against high household energy bills, “but we can no longer protect our businesses” as the high energy prices caused by Brussels “undermine the competitiveness of Hungarian businesses”.
The question, he said, was how to get Brussels to change that policy and make energy prices affordable again. He added that the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal signed at an EU summit in the Hungarian capital would require Brussels to take concrete measures to that end in the coming half year.
Peace mission in Vatican
Concerning his recent visit to the Vatican, Orbán said the question of war and peace was “at the heart of Vatican diplomacy and the Holy Father’s thinking about the world, so I went to the best place for confirmation”.
After his audience with Pope Francis, the prime minister met senior Vatican officials and discussed international affairs and bilateral relations. Hungary “received the reassuring confirmation” that the country can continue to count on the Catholic Church and the Holy See, he said.
This, he added, not only pertained to “the matter of peace but to all matters” for which the Catholic Church could provide assistance such as care for the elderly, the sick, and the education of young people. Orbán called longstanding Vatican-Hungary cooperation “excellent”, adding that Hungary could continue to count on the Catholic Church.
Concerning the war in Ukraine, Orbán said the US was “a key player” in the conflict, adding that “without the US the war would long be over”. “Without American participation Ukraine could not put up any resistance,” he said. The US, Hungary’s ally, was “indispensable” for Europe’s security, and “if they packed up an went home, an real possibility, a security vacuum would ensue in Europe in that very moment.”
The security situation in Europe must be resolved once a ceasefire is concluded to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end, Orbán said.
Russia very strong, Ukraine very weak
Orbán said Russia had changed, becoming “very strong” on the back of the war, while Ukraine had become “very weak”. Europe’s military, too, was “extremely weak”, he said. “We don’t even have the weapons, ammunition or money” to handle a war with Russia, he added. “All signs of European weakness have appeared.”
So Europe must consider regrouping and finding a solution “that guarantees our security” while situating itself in relation to the US, the prime minister said, adding this would entail a “complex and long series” of talks and actions over the next 1-2 years.
Orbán said “currently there are two US presidents… One is pro-war, supported by George Soros’s international power groups” while “Donald Trump will attempt to make peace”.
The prime minister said it was “too much” that the US secretary of state “on the far side of the Atlantic, in security and comfort” should suggest that “it is time Kyiv should lower the conscription age from 25 to 18 years … so that even more young Ukrainians die.” “Impertinently throwing that into the world’s face shows that it is high time for change in America,” Orbán said, adding that Ukraine was “stuck”. He said they had chosen “the wrong strategy when they failed to achieve a ceasefire with Russia around April 2022.”
Orbán called the situation “absurd” but added that once Trump was inaugurated on Jan 20, “the situation will smooth out” with things becoming “simpler and manageable”. Until then “we’ll be close to peace but in a difficult and dangerous situation at the same time.”
Meanwhile, Orbán said he had met Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Italy for talks on peace and migration. Both the Hungarian and Italian governments “firmly oppose any form of migration and seek to change policy in Brussels”.
Orbán ready to fight for Hungary’s sovereignty
He said the European People’s Party had formed “a government coalition with liberals and Socialists” which would have “a direct impact on Hungary”. The new EU leadership was “pro-migration, pro-gender and pro-war”, he said, while its economic policy was “bad for Hungary”. The Hungarian government “must act in opposition to Brussels and stay in opposition until its gains a majority,” he said. The new European Commission “will kill the European economy mostly through its policy resulting in high energy prices,” Orbán said, insisting that the Patriots for Europe group would “build a new majority in Brussels … in the foreseeable future”.
The Patriots and Conservatives were “the second biggest alliance” in Brussels, he said, adding that it would grow, “dooming the incumbent Brussels government to failure”.
“We will stand up and fight for Hungary’s sovereignty and for the interests of the Hungarian people,” Orbán said.
He said Brussels was “working to ensure that Hungary has a government that implements its policy… They want to redirect us, but this runs contrary to the interests of Hungary and we won’t side with them.” “If this cannot be done using nice words, it will be done through a political fight,” he added.
Orbán said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party, considered Hungary “not as a partner, not even an adversary but an enemy… They have made their own decision: they want a change of government in Hungary.”
He insisted that Brussels had chosen the Hungarian opposition Tisza Party and its leader to be its “government in Budapest”, adding that it was “absurd” for Brussels “to determine what kind of government Hungary should have, forcing on us Brussels policies, which are bad for us, and expecting us to accept it.”
Orbán believes Tisza Party was chosen in Brussels
“If they want to appoint governors for us, we will fight back,” he said.
The security situation in Europe must be resolved once a ceasefire is concluded to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end, Orbán said.
He said Russia had changed, becoming “very strong” on the back of the war, while Ukraine had become “very weak”. Europe’s military, too, was “extremely weak”, he said. “We don’t even have the weapons, ammunition or money” to handle a war with Russia, he added. “All signs of European weakness have appeared.”
So Europe must consider regrouping and finding a solution “that guarantees our security” while situating itself in relation to the US, the prime minister said, adding this would entail a “complex and long series” of talks and actions over the next 1-2 years.
Germany is facing huge difficulties
Meanwhile, Orbán said he had met representatives of the German economy, adding that Germany was facing “huge difficulties”. For the first time since the early 2000s “factories are again closed down in Germany … not one or two but many,” he added. He said German plants in Hungary should be appreciated, and he called a competitive environment to be created “so that plants in Hungary are not shut down.”
Orban said those factories, places of production and investments, were “extremely valuable, and we have a vested interest in saving them, notwithstanding the woes of German industry.” Talks yesterday centred on developing plants rather than closing them down, he added. “BMW is building a plant in Hungary because it seems to them that Germany is in trouble, and that the Hungarian economic environment is better for them.”
Orban said Hungary “will be fine” if it sticks to the policy of economic neutrality, “and pays attention to the Chinese and US markets as well as Brussels and finds the right balance”.
Commenting on the recently announced Demján Sándor Programme to scale up local SMEs, Orban said the size of the scheme was unprecedented. He added that there were around 900,000 SMEs in Hungary, accounting for two-thirds of all jobs. He acknowledged an agreement with the newly elected leadership of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK) on implementing the Demján Sándor Programme, while the government contributed resources and regulations to the scheme.
Developing SMEs, he said, was the responsibility of the MKIK rather than of ministries, he said, adding that ministries could “make decisions and at best create good regulations and a beneficial environment, but managing a programme of that scale is not a ministerial task.”
He welcomed an agreement with the MKIK, which amounted to “the economy will manage that themselves, and we provide the funding and regulations.”
Orbán congratulates Hungarians’ party in Romania
Commenting on the recent Romanian general election, Orbán said RMDSZ’s success strengthened the Hungarian nation. “We are still a serious nation. A nation’s seriousness can be gauged by how far it recognises danger, and when it senses danger, if it musters the ability to act,” he said.
Orbán said Romania was in a perilous situation but the Hungarian community “with a state-building tradition” had sensed danger and had come together to take action to avert it.
The prime minister said Hungary strove to “establish friendly relations with Romania” so as to secure for Hungarians living there “a more moderate kind of politics”.
He noted that Hungary’s EU presidency was overseeing Romania’s admission to the Schengen area and the dissolution of the border between the two countries. “This is especially important for the people living there and it also greatly benefits economic life; it’s also in the interests of Romanians, too, of course,” he said.
He said Bulgaria and Romania had been in a state of “helplessness and a stalemate”, but this was now being “resolved”. “The final decision is still ahead of us, but we’ve come to an agreement with everyone,” he said, adding that Hungary had made a big gesture towards Romania by fighting for the country’s Schengen membership. “I hope this, whichever president is elected this weekend, will be a good starting point,” he added.
News came today afternoon that Romania’s Supreme Court annuled presidential election results due to Russian interference.
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PM Orbán awards ‘Mr Russia’, Hungary interested in Russia’s new security system
Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, attended an international conference on a new Eurasian security framework, orchestrated by Russia. According to Russian FM Lavrov, Hungary was interested in the project, and the Hungarian foreign ministry has not denied that claim. Meanwhile, yesterday, PM Orbán decorated German businessman Klaus Mangold, who’s called ‘Mr Russia’ in his home country due to his exceptional relationships with Russia’s leaders, including President Putin.
New security architecture built by Russia
Based on a statement shared by Russian TASS, the Russian news agency, Mr Lavrov said Slovakia and Hungary were intrigued by the idea of a new security architecture for Eurasia even if the West is displeased. On Friday, Lavrov met FM Szijjártó in Valletta, Malta, to continue the so-called ‘peace mission’ the Hungarian government started after PM Orbán took the presidency of the Council of Europe in July. Lavrov and Szijjártó talked about how the war in Ukraine can be contained until Trump’s inauguration on 20 January. Furthermore, Szijjártó condemned the idea of lowering the conscription age in Ukraine. Instead, he said ceasefire and peace talks are required.
But it seems Hungary would support even more in that regard: Russia would like to spearhead building a new architecture of security in Eurasia. Lavrov said Hungary is interested in that, along with Slovakia. FM Szijjártó participated in the 2nd International Conference on Eurasian security in Minsk, “after which Russia and Belarus called for developing the Eurasian Charter of diversity and multipolarity in the 21st century”, TASS wrote.
“The conference in Minsk was attended by the Foreign Minister of Hungary (Péter Szijjártó – DNH), Slovakia displays its interest as well. I believe that other countries will see a direct benefit from this in terms of promoting their long-term interests and satisfying the needs of their people”, Lavrov said.
They will continue even if the West dislikes the idea
Lavrov highlighted that the West is displeased with the initiative, but Russia would continue nevertheless.
“Regardless of whether the West wants it or not, the process of building a new architecture of security is moving forward full steam, and is already based not on the Euro-Atlantic concept, but on the understanding that the single Eurasian continent currently provides opportunities for everyone to equally safeguard everyone’s interests and build the very indivisible security, which was proclaimed in the OSCE, but was destroyed by the actions of the West. First and foremost, thanks to NATO’s reckless eastward expansion”, Lavrov concluded.
Portfolio.hu wrote that the Hungarian foreign ministry has not commented on the issue. Before, PM Orbán and other government officials regularly cleared that Hungary’s pro-NATO commitment was unquestionable.
PM Orbán decorated “Mr Russia”
On Thursday in the Carmelite Monastery, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán awarded the Middle Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit to Klaus Mangold, owner-managing director of Mangold Consulting GmbH and former chairman of the Executive Board of DaimlerChrysler AG, Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s press chief informed the Hungarian news agency MTI. The decoration was conferred upon Mr Mangold in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the strengthening and development of Hungarian-German economic relations.
Direkt36 discovered more about the controversial relationship between the Hungarian prime minister and the German businessman. First, they wrote that Mr Mangold was regularly referred to as “Mr Russia” in the German press due to his extensive network in the Russian political and business elite.
János Lázár introduced Mangold to Orbán
According to the media outlet, János Lázár, a hunting partner of Mangold, introduced the German businessman to Orbán in 2012. Afterwards, Mangold played a role behind the scenes in smoothing the preparations of the Russian-Hungarian negotiations over the Paks nuclear power plant expansion project.
Furthermore, European Commissioner Günther Oettinger travelled from Germany to Budapest on his private jet in 2016. Later, it was revealed that Mangold has a contract and a regular payment from Budapest covering multiple issues from digitalisation to the promotion of electric cars. After the 2018 elections, nine contracts were signed with Mangold’s company in various areas from helping facilitate German-Hungarian industrial cooperation to attracting foreign companies.
Rosatom subsidiary VP: Paks NPP expansion will cost more
According to index.hu, Aleksandr Merten, the VP of the Rosatom subsidiary Atomstroyexport, said the prices were defined by inflation, the damaged supply chains, the growing costs of building materials, and illegal migration. He said Paks II would supply electricity from the beginning of the 2030s. However, its EUR 12.5 billion cost could increase.
Furthermore, the deadlines may also change since the European Commission monitored the state support of the project for 2.5 years. He added that German Siemens would deliver the automatised control system of the plant. If they refused to do so, Russians would partner with the French. Laying concrete will start next March, and the Hungarian supplier rate may exceed 40%. Mr Merten said 150 Hungarian companies were working on the expansion project.
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FM Szijjártó continues peace mission: he negotiated with Lavrov in Malta
Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, had talks with his Russian and Vatican counterparts on Thursday on the sidelines of the OSCE foreign ministers’ council meeting in Valletta.
After talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Szijjártó pledged to continue pursuing the “Hungarian peace mission”, saying the war in Ukraine may be closer than ever in light of the US presidential election, yet the risk of escalation was now at its peak.
To ensure that peace remains viable by January 20, “everything must be done now to keep the channels of communication open,” he said in a Facebook post, adding that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe was the “last suitable forum” for this.
Instead of encouraging Ukraine to lower the conscription age, “we should work towards a ceasefire and peace,” he added.
In July, PM Viktor Orbán went on a ‘peace mission’ to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and Mar-a-Lago after he took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. He got criticism that he did not have authorization to make such a move. Later, it became clear that he informed NATO and EU allies about his plans beforehand. Orbán has been communicating about anti-peace and pro-peace blocks ever since.
Meanwhile, referring to a meeting with Paul Richard Gallagher, his Vatican counterpart, Szijjártó said Hungary highly valued the Holy See’s “wise, pro-peace” position.
He said they were in agreement that striving for peace was “not a sign of weakness but of courage”. “Archbishop Gallagher encouraged us to pursue our efforts to save lives, establish peace and keep the channels of communication open,” he said.
Szijjártó added that Christian communities around the world were being persecuted, “and this must be stopped”. He said the atrocities against Christians in Aleppo were especially worrying.
“Hungary will carry on providing humanitarian aid with a view to protecting Christian communities facing hardships,” he said.
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Official: Hungarian EU Presidency prioritises road safety and economic strengthening
Strengthening the European economy is the most important target of the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union, and improving transport and road safety are key elements of this, an official of the ministry of construction and transport said on Thursday.
Bálint Nagy, the state secretary in charge of transport, said after a council meeting of ministers of transport that they had agreed on the council’s negotiating positions on key pieces of legislation for road safety and for reducing fatal accidents, injuries and material damage.
A statement by the Council of the European Union cited Nagy saying that it was a key piece of legislation for road safety in Europe. “By ending the relative impunity of non-resident serious traffic offenders, the new law – once adopted – will improve safety on European roads,” he said. “Drivers who had their driving licence withdrawn in one member state for serious breaches to road traffic rules, will be taken off the roads across the EU,” he added.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com
Hungarian Speaker Kövér urges UN to recognise national identity as a universal human right – UPDATED
The United Nations should initiate admission of the right to national identity among the latest generation of universal human rights, László Kövér, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, said in Budapest on Thursday, addressing the Interparliamentary Conference on Cultural Heritage and the Identity of National Communities.
The right to national identity, which Hungary’s parliament included in a resolution in June 2022, is the right of every person to freely inherit their mother tongue and culture from their ancestors and to freely pass it on to their children, Kövér said.
This could be a useful legal tool for the protection of general human dignity, which could strengthen ethnic peace, security and stability, not only in the Carpathian Basin or Europe, but everywhere in the world, Kövér told the conference held on 4-5 December as the closing event in the series of parliamentary events linked to the Hungarian EU presidency.
Implementing this proposal could advance the provision of human rights and the strengthening of democracy across the world, and in Europe, it would strengthen not only ethnic minorities, but the cooperation of European nation-states and thereby the European Union, the Speaker said.
UPDATE: Hungary to return to a sustainable growth path, says Kövér
The government’s new economic policies will set Hungary on a sustainable growth path, Laszlo Kover, the speaker of parliament, said on a campaign stop on Thursday in Janoshalma, in southern Hungary, to promote the National Consultation public survey, adding that annual growth of 3-6 percent could be expected going forward. This would be “at least twice the average growth of the European Union”, he said, adding that Hungary would continue on the path towards catching up with the rest of Europe.
The wage agreement struck in recent weeks would help average pay to reach 1 million forints within the foreseeable future, he said. Mass tourism has put upward pressure on house prices, he noted, so many Hungarians, especially young people in Budapest, cannot afford their own homes, adding that the budget also promotes cheap housing.
Kover also emphasised the importance of preserving the purchasing value of pensions and retirement benefits, especially the 13th month pension. Meanwhile, small and medium-sized enterprises, making up more than two-thirds of the economy, deserved support for recapitalisation, if needed, to undergird their growth prospects. With these measures Hungary would return to a sustainable growth path, he concluded.
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Szijjártó in Washington: Hope for Ukraine peace hinges on US leadership transition
In the wake of the US presidential election, an end to the conflict in Ukraine seems closer than ever, even as the danger of escalation is the greatest yet as “the outgoing US administration is trying to make brokering peace after 20 January impossible”, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Washington, D.C., late on Wednesday.
According to a ministry statement, Péter Szijjártó met House Representative Mike Waltz, a Republican for Florida tapped to serve as national security advisor in the incoming administration headed by Donald Trump, and welcomed that the post would go to a member of the Congressional Hungarian-American Caucus.
Szijjártó said the “friendly talks” touched on geopolitical issues including the war in Ukraine. “It is no coincidence that the issue of the war in Ukraine, whether to end it or continue it, was one of the most important questions in the US presidential campaign, and while Donald Trump said clearly he wanted to end the war, Kamala Harris fought for continuing it.”
He said Hungary was “rooting for Donald Trump’s aim to conclude the war quickly to become reality”, and said that keeping channels of communication open was extremely important.
Regarding US-Hungarian relations, Szijjártó said “the fact that US Republicans and we Hungarian patriots have similar, and occasionally perfectly aligned, views on the most important issues of world politics” would be certain to give a stable foundation to a renewed relationship.
He pointed to the fight against illegal migration and the protection of borders and sovereignty as examples. “We want to base our policies on common sense, family is a priority for both administrations, and we both speak the language of peace.”
The most important “takeaway” of the talks with Waltz was that “we speak the language of peace and that the risk of escalation is as clear for the US as it is for us, in the neighbourhood of the war,” Szijjártó said.
At the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels earlier this week, the incumbent US Secretary of State had a “very different approach”, Szijjártó said. He lamented that 8 member states have yet to boost their defence spending to 2 percent of GDP. NATO also requires that 20 percent of that be ploughed into modernisation and new purchases; in Hungary, that ratio is at 48 percent. “That is one way we contribute to NATO’s strength,” he said.
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Orbán and Meloni discuss bilateral ties, migration, and Ukraine reconstruction in Rome
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in her office on Wednesday, Orbán’s press chief said.
Meloni congratulated Orbán on Hungary’s successful EU presidency, especially with regards to the Budapest declaration on competitiveness and to opening accession negotiations with Albania, Bertalan Havasi said. During Hungary’s tenure, there had been a “breakthrough” in Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area too, she said.
Meloni and Orbán reiterated their commitment to further deepening their countries’ bilateral partnership, and said that trade reached 14 billion euros in 2023. There is room for further improvement, too, especially in the infrastructure and energy sectors, they said.
The prime ministers pledged to boost the intensity of political dialogue, and to coordinate on the most important international issues. They discussed the situation in the Middle East and a “fair and sustainable peace in Ukraine, based on the UN Charter and the principles of international law.”
They also talked about their commitment to reconstruction in Ukraine, in preparation for a conference on the topic slated to be held in July 2025 in Italy.
Italian-Hungarian cooperation is thriving in defence and security within the framework of NATO, especially regarding the 260 Italian troops in the multinational battalion under Hungarian command, they said. The two countries continue to support NATO and EU initiatives aiming to stabilise the Western Balkans, and support the EU integration of the region, the prime ministers said.
They also said new methods must be found to prevent and fight illegal migration in line with EU and international law, “along the lines of the agreement between Italy and Albania”, Havasi said.
In a joint statement after the meeting, Orbán and Meloni emphasised the importance of taking a stand against illegal migration, pledged to continue strengthening economic cooperation and praised defence cooperation within NATO.
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Karácsony: New budget ensures Budapest pays no more than it receives
Budapest’s budget for next year has been drafted “to retain [the city’s] self-determination and resources”, Gergely Karácsony, the capital’s mayor, told a press conference on Wednesday.
According to the mayor, the draft was made under the assumption that “Budapest will pay as much solidarity tax to the central budget as it receives from central coffers to finance its services.”
Karácsony insisted that the central budget was aimed at “furthering shrinking” municipal governments by adding further funding cuts. “The capital’s budget has been drafted in response to that,” he added.
When drafting its budget, the city “did not assume that it could retain its net payer position”, the mayor said, adding that “under a Constitutional Court ruling the city would pay as much solidarity tax as much funds it will receive under the normatives, not a penny more.”
“We’re not going to budget any excess tax payments that could be confiscated from the city,” Karácsony said. Even with those possible payments not included in the budget, the city’s finances “will be extremely tight”, he added.
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Hungarian FM Szijjártó: NATO must avoid risking collective defence over Ukraine membership
NATO’s collective defence should not be sacrificed or risked for any third country, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Brussels on Wednesday. “So it’s gratifying that no decision to invite Ukraine to join the defence alliance has been taken, as this could lead to a third world war,” he said.
At a press conference after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Szijjártó called the argument that Ukraine was fighting for European freedom and democracy “unbelievably blind”, adding that it was “fighting for its own freedom [and] sovereignty … which should be applauded but not confused with the idea that they are fighting for others.”
The idea that Ukraine, as a part of NATO, would enhance Europe’s security was “nonsense”, he said, adding that Hungary regarded any such invitation as risking a war between NATO and Russia.
Referring to Article 10 of the Washington Treaty stating that countries that can contribute to NATO’s security may be invited to join it, he said: “Clearly, this isn’t so right now in Ukraine’s case.”
He said the outgoing US administration and “pro-war politicians in Europe” had “launched another attack” to render a possible peace pact after January 20 impossible.
Szijjarto also noted that several ministers had demanded that Ukraine lower the conscription age, and this would lead to “even crueller conscription and the deaths of even more young Ukrainians on the front”.
Further, it was suggested at the meeting that new Ukrainian recruits should be trained and armed by NATO, he noted, adding that such proposals, including fresh arms shipments, would prolong the war, risk further escalation and be the cause of even more deaths.
Regarding the argument that peace talks should not be held now because Ukraine’s current battlefield position was unfavourable, the minister said that the situation was “persistently deteriorating”, and a lack of recognition of this state of affairs was feeding Ukrainians’ illusions. Talk of victory on the battlefield would do no more than “deceive and mislead people”, he added.
Szijjarto insisted that Hungary was “a reliable ally” that met its commitments to the alliance, spending more than 2 percent of its GDP on defence, while more than 1,000 Hungarian soldiers served in the alliance’s various missions.
Listing “red lines”, he said NATO must not be belligerent in the Ukraine-Russia war and it must avoid direct conflict with Russia.
Szijjarto said the meeting had confirmed that “the pro-war leaders remain determined, blinded, and … terrified of what will happen after January 20.”
“The lesson to be drawn is that the peace mission must be bolstered, diplomatic and communication channels kept open, and the option of rapid peacemaking preserved,” he said.
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Hungary has not received EU cohesion funds for 161 days
According to reports, Hungary has not received any EU cohesion funds for 161 days. Of the EUR 21.8 billion allocated for the 2021-2027 budget cycle, only 8.3% has been disbursed so far. Ongoing conflicts between the Hungarian government and EU leadership have stopped further payments, while the country risks losing substantial funds due to unresolved legal and political issues.
Hungary’s 161 days without cohesion funds
Hungary has been excluded from receiving EU cohesion funds since 26 June 2024. The total funding allocated to Hungary under the 2021-2027 EU budget amounts to EUR 21.8 billion, which could exceed HUF 10,000 billion when combined with national co-financing, Index reports according to information from the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development. However, political disputes and legal penalties imposed by the EU have restricted Hungary’s access to 56% of this amount, leaving the country with only EUR 12.19 billion available.
To date, Hungary has received EUR 1.8 billion, roughly 8.3% of its allocated funds, placing it ninth among EU countries in terms of received funding. Payments were halted following a 13 June ruling by the European Court of Justice, which fined Hungary EUR 200 million and imposed a daily penalty of EUR 1 million for failing to comply with EU asylum and return policies. This has already cost Hungary over EUR 370 million, with losses potentially exceeding EUR 1 billion by the end of the year unless the rule-of-law conditionality mechanism is resolved.
The prolonged funding freeze has exacerbated Hungary’s economic challenges. According to an interview with opposition Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar published by Bloomberg, unlocking EU funds could alleviate the economic crisis, with proposals for reforms including steering the country towards euro adoption.
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EU Presidency – Official: EU health ministers to discuss smoke- and aerosol-free environments in Brussels
European Union health ministers are scheduled to discuss smoke- and aerosol-free environments at a meeting of the council on employment, social policy, health and consumer protection in Brussels on Tuesday, Péter Takács, the state secretary for health, said.
Takács told journalists this key topic was based on the Hungarian law on the protection of non-smokers. He emphasised however that EU recommendation would not trample on the individual freedom of member states, and a ban on smoking in open spaces or on terraces was not on the agenda.
The proposals, he added, would help countries take effective measures to protect non-smokers while also aiding the EU’s plan to combat cancer.
He said cardiovascular diseases, still the top cause of death in the EU, are also high on today’s agenda, adding that emphasis would be placed on prevention, early detection, treatment methods, rehabilitation, and research.
Regarding organ donations and transplants, Takács said the aim was to enhance cooperation between member states.
After the meeting, Takács held a press conference with Olivér Várhelyi, the commissioner for health and animal welfare, and said that the Council had adopted the presidency’s recommendations on smoke- and aerosol-free environments, which further strengthened the protection of non-smokers and contributed to the EU’s goals in the fight against cancer.
The recommendations are not binding, Takács added.
The meeting also touched on connections between the “European health union” and the Draghi report, especially on boosting innovation, competitiveness and health care systems, he said. “Member states welcomed the opportunity to discuss the report … and highlighted the importance of maintaining high-quality patient care and keeping health care systems sustainable while boosting competitiveness,” he said.
Another important topic was the fight against cardiovascular diseases.
“To tackle that challenge, the Hungarian presidency has proposed adopting the Council’s conclusions on improving cardiovascular health, and today’s conclusions have emphasised that European-level measures must be strengthened, especially in prevention, early detection, screening, effective treatment, rehabilitation and research,” he said.
On the matter of organ donations and transplants, the Council conclusions are proposing revisiting an action plan to increase the circle of patients, he said.
Várhelyi said participants had agreed that a modernised, competitive and resilient European health care system was a priority. He also highlighted the importance of the supply chain and the need of further legislation to tackle “vulnerable links” in the chain, especially in the case of priority medicines.
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Is Fidesz campaigning through public arguments? Péter Magyar was insulted in front of a children’s home – VIDEO
Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, visited the Szikla Street Children’s Home, intending to highlight problems in Hungary’s child protection system and draw attention to the state of the institution. However, the event strayed from its stated purpose and escalated into a heated argument between Magyar and Tamás Menczer, Fidesz’s communications director.
Before his visit, Magyar had announced his intention to enter the children’s home following reports of problems. However, the scene quickly changed with the unexpected arrival of Attila Fülöp, the Hungarian government’s state secretary for social policy, and Menczer, who blocked his entry. Witnesses described Menczer’s behaviour as aggressive and provocative, and the situation escalated into a loud, public argument.
From handshake to hostility: Péter Magyar vs Tamás Menczer
Footage from the live broadcast captured a tense exchange: Magyar extended his hand to Menczer, who rejected it with a mocking comment: “Your hand is already shaking.” This set the tone for the meeting. Menczer launched into a personal attack, accusing Magyar of betraying his family and claiming that even his children refused to speak to him. In response, Magyar broke into the lyrics of the song “A börtön ablakában”, which is about someone who is in prison, further inflaming the atmosphere.
What began as a political disagreement quickly turned into a series of personal attacks, according to Telex. Menczer accused Magyar of being a “lying bastard” and compared his political career to an over-inflated balloon which is about to burst. Magyar responded by criticising Menczer’s combative behaviour, describing it as “pub behaviour”, and mocking his appearance by suggesting that Menczer should brush his teeth. Magyar even offered him medical assistance, adding to the absurdity of the exchange.
In the middle of the turmoil, Magyar’s team tried to deliver Father Christmas’s gifts to the children’s home, but the staff refused to accept them. Magyar commented on the argument: “Here he is shouting in front of a home with three-year-old children,” framing the conflict as not only politically inappropriate but morally questionable.
Reaction from the media
According to Telex, the incident provoked polarised reactions in the Hungarian media. Pro-government outlets portrayed Magyar as a provocateur making unreasonable demands, while Menczer was portrayed as a staunch defender of child protection. Magyar Nemzet, for example, claimed that Magyar “lost control and pushed Tamás Menczer”, avoiding tough questions.
Conversely, the opposition media focused on Menczer’s abrasive and offensive behaviour, arguing that it was inappropriate for the setting. A Telex correspondent noted how Menczer approached Magyar shouting and refusing to engage in meaningful dialogue. The absurdity of the confrontation was compounded by its location, just outside a children’s home, potentially in view of children and staff.
Political scientist Gábor Török described the encounter as emblematic of the polarisation in Hungarian politics, highlighting the erosion of constructive dialogue in favour of personal attacks. Török described Menczer’s “pub-level” behaviour as unprecedented and symptomatic of the deep divisions in Hungarian public discourse.
Following the event, Péter Magyar criticised the government and stated that the incident revealed the true nature of the Orbán government, which focuses on theatrics and silencing critics rather than addressing systemic problems. Magyar concluded: “This government prioritises political spectacle over solving real problems in child protection.”
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PM Orbán: Hungary’s ruling parties ‘the opposition to pro-migration Brussels’
Hungary’s ruling parties are “the opposition to a pro-migration Brussels”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a video uploaded to Facebook on Tuesday.
Speaking after a board meeting of his ruling party, Orbán said Fidesz MEPs “fighting in Brussels” had presented “a report from the battlefield.” He said the EU had “launched a campaign of lies” against Hungary by claiming that Hungary was not obliged to accommodate illegal migrants.
He said Hungary opposed the EU migration pact because it would force member states to allow migrants in and set up “migrant ghettos, completely dismantling Hungary’s border protection system”.
Orbán said
Hungary has spent some 2 billion euros on border controls so far and “deserves an award rather than punishment.”
“When it comes to migration, it’s enough to make just one mistake; countries with weak governments and leaders allowed migrants in and they will never be able to get rid of them,” he said.
“We won’t allow that … they can appoint a governor or install a puppet government, but we won’t give in,” he said while the video showed images of Péter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza Party.
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