children

New child protection regime needed, Orbán’s Fidesz says

Máté Kocsis, the parliamentary group leader of ruling Fidesz, called for the introduction of a new child protection regime with clear-cut rules, in an interview with public radio on Sunday.

Kocsis said the resignations of President Katalin Novák and former justice minister Judit Varga had been “sensitive and painful losses”, adding, at the same time, that they had both made “exemplary” decisions.

He said mistakes had consequences on the right, while on the left, “there aren’t even consequences for crimes”. He said Laszlo Varju of the opposition Democratic Coalition, who has been convicted of assault, “is still holding on to his seat”. He said now was an opportunity for Varju and former Momentum leader Andras Fekete Gyor, who was recently convicted of violence against an official, to demonstrate that those on the left can also take responsibility for their actions.

On another subject, Kocsis said Sweden had “made several gestures” towards Hungary in recent weeks, including a visit by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. He said it was more the left-wing and liberal parties in Sweden that had “disparaged” Hungary, but this was “either actively, or at lease passively tolerated by the entire Swedish political elite”.

He said the gestures gave cause for hope, and Fidesz’s parliamentary group no longer saw any obstacles to ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership.

Meanwhile, Kocsis said Fidesz saw Tamás Sulyok, the current head of the Constitutional Court, and the ruling parties’ nominee for head of state, as the most qualified candidate to embody the unity of the nation.

Turning to child protection, he said the government had ordered inspections into the current state of affairs when it came to protecting children. He said Fidesz’s child protection package will contain around 20 amendment proposals, including stricter punishment for the sexual abuse of children. The possibility of imposing harsher punishment on those who help cover up child abuse will also be looked into, he added.

Also, the ruling parties will propose ending the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse and make child abusers ineligible for a certificate of good conduct, Kocsis said.

He said that if the leftist opposition truly took child protection seriously, they should have voted for the 2021 anti-paedophile law, “but they opposed this, and went to Brussels to report the government for its tightening of child protection regulations”.

Read also:

Mass demonstration held in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square with 150 thousand partakers – Read more and check out some photos in THIS article
Did PM Orbán know about President Novák’s decision to pardon a paedophile helper?

February 25, 2024

Here is how former PM Gyurcsány’s party wants to protect Hungarian children

Klara Dobrev, the shadow prime minister of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK), unveiled a ten-point child protection programme advocating an increase in financing for family subsidies and institutions for children in a video posted on Facebook on Sunday.

Dobrev said the “failed system of state institutions” shared the blame, along with paedophiles and their accomplices, for the victims at the Bicske children’s home.

She said DK would introduce tougher sanctions for people who commit paedophile crimes and their accomplices, while setting up committees to probe suspected paedophile crimes at state and church institutions. She underscored the need to establish more effective protection and support for victims with the involvement of civil organisations.

She said adoption should be allowed for all families, including single parents and people living in registered partnerships, in which children can grow up in a loving, caring community. She added that poverty should not be grounds for removing children from their families.

The plan also presses for increased financing for children’s homes.

She said family subsidies ought to be doubled to eliminate child poverty.

Read also:

Mass demonstration held in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square with 150 thousand partakers – Read more HERE
Reformed Bishop resigns after admitting he supported scandalous presidential pardon

February 18, 2024

State of the Nation: PM Orbán talks about bad year-start, NATO, Trump victory, President’s resignation

“There must be no pardon for paedophile crimes,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in his state of the nation speech on Saturday, adding that President Katalin Novák’s and former Justice Minister Judit Varga’s resignations had been the “correct step” and would “strengthen us”.

Children must not be violated

The prime minister said the government would reinforce Hungary’s child protection system. He also addressed the green transition and said parliament could ratify Sweden’s NATO accession at the start of its spring season.

“Children must not be violated and any abuse should entail the strictest punishment,” Orbán said.

He said the resignations were “a bad start” for the year, adding that it was up to the government “to restore moral order and offer legal remedy for the current situation.”

“A political mistake is annoying, even if there is an explanation, but even more so when there is none,” he added.

According to the prime minister, an uproar in the wake of the president’s pardon in right-wing circles arose because it was not a decision made in a difficult situation but an “unforced error”. “For right wingers the rule is simple: there must be no pardon for paedophile crimes,” he added.

He said that the resignation should be “sufficient compensation and an example for the country, a chance for Hungary to come out stronger from a difficult situation . and we will do so,”.

President’s resignation great loss for Hungary

He said the president’s resignation was “a great loss for Hungary” and thanked both Novák and Varga for their work. He added that the two had “more dignity in their little finger than in all of the leaders of the leftist parties put together.”

He praised Novák as a “greatly respected, appreciated president working, moreover, fighting for her homeland, the Hungarian people and their families . seen by all as a person fit for her presidential position.” He referred to Novák as an “embodiment of the good characteristics of Hungarians, a kind and prepared mother, who sought not to prove her abilities against men and according to men’s measures.” Novák “demonstrated in her natural way that women’s way of thinking and feeling are indispensable in all walks of life including politics,” he added.

Novák resigned because she had pardoned a man sentenced for covering up a crime against children, and “the vast majority of Hungarians rejected that pardon”, Orbán said. “The president’s pardon impacted national unity and she could no longer restore that unity,” he added.

“A toppled equilibrium can be restored, the high waves of indignation tamed, the nation reunited over issues around family and child protection only through the president’s resignation and electing a new president,” Orbán said.

Concerning the former justice minister, Orbán said Varga had countersigned the president’s pardon “following the constitutional custom and an unbroken practice of the past 25 years.” “Her departure is an unavoidable and, I think, unfair, consequence of the laws of the state,” he said.

Political mistake with no explanation

“Sometimes good people, even the best, will make bad decisions, and . if they could fly back in time they would certainly correct the mistake. But it is not possible and now it is up to the government . to restore moral order and offer legal remedy for the situation,” Orbán said.

“Serving the nation also requires personal humility . you need to know that no matter how high you are you can never be clever enough by yourself and there are no protected positions, even in the highest office one can make a mistake,” he said.

“A political mistake is annoying, even if there is an explanation, but even more so when there is none,” he added.

Hungary’s child protection system must be strengthened, from the constitution to the level of ministerial decree, Orbán said.

“The tribulations of the victims compel us”, Orbán said, adding that the leadership and oversight of children’s protection institutions as well as regulations and restrictions for the staff who work there would be strengthened.

He said a new package of child protection legislation would be submitted to parliament.

Orbán said electing a new president was an “urgent task” and asked the parliamentary group of governing Fidesz-KDNP to start the process of electing a replacement for Katalin Novák on the day she left office.

Read also:

Will Russian embassy’s street in Budapest be named after Alexei Navalny? – Read more HERE
Reformed Bishop resigns after admitting he supported scandalous presidential pardon

UPDATE

Hungary has emerged from a very difficult 2023 “by the skin of our teeth” but “can’t be dissatisfied” with the results, Orbán said

He said Hungarians had been living and working under “extreme pressure” for the fifth year in a row, trying to “protect that which we’ve achieved”. Workplaces have been successfully preserved, he said, noting that never before had so many people been in jobs in Hungary.

Labour reserve in Hungary above 300,000

Hungary’s employment rates stands at 75 percent today, but the government “wants and will” raise that to 85 percent, he said.

He put the number of Hungarians who could be brought into the workforce at “at least 300,000” and added that more Hungarians were returning home each year than were leaving to work abroad.

He said the annual pensioners’ bonus, equivalent to a full month’s pension, which the “left wing had snatched from people”, had also been preserved.

He said Hungarians living beyond the borders had been “brought closer”, noting the construction of three new bridges over the River Ipoly, on the border between Hungary and Slovakia, ten daily trains between Szeged, in the southeast of the country, and Subotica (Szabadka) in neighbouring Serbia, and three flights a week connecting Budapest with Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvar) in Romania.

Inflation has been reduced from a record 25 percent to below 4 percent, the budget deficit has been kept on a downward path, and the minimum wage for unskilled labourers has been raised by 15 percent, he added.

Addressing the green transition, Orbán said the era of green energy had “not come knocking, but kicked the door in”. The future belongs to green energy and to those who can make the transition “quickly and sensibly”, he added.

He said the stability of Hungarian politics, the two-thirds majority in parliament of the governing alliance, was accommodating to “rapid adaptation”, adding that Hungary could make the green transition faster than anywhere in Europe.

New Paks blocks frees Hungary from energy dependency

Orbán said Hungary could “kill two birds with one stone” with the green transition: making the country more livable and freeing it from energy dependency by adding blocks at the Paks nuclear power plant, extending the lifespan of the existing blocks there and building up industrial and home solar power capacity. Hungary’s solar power capacity now stands over 5,600 MW, he said, adding that 255,000 homes were outfitted with solar panels and solar energy now accounted for 15 percent of energy consumption.

He said that capacity was needed to store green energy as well as to generate it, adding that it was a “matter of a few years” before battery storage devices would be ubiquitous, in cars, homes, workplaces and factories. He said Hungary’s government was spending “several hundred billion forints” toward that end.

Hungary has built interconnectors with the power grids and gas networks of neighbouring countries and it’s a “few years away” from becoming energy independent, he said.

Orbán said Hungary was at the forefront of a technological revolution that would allow it to “rescue” its vehicle manufacturers.
Hungary must avoid the fate of car plants in the West that are being shut down and moved elsewhere, Orbán said. “Imagine Gyor without Audi or Kecskemet without Mercedes!” he added.

Hungary has become a “centre of gravity”

Hungary’s automotive industry output exceeds 13,000 billion forints (EUR 33.4bn) and provides the livelihood for several hundred thousand families, he noted.

He said Hungary was “world class” in terms of pharmaceuticals, seed production, the food industry and ICT, in addition to vehicle manufacturing.

Hungary has become a “centre of gravity” in the Carpathian Basin in terms of politics, culture, and the economy, the prime minister said.

2024 will again be “a year of success”, Orbán said, adding that last year had been “a year of failure” for the European Union, while dragging Hungary down, too.

“Brussels has only brought trouble for us . Brussels’ Ukraine strategy has failed spectacularly, not only on the battlefield but in international politics, too,” Orbán said. Despite the conflict being “a war between two Slavic brothers” the EU “nearly threw itself” into the conflict, leaving Hungary alone with its “pro-peace position”. Hungary’s position will prove to be the right one, “but the tragedy is that hundreds of thousands of people will die till then,” he said.

The Hungarian position is unchanged: “we will not let ourselves be dragged into the war,” Orbán said, adding that the country would not deliver weapons to Ukraine even if that didn’t win the favour of some big powers.

Pressure on Hungary enormous

Orbán said the EU’s “pressure on Hungary” was now so great that ambassadors would come to parliament to “check up on the behaviour of the dollar left” but added that “sooner or later everybody will realise they are better off if they leave us alone.”

The prime minister said it was “good news that our dispute with Sweden is nearing a conclusion”. Together with the Swedish prime minister they made important steps to rebuild trust, he said, adding that the Hungarian parliament could ratify Sweden’s NATO accession at the start of its spring session.

Orbán said the US was increasingly reluctant to provide financing to Ukraine, putting an increasing burden on Europe, which was struggling with an “ailing” economy. Joint EU credit is “a road Hungary won’t go down again”, he added..

“Brussels has abandoned Europeans . never has there been such a huge gap between Brussels’ policies and the interests and will of the European people,” he said. He pointed to the need for change in Brussels but said that change would “not happen by itself . Europe must recapture Brussels”.

Concerning the EU’s new agricultural regime and the opening of European markets to Ukraine, Orbán said they had created “an impossible situation” for European farmers. “Rather than healthy food produced domestically we are forced to accept cultivated meat and GMO junk,” Orbán said.

Farmers protesting all over Europe don’t want regulations to be decided by “climate fanatics” and “ivory tower experts”, he added.

Migration: only bad news come

On the subject of migration, Orbán said he had “bad news only”. He said migration posed a security risk and was a “hotbed for anti-Semitism”, while it would also “uproot European societies”.

“They lured the migrants, sitting in Brussels and in Berlin with cotton candy in the hot sun, and now are surprised to be surrounded by wasps,” he said.

“It is time to face reality: Europe’s competitiveness has been compromised by the war, the sanctions and emerging blocs with the upcoming, fatal consequences of an impoverished middle class, which will also mean the end of democracy,” Orbán said.

Touching on EU enlargement, Orbán said the process had become “a communications tool” serving Ukraine policy goals while Brussels had “abandoned the Balkans, because Ukraine needs the money”.

2024 turning point in the EU?

Orbán said 2024 could be “a turning point” with elections in the European Union, in the United States, in India and a dozen other places.
“The global political stage will look completely different at the end of the year…and if God helps us, Hungary’s room from manoeuvre will increase to an extent not seen for a long time,” he said.

Orbán said he would like to see Donald Trump return to the White House and make peace on the eastern side of Europe. “We cannot have a say in the elections of other countries, but we would very much like Donald Trump to return,” he added.

“Let there be a ‘Make America Great Again’ presidency in America,” he said.

“A revival of greatness in America and Europe. Connectivity, strengthening regional cooperation between Hungary and Slovakia, Austria and Serbia, and a sovereigntist turn in Brussels. That’s what we want under the Christmas tree this year,” he added.

He said that the “bureaucrats in Brussels” wouldn’t bring Europe out of the crisis and that a new European right wing, of which Hungarians were a part, could bring “real change”. The new right wing is “not an alternative to Europe, but a European alternative”, he added.

February 17, 2024

PHOTOS: Mass demonstration held in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square with 150 thousand partakers – UPDATED

Civil groups organised a demonstration in support of victims of child abuse and for “a healthy society” at Heroes’ Square in downtown Budapest on Friday evening.

The demonstration was organised by online content creators, saying they considered it important to speak out for the protection of victims, transparency, human decency and honest social dialogue.

Activist Márton Gulyás of the YouTube channel Partizán thanked those attending the demonstration for standing up for victims and a child protection reform.

Influencer Zsolt Osváth of the channel ZSHOW Time, who mentioned that he, too, had grown up in a children’s home, said he wanted to raise awareness of “systemic problems … of which the clemency case is just the tip of the iceberg”. He said an institute will never be able to fill the void left by the absence of a family, but the state had to do everything possible to mitigate that absence.

UPDATE 1

According to Szeretlek Magyarország, 50 thousand people took part on the demonstration. If that is true, it has been the largest protest since the demonstration for the abolishment of the Orbán cabinet’s so-called Internet tax proposal.

UPDATE 2

The organizers said in an Instagram post that there were at least 150 thousand people on the Heroes’ Square yesterday evening. Here is the post:

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

Bántottak.hu (@bantottak) által megosztott bejegyzés

UPDATE – more speeches

YouTuber Márton Szabó asked what the government would do to make sure that children in institutional care grow up in humane conditions, to make sure they get a quality education, and to make sure they have somewhere to turn if they are abused.

Singer Azahriah (Attila Baukó) addressed the event in a video message, saying that the government “was using parents’ concern to incite against something, which is then converted into political gain”.

He called for improving the safety of children. “It’s time to wake up,” he said, calling for change through joining together.

People who abuse children should be “cut into pieces”

Digital content creator Orsi Tapasztó, who spoke as an adoptive parent, said some 7,000 children in Hungary were living in children’s homes, most of whom will never be taken in by a family. She thanked children’s home teachers for teaching children how to love and giving them back the ability to trust. She asked decision-makers to ensure that all children in institutional care can live in safety.

Influencer Eszter Fancsikai said she agreed with the prime minister that people who abuse children should be “cut into pieces”, but if she did that as a mother, it would be considered vigilante justice. That is why there is a need for real child protection and a well-functioning legal system, she added.

YouTuber Edina Pottyondy, former board member of the Momentum party, criticsed the absence of an independent investigation into the decision behind the president’s pardon. She said real child protection would be the improvement of education, the social and health-care sectors and child protection authorities. She called for a child protection law that protected victims.

“This demonstration won’t change the world, but it can change people’s mentality,” she said.

Read also:

Mass demonstration in Budapest downtown: traffic, public transport changes – Read more HERE

Here are some photos:

Mass protest in Budapest — Photo: Emma Kusnyerik/DNH

February 16, 2024

Did PM Orbán know about President Novák’s decision to pardon a paedophile helper? – UPDATED

The government has decided to set stricter requirements for the appointment of the heads of child protection institutions and will review and tighten child protection rules, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday.

Strictest child protection law in Europe

Gergely Gulyás told a government press briefing that President Katalin Novák and former justice minister Judit Varga had taken responsibility for the clemency case of the former deputy head of the Bicske children’s home “in exemplary fashion”.

He noted that Wednesday’s cabinet meeting had been the first since Novák and Varga’s resignations, and the first chance for the government to draw the political conclusions from the case that had defined Hungarian public life in the last two weeks.

Gulyás said the government had placed “a uniquely high emphasis” on supporting families and protecting children over the last 14 years. He said the left wing had not supported the family tax preferences, the CSOK home purchase subsidy schemes, the child protection law or the anti-paedophile law.

The government supported families “more than anyone else” by introducing measures such as home purchase subsidies and tax cuts for families raising children, and PIT exemptions for women raising four or more children, he said. It also doubled creche places and launched a programme to revamp kindergartens, he added.

The ruling parties’ majority in parliament adopted the strictest child protection law in Europe and tightened the Penal Code’s provisions on paedophilia, he said. They created a register of paedophile offenders so the authorities can monitor them once they have served their sentence. Further, “the government protected the stringent child protection law in a referendum, too.”

Amendment to the Fundamental Law

He said Novák had achieved more than anyone else in the interest of family policy after 2014, and highlighted Varga’s role in tightening the Penal Code and approving the family protection law. It was understandable, he added, that the majority of Hungarian society had been baffled by the presidential pardon. But “inevitably” the president and the former justice minister had had to take responsibility and had done so “in exemplary fashion”, he added.

Gulyás said the government was focused on the future. In addition to a constitutional amendment proposal filed by the prime minister to prevent a pardon from being granted to perpetrators of crimes committed against minors, the government will set stricter conditions for the appointment of the heads of child protection institutions, and child protection laws, too, must be reviewed, he said.

After the “issue of the presidential pardon”, the prime minister submitted an amendment to the Fundamental Law to ensure “there is no mercy” for those committing crimes against minors, he said. Gulyás said PM Orbán did not know about the presidential pardon before the scandal broke out. He learned about it from press, portfolio.hu wrote.

In addition to the stricter regulations introduced in 2017, the government now wants to introduce a psychological evaluation, expansive vetting and a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s trustworthiness before appointing leaders to such positions, he said.

Child protection regulations must also be reviewed, and stricter yet “sensible” measures introduced, he added.

Parliament to accept the president’s resignation in February

Gulyás said people who had “attacked child protection measures up to now” were now “styling themselves as their apostles”, so an opportunity had arisen to form a consensus on issues that had divided the left and the right.

Parliament must accept the president’s resignation, Gulyás said. “That will happen on February 26.” The new president then must be elected within 30 days. Candidates must be backed by one-fifth of MPs to be eligible, he said.

Regarding proposals that presidents should be elected directly by voters in Hungary, Gulyás said the procedure “will definitely not change”. The procedure of presidential elections is enshrined in the constitution, and presidents have been elected accordingly since 1990, he added. “The left wing only has problems with electoral procedures when they are not in a majority in parliament,” Gulyás said.

Bishop Balog should resign?

Asked whether the government was planning to investigate who had put forward the names of the former director of the Bicske children’s home and his deputy for state awards, he said such an investigation “has already been conducted, mostly with the help of the press”. The awards were handed out before their crimes had come to light, he said. Former Budapest mayor István Tarlós proposed that the awards be withdrawn, he added.

Incumbent mayor Gergely Karacsony also voted for the awards, Gulyás said, adding that “no mayor or city assembly can be expected to visit every single Budapest institution personally”. “The mistake must have been made at the social affairs department, by those who made the recommendation.”

Asked whether Reformed Church Bishop Zoltán Balog should also resign, Gulyás said the government “does not have an opinion on the internal affairs of the Reformed Church. We can, of course, have a debate about the counsel given … but the responsibility belongs to those making decisions, and Katalin Novák, who made this decision, has resigned.”

Asked if the government considered the matter closed, Gulyás said that “given that everything that could happen has” and the president and the former justice minister have resigned, they considered it closed, but a new president had to be elected and child protection regulations had to be tightened.
“We have acknowledged the president’s and the former justice minister’s decisions,” Gulyás said. He expressed hope that the ruling parties will be able to find a presidential candidate whom the opposition will also support.

All presidential decision will be public?

He said he would be open to making clemency procedures public, adding that no matter who the next president will be, they will certainly consider all of their decisions to be public. This, he added, was another argument in favour of making the decisions fully public.

In response to another question, Gulyás said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and he himself had found out about the pardon granted to the children’s home deputy director Endre K from the press, adding that neither Novak nor Zoltán Balog had consulted with the prime minister. Gulyás said he did not know whether any member of government had asked Novak about the reason of the pardon.

He said the former justice minister was, too, “being made a target for criticism by everyone” for countersigning the pardon even though the justice minister had always countersigned every presidential pardon over the past 25 years regardless of whether it was the right or the left in power.

Answering another question, Gulyás said President Novák had made the right decision when she pardoned radical activist Gyürgy Budaházy, arguing that that case “had clear pros and cons”, whereas he believed this current one “only has cons”.

Asked why the prime minister did not comment on Novák’s resignation, Gulyás noted that Viktor Orbán will on Saturday deliver his annual speech assessing the state of nation over the past year.

The government believed the current child protection law needed to be made even stricter

Gulyás said he knew whether Varga had supported or opposed the clemency request when she submitted it to the presidential Sandor Palace, but did not want to disclose it, as he did not want to give any more statements on the matter after the resignations.

He noted that both the president and the former justice minister had apologised to the victims.

Asked what his message was for the children of the Bicske orphanage who were abused, Gulyás said the government believed the current child protection law needed to be made even stricter. “To the victims we say that we sympathise with them, and we would like to help everyone we can,” he said.

Asked about a proposal on the chemical castration of paedophiles, Gulyás said the government had not taken a position on this, adding that he believed any decision on possible punishments for child abuse needed to be thought over carefully. He said the sexual abuse of children was “without a doubt the most serious offence”, so not even the most stringent proposals should be ruled out immediately, but human dignity was a fundamental principle of Hungary’s constitutionality.

Asked to comment on Momentum MP András Fekete-Győr’s refusal to resign after a second-instance court this week found him guilty of assault against a police officer at a demonstration in 2018, Gulyás said that while there were always consequences for errors and mistakes on the right, on the left, there were none “for even the gravest sins”.

Asked about a “scandalous” opinion piece posted on Klubrádió’s website by its director András Arató, Gulyás said he was certain that “Arató, too, should resign from his post”. “And as long as this does not happen, a decent person won’t set foot in Klubrádió either as an employee or for the purpose to be interviewed,” Gulyas added. He was also asked about statements made by Péter Magyar, the ex-husband of Judit Varga. Gulyas said he had last spoken with Magyar several months ago “partly because he warned ahead of time that he’d do what he’s doing now should his assignments received from the state be terminated”.

Deutsch may lead Fidesz’s EP list

Concerning Zoltán Balog’s potential resignation as president of the Synod of the Reformed Church, he said decisions pertaining to the church’s officials concerned only the Reformed Church.

Asked if he will remain the legal counsel for the church district headed by Balog, Gulyás said: “As long as Zoltán Balog is staying, so am I.” Gulyás said he held Balog in high esteem, respected and trusted him and considered him an excellent bishop. He said it was not true that Orbán had summoned Balog over the clemency case.

As regards the planned constitutional amendment, he said it will also apply to crimes similar to the one involved in the clemency case.

Asked about whom ruling Fidesz would nominate to fill Varga’s position to lead the joint EP election list of the governing Fidesz-Christian-Democrat alliance, Gulyás said party MEP Tamás Deutsch would be an “excellent choice”, adding that once taken, the decision will be announced.

Concerning a planned meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Gulyás said it would make sense solely if it yielded tangible results. He noted a meeting that had already taken place between the Hungarian and Ukrainian foreign ministers at which the Hungarian side had made clear on which issues it hoped to make progress. “If there is openness towards such progress then an Orban-Zelensky meeting makes sense,” said Gulyas.

Asked whether Hungary’s parliament will ratify Sweden’s NATO accession bid, Gulyás said “there are ongoing talks with the Swedish government giving hope”. He said that parliament’s decision can also be signed by László Kövér, Hungary’s acting president.

In connection with “the timing” of the approval of the EU’s new migration pact in Brussels earlier this week, Gulyás said “they hurried with it probably because they are afraid of what we in fact hope: that the composition of the next European Parliament will be much more favourable for the right wing, conservative and anti-immigration parties”. “The biggest problem with that pact is in fact not its timing, but the fact that it sets requirements for member states to fulfil which are not obligatory for them to fulfil under their EU accession treaties,” he added.

Commenting on proposed EU sanctions against Israel, Gulyás highlighted the requirement of unanimity for any decision to pass on a foreign policy issue. “Hungary can therefore prevent the formulation of a common EU position on the matter on its own,” he said.

Hungarian farmers will join the demonstration planned by their Czech, Polish and Slovak peers

Commenting on recent inflation data, Gulyás said those “are getting close to the below-3 percent rate which is acceptable”. “In a best-case scenario, inflation could next year return to below 3 percent, and it surely will not cause such a problem that it did in the past 2 years,” he said.

On another topic, he expressed hope that Hungarian farmers would join the demonstration planned by their Czech, Polish and Slovak peers next week.

In connection with the issue of financing Hungary’s pension system, Gulyás said “the pension system will be maintained until the mid-2030s”. He said that a government contribution to the system’s financing from central budget resources was possible “without any particular difficulties, even amid moderate economic growth”.

At the press briefing, government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkirályi was asked about the Bárczy István state award she had presented as deputy Budapest mayor to the former director implicated now in the child abuse case involving the children’s home in Bicske.

Szentkirályi said she had held “a technical role” in presenting the award which she said she had neither proposed nor approved. “When the municipality of Budapest decided in 2015 about giving the award [to the home’s then director János V], a police investigation initiated by the municipality had already been closed declaring János V’s innocence,” she said. In that vote in 2015, councillors of the right, as well as of the left supported giving the award to János V, including Gergely Karácsony, [who is now the mayor of Budapest], Erzsébet Gy Németh and Csaba Horváth, the spokeswoman said. “And when it turned out in 2019, a municipal election year, that János V would be sentenced, then mayor István Tarlós pledged to initiate, if re-elected, withdrawing the award,” Szentkirályi said.

February 16, 2024

Opposition party urges boosting child protection in Hungary

The opposition LMP party has submitted a draft resolution to parliament aimed at reinforcing Hungary’s child protection and welfare system.

Mate Kanász-Nagy, LMP’s deputy group leader said “the current scandal shows the need for serious government intervention” adding that the proposed measures would “ensure children’s right to welfare, security, a safe environment and education.”

The proposed measures include mandatory psychological screening for jobs involving work with minors, including foster parents. Under the proposals, both child-care institutions could benefit from increased normative subsidies and their employees from a payrise.

LMP would double the family benefit, which has not been raised since 2008, and index it with the rate of inflation each year, Kanász-Nagy said.

He also urged stricter punishment for “people approaching minors in their care with the intent of abuse or make statements to that effect.”

Read also:

PM Orbán submitted anti-paedophile constitutional amendment – Details in THIS article
Hungary’s foster care crisis: read about the grim reality HERE

February 13, 2024

Photos: Lovely Advent happenings at the Hungarian Children’s Railway

This year, the lightshow returns to the Hungarian Children’s Railway!

By now, it’s become a regular tradition to make the carriages shine at the Children’s Railway. This year, the carriages will be joined by some new additions as well!

True winter spirit at the Children’s Railway!

This year, visitors can experience the true Christmas spirit. Thanks to the heavy snowing recently in Hungary, the region has transformed into a winter wonderland. Perfect time for some outdoor exploring, or even better, enjoying the view from one of the nicely decorated carriages of the Children’s Railway.

The Children’s Railway operates throughout the whole year, including winter. During the school term, it runs every day with the exception of Mondays. Through the winter vacation, trains go out more frequently, operating with weekend hours. This means there’s a train going out every hour, which is lucky for visitors waiting out in the cold. Of course, on 24th December and 1st January, there are fewer services. Still, the Children’s Railway is open and has prepared some exciting features for guests, writes Impress Magazine.

Let the light show begin!

The carriages of the railway will be lit up from the start of December for the whole of the winter vacation. This year is special, since compared to last year there will be some surprising new additions to the illuminated section of carriages, writes Impress magazine.Three of the usual winter carriages will be transformed into a light show for the season. Added to this, the steaming new addition to the fleet of the Children’s Railway, introduced only last year, the ‘Debrecen’ carriage is also lit up, contributing to the winter wonderland. However, the season wouldn’t be whole without a proper light train, that’s why they decorated an Mk45 diesel locomotive too, making the whole set matching in holiday spirit.

For the holiday season, the Children’s Railway also treats its guests to another nostalgic classic. For the other lit up train, they are bringing out two of the most well-known and beloved sidecars.

One of them is the Lillafüred carriage from 1929. This could be familiar to those who frequent the Children’s Railways, since this carriage has already received a Christmas interior in the past. The other sidecar is one of the oldest from the collection of the Children’s Railway. This is none other than the green open-platform carriage made in 1912 in Arad. This train car can rarely be sighted in everyday traffic, however, for the special occasion of the holiday season, it will operate regularly. Until Christmas comes, it will mostly be accompanied by passenger trains, but during the winter break, it may be seen with the steam engine too.

Unmissable programme

Additionally, between the two holidays, there are fun programmes to try out, especially for train-lovers. On the 28th and 29th of December, a fantastic family programme will be held that caters to everybody. There will be a display of trains no longer in use where you can take a closer look at these discontinued vehicles and even climb into the engineer’s cab of locomotives. Another fun feature of this event will be the temporary exhibition that opens at the operational building of the station, which will also be available, because of its 75th anniversary.

Read about another fun winter programme HERE.
Read about other train related news HERE.

December 18, 2023

A book that chronicles the lives of Hungarian children abroad

Hungarian families who venture beyond their homeland often grapple with unique challenges, especially when it comes to ensuring their children maintain a connection with their cultural roots. Gabi Raskó’s book stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Hungarian children living abroad.

The journey abroad

“Hoztok nekünk túró rudit?” (Will you bring us túró rudi?) is an exploration of the experiences of Hungarian children living abroad. Written by Gabi Raskó and illustrated by Alexandra Grela, the book delves into the diverse stories of seven families residing in both European and non-European countries. The book encapsulates the emotions and challenges faced by Hungarian children as they adapt to life in different corners of the world. Whether in Austria, Germany, the United States, or Japan, each family’s narrative unveils the complexities of relocation, providing readers with a glimpse into the everyday lives of these young expatriates.

children's book for hungarians living abroad — Source: FB/Raskó Gabi

Diverse perspectives and narrators

One distinctive feature of the book is its narrative style. Each family’s story unfolds through the eyes of one of their children, spanning various age groups from nursery and kindergarten to high school. The blend of voices adds depth to the storytelling, allowing readers to empathise with the unique struggles and triumphs of each young narrator. Despite the geographical distances, the common thread binding these stories is the Hungarian language. Regardless of where they are in the world, these children share a linguistic bond, fostering a sense of unity and connection with their Hungarian heritage.

Age-appropriate content

The book caters to a broad audience, with stories suitable for readers of all ages. From the youngest children to university students, the book offers relatable content that resonates with the varied stages of childhood and adolescence. The stories are presented in a way that is accessible for independent reading from the age of 10.

Author’s personal touch

Raskó Gabi infuses the book with a personal touch by incorporating her own childhood experiences from the 1980s in Mexico and Brazil. Additionally, the author shares stories of her children’s experiences in Bali, Indonesia, adding authenticity to the narrative and underscoring the universality of the expatriate experience.

A family book with a purpose

The collaborative effort of Gabi Raskó and Alexandra Grela has resulted in a family-oriented book. The stories serve not only to entertain but also to offer guidance and support to Hungarian families contemplating or currently navigating life abroad. The inclusion of psychologist Vivien Szabó’s insights further enhances the book’s value by providing practical tips for children and parents adjusting to a new cultural environment.

Through its engaging narratives and diverse perspectives, the book serves as a valuable resource for families undergoing similar journeys. In documenting these experiences, Raskó and Grela contribute to the broader conversation on the challenges and joys of cultural mobility, leaving readers with a deeper understanding of the complex tapestry that is the expatriate experience.

December 4, 2023

Beloved Hungarian cartoon characters that everybody knows

Meet the beloved carton characters of every Hungarian’s childhood!

These iconic creatures are an indispensable element of Hungarian nostalgia, when it comes to childhood favourites. We assure you that every Hungarian knows them like the back of their hand. When these stories come up in a conversation, no one can resist humming their catchy theme tunes or picturing their recognisable animation style. Read more about Hungarian cartoons HERE.

The foxy Vuk

No one can outsmart this cunning cub! Written by István Fekete, this beloved character was adapted onto the screen in 1981 in a lovely cartoon. In the story, Vuk is mentored by the wise Karak, who shows him, and us, the ways of the foxes. Together, they outwit the nefarious hunter, accompanied by the unforgettable theme song by Kati Wolf. Explore more about Vuk and his enduring legacy HERE.

Süsü, the friendly dragon

It’s widely known that every respectable dragon has at least three heads, if not more. Well, not Süsü. Our adorable dragon breaks the mould. His hobbies speak volumes—instead of striking fear into the hearts of locals, Süsü prefers chasing butterflies and forming friendship with the prince rather than devouring him. Süsü is the friend of all, big and small alike!

The checkered-eared rabbit

The checkered-eared rabbit (A kockásfülű nyúl). Source: Wikimedia Commons/Richly Zsolt, Marék Veronika, Radvány Zsuzsa, Nagy Enikő

This unconventional little rabbit stars in a series spanning 26 episodes. At the beginning of each episode, he climbs out of his suitcase, sets up his telescope and checks on his friends. When he senses trouble, he hastily flies to the rescue, thanks to his checkered ears. With minimal dialogue, this green fellow swiftly gained global recognition for his helpful nature and quirky retro style.

Ugrifüles, the smallest bunny

Ugrifüles_és_Tüskéshátú — Ugrifüles and Tüskéshátú. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Pannónia Filmstúdió, Csukás István, Foky Ottó

Another rabbit in the Hungarian hive mind, this little creature is the brain child of István Csukás. Ugrifüles shares the stage with Tüskéshátú, a purple hedgehog, and Brekkencs, the frog. Across two seasons, these lovely puppets embark on adventures, inadvertently causing mischief—like the time they unwittingly swapped a local’s pet fishes with cucumbers. Their comical exploits cemented their place in the hearts of Hungarian children.

PomPom

It remains a mystery what creature PomPom is exactly. PomPom’s identity is broad, ranging from a wig to mittens or even cotton tassels. Co-starring with Picur, a regular girl navigating her daily life, PomPom narrates tales of past adventures. Through these stories, we encounter Gombóc Artúr, named for his scoop-like shape, with a penchant for chocolate. Cartoon characters like these guarantee a tale of success.

Doctor Bubó, the owl

Last but certainly not least, Doctor Bubó, the protagonist of the series “Kérem a következőt!” (“Next, please!”), is an owl with a doctorate, though his medical endeavours often lack success. Crafted by József Nepp and Romhányi, the series thrives on clever wordplay, catering surprisingly to both children and adults with its hidden analogies. Besides his medical pursuits, Doctor Bubó dabbles in policing, offering a humorous take on society that unquestionably earns its spot on the list.

November 29, 2023

Hungarian granny gave birth to her grandchild in London

A touching story from the British capital: a Hungarian couple could not have kids, so the granny gave birth to their child.

Childlessness can harm certain couples’ relationships, but there are ways to help. One is artificial insemination. The other is adoption, although neither of these is easy in Hungary. However, a Hungarian couple living in London decided otherwise: they turned to one of the grannies.

According to atv.hu, they tried artificial insemination before, but it was not successful. Their last hope to have a child was to find a gestational carrier, a woman who carries and delivers a child for a couple or individual. A gestational carrier can only be the relative of the father or the genetic mother and cannot accept money for the process. Meanwhile, a surrogate mother can be anybody and can receive payment for carrying and giving birth to the child.

They could not find a Hungarian doctor

The Hungarian couple asked the woman’s mother for help, who immediately agreed. The 60-year-old future grandmother accepted to carry and give birth to her grandchild.

However, they found no doctor in Hungary to help them in the process. Hungarian medics said there might be too many complications because of the age of the grandmother.

Therefore, the family travelled to the United Kingdom, where the wonder happened. The grandmother can make the biggest dream of the happy couple come true.

After Brexit: more than 180,000 Hungarians would like to live in Great Britain

Based on the latest data from the British Interior Ministry concerning the number of foreigners asking for a residency permit, more than 180,000 Hungarians want to remain in the country. The number of foreign applications reaches 7.5 million.

According to the British ministry, 181,490 Hungarian nationals asked for a permanent residency permit by 30 September. Romanians are on the top of the list, with more than 1.6 million. Poles are the second with more than 1.22 million, 24.hu wrote.

Read also:

VIDEO: Hungarian Olympic champion Iron Lady Hosszú made big announcement – Read more HERE
Expat mums share their experiences living in Hungary II

November 24, 2023

Orbán’s MEP talks about ‘dirty power game’ in the EU

Hungarian MEP Tamás Deutsch fidesz tisza

The left-wing majority of the European Parliament, according to Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch, is playing a “dirty power game” to prevent the unfreezing of EU funds which Hungary is legally entitled to.

“No matter what the left-wing … does, we’ll defend Hungarian sovereignty,” the head of the Fidesz EP delegation told Hungarian journalists in Strasbourg on Tuesday after an EP plenary debate on the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Hungary.

The aim of the “political hysteria” whipped up by the left wing, he said, was to put pressure on the European Commission and to create a political environment in which the EC would not “have the courage to state the facts” and declare that “Hungary has met all conditions required” for its funding to be unfrozen.

Fidesz and Christian Democrat MEPs stated clearly in the debate that “no matter how much pressure Brussels puts Hungary under, they would still insist that “war madness” must end in Ukraine, that illegal migration must be stopped and the external EU borders protected. Further, “gender ideology madness” must be opposed, and children protected, by preserving the Hungarian Child Protection Act, Deutsch said.

He added that “dollar left” MEPs were using the EP to attack their own country.

Read also:

Central bank governor talks about euro introduction in Hungary – Read more HERE
Minister: “We don’t need people like that in Europe” – Details in THIS article

November 22, 2023

New Hungarian children’s drink debuts with surprising benefits

Hell Energy, the famous energy drink company, is set to launch a new range of children’s drinks under the brand name Sunnywood Farms. But what distinguishes it from other kid-friendly beverages?

Exclusively Hungarian milk, no preservatives or artificial coloring

This exciting product is poised to hit the shelves in sixty countries, Index reports. The Sunnywood Farms distinguishes itself by using only Hungarian milk, a testament to the company’s commitment to quality and local sourcing. What sets it apart even further is its commitment to health-conscious choices. The drinks will contain no preservatives or artificial coloring.

Animated short films and fantasy adventures

As we wrote before, Hell Energy likes to experiment with various innovations, including the help of AI when developing their drinks. This time, to complement the launch, Sunnywood Farms plans to immerse children in a fabulous fantasy world through animated short films. These films will narrate the enchanting adventures of Bruno the bull and his companions, adding an extra layer of engagement to the product. Consequently, the company aims not just to provide a beverage but to create a memorable experience for its young consumers.

Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry in recyclable cans

Hell Energy’s statement reveals that the new children’s drinks will be available in three delightful flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. The company shows commitment to providing a safe and environmentally conscious product. Sunnywood Farms will package their beverages in 250 ml aluminum cans with a fully BPA-free inner coating. This not only aligns with environmental concerns but also ensures a high milk content, marking a first in Hungary.

hell energy sunnywood — Source: FB/Bocskai ABC

Emphasising milk in children’s diets

Sunnywood Farms takes the opportunity to remind consumers about the nutritional significance of milk and dairy products. Referencing national nutrition recommendations from Okostányér, the company underlines the importance of three daily portions of milk or equivalent dairy products for 6-17 year olds. This aligns with previous guidelines advocating for 0.5 liters of milk per day, emphasising the calcium content crucial for growing children.

From iced coffee to children’s drinks

Dóra Szekeres, Senior Brand Manager, expresses the brand’s confidence in entering the children’s beverage market. Szekeres reflects on the success of their four-year-old HELL Ice Coffee brand. Additionally, she mentions the high-quality, diverse product portfolio, and market leadership achieved in various countries. The launch of Sunnywood Farms marks the culmination of five years of planning.

As Sunnywood Farms prepares to debut in mid-November, it not only introduces a new product but opens a door to a world of imagination and nutrition for children globally.

November 19, 2023

Everybody knows and loves it: story of the Pöttyös Túró Rudi

There’s a timeless classic sweet, that has captured the heart of most Hungarians. Small ones and grown-ups alike, everybody knows and loves it. This sweet is none other than the Pöttyös Túró Rudi, which has been an integral part of the Hungarian life. This tasty treat was created roughly a lifetime ago and has been a national success story ever since.

A legend is made

In the 60’s a group of dairy specialists went on a visit to Moscow, where they discovered syrok, which is widely regarded as the forebear of the Túró Rudi. Once home, they started developing their own version. At the end of the initial testing period, they created a new product, but they couldn’t settle on a name. According to the group, they asked Sándor Klein for help. He came up with one, which upset the papers so much that they outright refused to advertise the product altogether. The scandalous name, you must have guessed it, is Túró Rudi. ‘Túró‘ stands for curd while ‘Rudi’ means small bar (or the nickname of Rudolf).

The final product, which did end up bearing the name ‘Túró Rudi’ featured sweet notes that came down to a slightly lemon-flavoured cottage cheese enveloped in a dark chocolate coating. Despite the lack of advertising, the product was a massive hit.
So much so that it quickly became a constant shortage item in shops. A noteworthy accomplishment even in an era characterised by shortages. To meet escalating demand, Túró Rudi relocated its operations to a larger facility in Mátészalka.

Demands were soaring, even though Túró Rudi used to have an extremely short shelf life of three days back in the day. In fact, it was even shorter since one out of the three days was spent in logistics. The company made its utmost to catch up with the demand.

Innovation is key

At the beginning of production, only one flavour existed. Still people flocked to the shops to get their hands on it.
However, the product had to undergo some important changes to keep up with customer trends. These changes came to pass, for example, as a longer shelf life, which lasted up to 14 days. In the 80s, the brand evolved to produce Túró Rudi in three separate factories, not only supplying the country but also delivering to the West.
The changes and the success story of Túró Rudi didn’t stop there. The company started experimenting with new products a well as flavours. Shortly, people with a sweet tooth could choose from hazelnut, strawberry and apricot varieties in the supermarkets.

The competition

Despite numerous attempts by rival companies to emulate the original Túró Rudi, none endured. Variously named Robi, with honey or walnut flavours, and even a vitamin-enriched version, these imitations weren’t long-lasting. Beyond Hungary’s borders, there are several other versions of the Pöttyös product. For example, the Austrians have Dots, that is widely known to be based on the Hungarian sweet. However, everybody knows that “Pöttyös az igazi”, which is the slogan of the Hungarian company, meaning that there is but one true Pöttyös.

Read more about Hungarian food specialties HERE.
Read more about Hungarian legacies HERE.

November 13, 2023

PM Orbán: those support migration, who do not have children – UPDATED

The only remedy for migration is not to allow migrants into the country, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview to public radio on Friday.

Intelligence reports on migration “paint a dire picture” and strengthen the government’s resolve to “carry on with what we have been doing so far”, he said. Hungary was the first country which stated that “migration and terrorism go hand in hand”, and the reports also underpinned this view, he added.

“It is obvious that the migrants are increasingly aggressive and resort to violence against each other and the border guards,” he said. “They apply increasingly harsh methods to cross the border fence and this radicalisation is actually backed by the appointed activists of terror organisations,” he added.

He said the situation at the southern borders was becoming critical because it “is being shaped and organised” by people trained to do so.

Once the migrants allowed in, they could not be moved out

Migration, he said, was assessed differently by people without children as opposed to those who brought up children. The former, he added, considered migration to be a personal issue and thought about only whether they wanted to live in a country where migrants were around, while the latter also considered what type of country they wanted to leave behind to their children.

Orbán said the issue was not whether one would come across migrants in Budapest in the next 20-30 years but the fact that once migrants were allowed in, they could not be moved out. “And this means that our children, our grandchildren and several generations that follow will live in a world that will be unpleasant, uncertain, full or terrorist acts, crime and mini ghettos like Gaza,” he said, adding that this could still be prevented.

“Accepting illegal migrants and their presence in the country would lead to the people of that country not being able to live in security, peace or prosperity,” he said, adding that the issue required forging a broad international consensus.

Hungary’s “pro-migration” leftist opposition and Jobbik-Conservatives were undermining efforts to forge that broad consensus, he added.

“Accepting migrants would lead to not being able to live in safety, wellbeing and peace in Hungary, either,” he said.

Read also:

25 Kurdish nationals found in Polish van in Hungary – HERE are the details and a video
ISIS, al-Kaida, Taliban and Hamas present in these Hungarian cities and villages near the border

This, he said, was already the situation in several western European countries that were once colonisers, and the 2015 wave of migration added to that, when even further migrants were allowed in. “In some countries, the local residents think that the country will never be the same as it was when they were born there,” he added.

We don’t want mini Gazas in the districts of Budapest, Orbán

Orbán said change was needed in Brussels regarding a migration policy that had “ruined the western member states” and which should not be forced on Hungary. The prime minister said:

“We don’t want mini Gazas in the districts of Budapest, terrorist attacks or gang wars.”

He said Hungarians should be thankful that they should not have to think about migration rules in a country where 10-20 percent of the residents were already migrants.

Hungary has a “tolerance offer” which is being communicated to the Germans, the French and the people in Brussels. “Hungary does not want to tell them how they go about their business but asks one thing: they should tolerate that Hungary acts differently,” Orbán said.

But, he said, people in Brussels wanted a unified policy on migration and to impose the same state of affairs that pertained in the western half of Europe across the entire bloc.

“They want to send their migrants here and force Hungary to build migrant ghettos, and they want to authorise Brussels to be able to send here any number of migrants when a state of emergency is cited,” he said.

Big fight with the EU

Orbán said this issue would be the focus of a “big fight” in the coming months as well as a key issue in next year’s European Parliament elections. Referring to a planned government public opinion survey, the prime minister said that if the government received confirmation of its policies in a National Consultation, then the Hungarian government would be able to “hold out”.

Hungary must protect its southern border and it must protect its position in Brussels, he said. Additionally, regulations on migration must be tightened in response to the increasing pressure of migration, he added. The current regulations were suitable to handle the 2015 migration crisis but since the pressure of migration was now increasing, stricter rules were needed, he said.

Orbán said the new asylum law must clearly define the legal grounds and the circle of people allowed to reside in Hungary, and the law must be strongly enforced, he said.
The prime minister said that unless the legal grounds and timeframe for foreign stays in Hungary were clearly defined, “they will steal the country from us”.

“Hungary belongs to Hungarians, including jobs here and the right to decide how to live,” he said.

Orbán said parliament would adopt the legislation by year-end.

Orbán praises national consultation

On the topic of the National Consultation public opinion surveys, Orbán said they served unity. “Power and the state as an entity in a community is defined by its ability to act in unison and to ensure that there is consensus on the most important issues, and that action is taken in view of the opinions formed in the process.”

Referendums, parliamentary elections and the National Consultation surveys “are the basis of that joint action, and strengthen it”, he said.

Regarding the EU, he said it had been created to ensure peace and prosperity in Europe. “But there is war now, and we lag behind in the competition with the large economic blocs of the world such as China, Asia and the US.”

“The Brussels leadership is making bad decisions that impact us all,” Orbán said, citing migration, the issue of Ukraine’s EU membership and the bloc’s relationship to the Russia-Ukraine war as examples.

European Union leaders “are doing the bidding of a globalist elite” rather than representing the will of Hungarians or European citizens, he said. “They are not our men.”

Orbán said the public rejected migration and war, wanted peace as well as a well-planned green transition that did not destroy industries, he said.

“The leadership in Brussels has been captured by a globalist elite and financial power interests,” he said, adding that they did not represent the interests of “the Hungarian, German, French or Italian people”.

Change, he said, was needed to ensure that Brussels bureaucrats “finally do what’s in the interst of European citizens” and not the EU itself, “because we are the union”.

Regarding the situation in Ukraine, Orbán said an agreement in Istanbul had been ready to sign but “the Ukrainians didn’t sign at the behest of the US, or at least that’s the diplomatic gossip.”

The war is ruining Europe

Europe’s stance during the 2015 Crimean crisis had been that the conflict must be contained “because an all-European conflict is not in our interest”. As the US entered the arena, a new approach replaced isolating the conflict with expanding it, he said. “That is not in the interest of Hungary or Europe,” he said.

“The war is ruining Europe,” he said. “What we are doing now is unsustainable and should not be continued.” Hungary, he added, did not support sending weapons to Ukraine and continued to oppose “sending Hungarian taxpayers’ money there”.

Orbán said Hungary was ready to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine but “funding the Ukrainian state and helping them to fight with weapons bought with our money” would have dire consequences for Hungary and would result in bankrupcy.

Regarding economic growth, Orbán said real wages had been growing since September. An OECD report said that real wages had been growing in Hungary since the second quarter, he said.

Orbán said the coming six weeks would be “difficult in politics”, with issues of the war and migration looming “amid attacks from Brussels”.

He said one of the most contentious issues was talks with Ukraine on EU membership, “which must not be undertaken”. “Ukraine is not in any way ready to conduct talks with a view to EU membership,” he said.

Orbán insisted that Hungary’s rejection of talks on Ukraine’s EU membership were tied to financial issues.

The EU “should give us what it owes us”, the prime minister said. The start of talks with Ukraine should not be connected to the monies Hungary is entitled to, he added.

Orbán: We must provide families with help through growth

The prime minister said the government had been determined this year to protect the value of pensions and jobs while curbing inflation to single digits year-end.

“We undertook three things …. we have fulfilled all three,” he said.

Orbán said economic growth would be restored in Hungary next year after having contracted to zero, “or even below that” this year.

“We must provide families with help through growth,” Orbán told public radio.

Growth, he added, meant job protection, higher wages and a higher standard of living.

Raising the minimum wage, the wages of skilled workers and the launch of CSOK Plusz, a revamped home purchase subsidy programme, “are matters for 2024” designed to boost Hungary, its economy and the situation of Hungarian families, he said.

Orbán wants to replace EU leadership

Orban said that if “certain economic indicators” were underperforming, “Brussels” could put forward “certain measures”, which, if rejected by a member state, would be enforced anyway because they had the means to do so. “But they have no idea about Hungarian life or the laws of the Hungarian economy”, he said. “We know precisely how to restore economic growth, reduce the public debt [and] the budget deficit…”

Orban said “Brussels” wanted Hungary to abolish its tax on excessive corporate profits, its subsidy system for household energy and its cap on loan interest rates. “But that would ruin the lives of Hungarian families,” he said.

“We will also have a big debate on economic policy issues”, the prime minister said. “The big issues will rather concern the January-September 2024 period, though they are also connected to the European elections due in June,” he added.

Orban said almost all issues could be agreed on with “a good, sensible, down-to-earth European leadership”, but the current leadership was lacking and “should be replaced”.

“A new, better and friendlier European Union leadership is needed in Brussels,” the prime minister said.

November 10, 2023

Number of Hungarians still drastically decreasing

Fully 7,222 children were born in September, while there were 9,111 deaths. That means the number of Hungarians are still decreasing unstoppably. Meanwile, 6,948 couples got married.

The number of births fell by 7 percent in September compared with the same month in the previous year, while deaths dropped by 11 percent, according to preliminary data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Friday. Meanwhile, the number of marriages decreased by 9.8 percent in the same period.

Fully 7,222 children were born in September, while there were 9,111 deaths. Altogether, 6,948 couples got married.

The natural population loss was 1,889 people compared with 2,529 in September 2022.

Fully 64,655 children were born between January 2023 and September 2023, 2.4 percent fewer than in the same period of last year. Altogether 93,600 people died between January 2023 and September 2023, 7.7 percent fewer than in the same period of last year.

In the same period, 40,111 couples tied the knot, 25 percent fewer than in the same period of last year.

There were 9.0 live births and 13.0 deaths per thousand inhabitants, the former 0.01 lower than in the January-September 2022 period, while the death rate was 0.1 of a percentage point lower.

Read also – interesting number and statistics:

Shocking numbers: Hungarians spend a lot of money on prostitutes – Read more HERE
Which nations do Hungarians like and dislike the most? – Click HERE for more

Hungary jobless rate 3.9 pc in September

Hungary’s jobless rate stood at 3.9 percent in September, edging down from 4 percent in August but up from 3.7 percent twelve months earlier, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Friday. The rate covers unemployment among people between the ages of 15 and 74.

In absolute terms, there were 191,200 unemployed in September, 4,200 fewer than in August but 11,400 more than twelve months earlier. The rolling three-month average jobless rate stood at 4.1 percent in September, unchanged from August and up from 3.6 percent twelve months earlier.

October 28, 2023

Major charity concert by Medic Orchestra: band of Semmelweis University medical students

medic orchestra medikus zenekar semmelweis

The Medic Orchestra (Medikus Zenekar) is a symphony orchestra consisting of medical students from Semmelweis University. For the fifth time, they will hold a charity concert this year. This time, the orchestra willl be joined by the Semmelweis University Choir.

Tábitha House

The symphony orchestra of Semmelweis University will donate all proceeds from concert tickets to Tábitha House. The institution is the Hungary’s only dedicated palliative children’s hospice care facility, Impress Magazin reports.

Gergely Dubóczky, artistic director and conductor of the orchestra, said that they are always happy to support an important social cause. The Tábitha House provides support for families of patients in need of all-day care who are in long-term residential care and nursing.

Medic Orchestra

Since 2008, the orchestra has been a key player in the cultural life of Semmelweis University. The members of the ensemble are mainly current and former students of Semmelweis University.

Major charity concert

The Medic Orchestra, together with the Semmelweis University Choir, will give a charity concert on 4 November 2023 at 19:30 at the Liszt Academy (Zeneakadémia). This event will be the largest ever concert in the history of the Medic Orchestra.

In addition to the 100-member Semmelweis University Choir, an orchestra of nearly 80 musicians will play at the Liszt Academy, where Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem will also be performed, semmelweis.hu notes.

Read also:

Ed Sheeran is coming to Budapest next year – read details about his concert HERE
2024 will not be without concerts: Take That is also visiting Hungary!

October 25, 2023

Not enough children: President set up new roundtable

President Katalin Novák announced on Friday the establishment of a demographic roundtable to smooth dialogue on demographic issues and their solutions.

“If we can’t at least spark in young people questions about whether they want children, we have no hope for a future for Hungary,” the president said at the gala dinner in Székesfehérvár, concluding her visit to Fejér County, in central Hungary.

“We must ask ourselves why raising a family isn’t attractive these days, and why those who are drawn to it end up with fewer children than they wanted,” she said.

“We must face the challenges we think are the most important rather than turn away from them, and we must think about solutions if we are to avoid a demographic Ice Age,” she said.

Read also:

Hungary’s foster care crisis: the grim reality – Read more HERE
Hungarian-Ukrainian agreement, President Novák’s life in danger in Kyiv

President: In times of distress, Hungarians must stick together

President Katalin Novák, speaking in Feketic (Bacsfeketehegy), in northern Serbia, on Saturday, said that Hungarians in times of distress must “stick together” and “give each other strength”.

“Only communities that stick together can survive and become stronger,” she said at the consecration service of a Serbian Reformed church.

The president alluded to “destructive ideologies” and “a campaign now targeting children”, as well as heightened tensions in Kosovo and instability in the Western Balkans, in addition to the war “raging in Ukraine” and an imminent war in the Middle East. She added that economic challenges were making everyday life for families difficult.

She said Christians turned to God at such times when the safety of communities and families was imperiled, and questions, she added, were answered by “clinging together”.

She said Hungarians within the territory of Hungary and beyond were connected to each other as if by “an umbilical cord”.

Hungarians, too, can maintain friendship with Serbia, and this helps cohesion, she said.

János Nagy, a state secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, read a letter of greeting by Viktor Orban at the episcopal consecration. The letter said that in Vojvodina Reformed churches were not only houses of faith but also strongholds of the Hungarian people.

Orbán wished the newly elected bishop, László Harangozó, to be blessed in his service to the entire Hungarian population of Vojvodina.

Zoltán Balog, bishop of the Danube Reformed Church District, head pastor of the Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Church, preached at the service.

October 15, 2023

Hungary’s foster care crisis: the grim reality

There are approximately 5,400 foster parents in Hungary, but SOS Gyermekfalvak claims that some 2,000 additional foster care families are needed in order to be able to house every child in the system.

Critical shortage of foster care families

According to Népszava, 23,000 children live in foster care in the country at the moment mostly due to family issues: abandonment, abuse, substance use, or the death of one or both parents. Initiated by SOS Gyermekfalvak, 7 October has been dedicated to children living in foster care since 2021. As the non-profit organisation emphasises, it is crucial for these children to be adopted by a parent, and to find a home where they can be raised along with smaller number of children, just like their peers at school. If they are not adopted by a parent, they will most likely be sent to a foster home, where there are more children and less adults to take care of them.

The lack of a family here can deeply affect children on an emotional level, as it is more difficult to bond with their peers in bigger communities. Their sense of safety, due to the lack of consistency is also at risk. According to the law, every child under the age of 12 needs to be raised by a foster parent. In reality, only third of them, about 7,000, live in foster homes as there are not enough foster care families.

No place to call home

After going through a recruitment process, being a foster parent is challenging, both emotionally and financially. Parents are often expected to be healthy, both mentally and physically, anything that could harm the stability of the family is an excluding factor. They also need to stay in contact with the biological parents, if there any, even if this could lead to conflicts. The aid for foster parents is HUF 69,600 (EUR 179.55) per month, with an additional HUF 46,400 (EUR 119.70) per children. But money is not the only issue. In many cases, foster children carry past trauma that is not easy to overcome and requires patience and understanding from the parent. A project, similar to foster parenting was also initiated by SOS Gyermekfalvak in order to take care of children with special needs. In this case, parents can raise only one child compared to “traditional” foster parents, who usually look after 3-5.

Being a substitute parent is also an option in Hungary. The establishment was introduced by the Child Protection Act of 1997, and it is similar to being a foster parent, but the right of custody remains in the hand of the biological parents. They give up on their children temporarily, often due to the living crisis or because they are unable to take care of them while going under medical treatment. During this time, they stay in contact with the children. Substitute parents only take care of children for 1.5 years maximum, but if the biological parents’ issue persists after, they may be taken into foster care.

Author: Daniella Takács

October 14, 2023