Fidesz

Don’t be afraid! PM Orbán’s delegation promised to fight “against Brussels” in the EU Parliament

No democracy in the European Parliament government says

In the next plenary season of the European Parliament, the delegation of ruling Fidesz will work to strengthen the European and Hungarian economies, pursue a pro-peace and anti-migration policy, keep agricultural subsidies at the current level, and push back against “pressure from Brussels”, MEP Csaba Dömötör told a press conference on Friday.

Dömötör said the “elite of the European People’s Party and the left-wing” could not withhold the monies Hungary was entitled to, and “cannot turn down the volume of the voices it doesn’t like, neither on Facebook nor in the European Parliament“.

The “Brussels elite” was looking to take on the baton from the “failed US Democrat administration”, as shown in the coalition of the Liberals, the Socialists and the EPP, Dömötör said: “They are not looking for the flame of peace but for the baton of war politics”.

The Fidesz delegation, meanwhile, is working to become the voice of those who “want peace in the clamour of war, an independent European economy, who would preserve the appeal of rural life and reject migration”, Dömötör said.

Pro-peace policies and level energy prices are key to maintaining an upward trajectory of the Hungarian economy, he said. The protection against migration must be kept in place, and agricultural subsidies at a current level, he said.

The EP stance that all member states should earmark 0.25 percent of their GDP to the military support of Ukraine would cost hundreds of billions for Hungary, he said.

He said that debates were also expected over farm subsidies, and that the EC wanted to cut area payments saying that Ukraine’s EU accession would render the system non-viable. This would harm the income of hundreds of thousands of Hungarian farmers, and “must be prevented at all cost”, he said.

“The liberal Brussels elite feels that these plans have no public support, and they are trying to silence opposing voices,” Dömötör said. That goal had been behind the withholding of funds from Hungary, the Commission seats being withheld from the Patriots for Europe party family, and the aim to strengthen a fact-checking system that Facebook had just scrapped in the US as a tool of political censorship, he said.

Slamming the opposition Tisza party, Dömötör said they had “fully integrated into the pact-elite”. Tisza had voted against amendments that would have strengthened border protection, argued against the utility caps, “and Péter Magyar is campaigning against the current agricultural subsidies”, he said.

Read also:

  • Putin said he would tear Hungary away from NATO, but how would PM Orbán act? – read more HERE
  • Hungarian government loophole: Guest workers can still come to Hungary – read more HERE

Fidesz MEPs demand action from Brussels against gas market speculations

An MEP of ruling Fidesz said on Tuesday that clear action was needed by Brussels against high energy prices and gas market speculation.

Fidesz MEPs call on EC for action against gas market speculation

András Gyürk said he had submitted written questions to the European Commission on behalf of the Fidesz group, adding that the EC had done nothing when gas transits through Ukraine were stopped at the beginning of the year.

He said that before starting its term, the EC led by Ursula von der Leyen had promised to reduce energy prices, yet in the past three months European gas prices have increased by around 20 percent. He added that despite the promises from Brussels, the market price of natural gas had increased by one-fifth since November.

“The bureaucrats watched idly as 15 billion cubic metres of natural gas was lost from the European market after the Ukraine gas transits stopped,” he said. “They also failed to act against the gas market speculation that resulted in increased prices when gas storage facilities were filled in the summer,” he added. “This is incomprehensible and it is the reason why we have turned to the European Commission with written questions,” he said.

“We expect concrete practical steps to be planned by the European Commission against speculation that makes summer gas acquisitions expensive,” he said. “Additionally, we expect information from Brussels concerning whether they plan to offer financial and technical support to East European countries affected negatively by the stoppage of Ukraine gas transits,” he added. Reducing energy prices is crucial to ensuring economic competitiveness and the welfare of citizens, Gyürk said.

Read also:

Fidesz politician: US Ambassador Pressman leaving, ‘but all he’s created stays’

US Ambassador David Pressman is leaving his Budapest post on Monday, “but everything he has created stays,” the head of the Fidesz parliamentary group said on Facebook.

Pressman’s legacy

Máté Kocsis said that “in the past years, Pressman has been very smart in bringing acts together which the mentally dysfunctional liberal left had been unable to do before,” Mate Kocsis said. “Pressman organised and financed political and hospitality parties with the agenda to topple the sovereignist government…., it was his life mission,” Kocsis added. He said that the reason he had called the ambassador “talented” was “because he has revived Hungary’s liberal life”.

Pressman warns of PM Orbán's gambling problem (Copy)
Photo: FB/Embassy of the USA

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Brussels to become battleground for pro-war vs. pro-peace forces, says Fidesz

Hungarians European Union EU presidency

Since the “pro-war, pro-immigration and pro-gender forces have lost Washington”, Brussels will become the main battleground between them and “the pro-peace forces of the future” once Donald Trump takes office, the communications director of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats said on Sunday.

Ever since US President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that he wants to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, the “pro-war Democrats” in the US and “pro-war” politicians in Brussels “have been doing everything they can” to deepen and expand the war in order to make the next US president’s job more difficult, Tamas Menczer said in an interview with public radio.

He argued that in late last year US President Joe Biden and the Democratic administration had authorised Ukraine’s use of American weapons to strike deep into Russian territory which he saw “as a very serious step towards escalation”.

Menczer said the “pro-war, pro-immigration and pro-gender forces” in Washington and Brussels were and would be part of the past, noting, however, that while this faction was on the way out in the US, “they are still here and in the majority” in Brussels. “So, in Brussels, we are the opposition , we, the Patriots; and we represent rebellion.”

“That is where things will be decided, and no one should be under any illusion: their last bastion is Brussels now that they’ve lost Washington,” he said.

Menczer said the “battle between the forces of the past and the future, meaning the pro-war and pro-peace forces”, would be a “difficult and drawn-out battle”. He added, however, that he was convinced that “the future belongs to the pro-peace side” and the “pro-peace alliance” between Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

He said that after losing Washington, the “pro-war forces” would concentrate all their strength in Brussels, adding that everything had become urgent for them.

“They’ve urgently given the order to hold early elections in Hungary, and what do you know, this is exactly what [opposition Tisza Party leader] Peter Magyar and [opposition Democratic Coalition leader] Ferenc Gyurcsany want,” he said, underlining that an early general election was not on the cards.

Menczer said the “pro-war forces” were also rushing to deepen the war in Ukraine and “create an irreversible situation”. He said they also wanted to urgently bring Ukraine into the European Union “or at least as close to it as possible”.

The communications director said the pro-war side also urgently wanted to oust Viktor Orbán and his government “because they present an obstacle”.

Meanwhile, Menczer said “every left-wing opinion poll” was “a lie and manipulation”, adding that “everyone knows” that the opposition parties only had a chance of winning a general election together, and they were already cooperating in the Budapest assembly and Brussels.

As regards EU funds for Hungary, he said there was “fake news” being circulated in the matter. Hungary has 12.5 billion euros on its account, he said, adding that Hungary was again among the most effective member states when it came to the draw-down of EU monies in the current funding cycle as well. The Hungarian prime minister, he said, had successfully negotiated these funds, and would fight for the rest of the funds the country is entitled to as well. “We won’t lose anything and we haven’t lost anything,” he said.

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Convincing victory for Orbán’s Fidesz on today’s by-election in Tolna 2

Fidesz victory in Tolna 2 electoral district (Copy)

Krisztina Csibi, the candidate of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance, won Sunday’s by-election in Tolna County’s 2nd electoral district, in south-western Hungary, with close to two-thirds of the vote.

Data published by the National Election Office with 99.12 percent of the votes counted shows Csibi with 11,913 votes, 63.7 percent of all votes cast. Dóra Dúró of opposition Mi Hazánk had 3,588 votes (19.18 percent) and László Takács of the opposition Democratic Coalition had 2,055 (10,99 percent). Independent candidate Gábor Harangozó had 437 votes (2.34 percent), independent Ernő Vilcsek 380 (2.03 percent) and Pál Péter Ágoston of the Second Reform Age party had 330 votes (1.76 percent).

Fidesz victory in Tolna 2 electoral district (Copy)
The MP-elect Krisztina Csibi and PM Orbán. Photo: FB/Krisztina Csibi

The by-election was held to decide who takes up the parliamentary seat of Árpád János Potápi, who served as a Fidesz MP for Tolna County’s 2nd district and state secretary for policies for Hungarians across the borders when he died in October last year.

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Fidesz: Early election not on the cards

Budapest Sight Parliament Parlament Danube 2

Voters will choose political parties in the usual way, the head of the Fidesz parliamentary group said on Monday, vowing not to cave into demands to bring the general election forward.

An early election has not been held since 1990 and another will not be held in future, Máté Kocsis said on Facebook in reaction to the latest call for the election to be brought forward, this time by Ferenc Gyurcsány, the leader of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK).

related article: Gyurcsány calls on ruling party lawmakers to support call for early election

He accused Gyurcsány and Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar of being stooges of Brussels. “We know full well where the wind is blowing from,” he wrote. Kocsis said the financiers of foreign people of influence had “given orders to stop Viktor Orbán from governing durably after Donald Trump takes office”, adding that Trump and Orbán opposed war and both would impair the “war policy of Brussels” as well as the implementation of the migration pact. With Trump soon taking office, “it is understandable that … it has become urgent for the Brussels elite to effect the quickest possible change of government in Hungary. This is why they want to dissolve parliament; this is why they are demanding early elections…”

Kocsis accused DK and Tisza of coordinating to bring forward the election and of “actively cooperating in Brussels and … in the Budapest assembly, too”. In the last big election “barely six months ago”, “our community” received more votes than the second, third and fourth place combined, he said, adding that this was ample evidence of the current state of voter sentiment.

The Fidesz politician said Gyurcsány’s Socialist government had presided over “extremely high” personal income taxes and poor salaries for civil servants and teachers, while Fidesz had worked to ensure broad wage increases and a three-year agreement on raising the minimum wage. PIT, meanwhile, “is the lowest in the region”, he added. Whereas Gyurcsány “took away the 13th month pension, we handed it back, and we’re making it permanent,” he wrote. He also accused the DK leader of planning to “tear down the border fence and let migrants in”.

As we wrote earlier, opposition Tisza leader Péter Magyar called for early elections.

Gyurcsány calls on ruling party lawmakers to support call for early election

gyurcsány

Ferenc Gyurcsány, the leader of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK), has sent a letter to lawmakers of the ruling Fidesz and Christian Democrat (KDNP) parties, asking them to support a call to bring forward the general election.

Gyurcsány said on Facebook that he would ask MPs: “Are you afraid of the Hungarian people? Do you support the call for an early election?”

In the letter also posted online, Gyurcsány said recent developments in Hungarian public life, politics and the economy “have unrevocably rocked the credibility of the sitting government and eroded its public support.”

He insisted the government had dismantled the system of democratic checks and balances in Hungary. “After the 2022 elections, it has become even clearer that, according to the spirit of the constitution, the government is acting unlawfully,” he said.

“Lawful governance is not the appearance of lawful actions but compliance with the will of the people as enshrined in law. The government broke the will of the people when it took over and dismantled the republic,” he said.

Gyurcsány said voters had not given the government a mandate “to strive to obtain exclusive power unconstitutionally”. “Only fair elections mirror the will of the people … and a government based on [unfair] elections is unlawful.”

Moreover, the government, he added, had failed to fulfil all its key promises, failing to maintain household utility price caps, to protect small and medium-sized enterprises and put Hungary’s economy back on its feet, he said.

He insisted that the Orban government was in the process of introducing “post-Communist Hungary’s most severe austerity package”, even as they were neglecting to tackle “skyrocketing inflation and fuel prices” and a decade-high public debt and a low-value forint.

“Hungary has been visited by an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis … we have been overtaken by the Czechs, Poles, Romanians and Bulgarians; we are now lagging behind in Europe,” the DK leader said.

“Apart from Hungarians, you have also betrayed our country’s network of allies. [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban is talking about Hungary’s neutrality in a global struggle but has actually taken the side of Russia and China against the interests of Europe, resulting in unprecedented distrust in Hungary’s government…”

Meanwhile, “all-encompassing corruption in Hungary and breaches of the rule of law” resulted in the country losing its access to EU funding worth 400 billion forints, Gyurcsány said. “Hungary has lost that money for good because of you,” he said in the letter. “What … could the country expect from another year and a half of governance by this majority?”

He said Hungary had an interest in a leadership with a credible democratic mandate, capable of making decisions with wide social support. “The current situation is untenable, and every day you continue to govern only adds to the hardships in Hungary.”

“Let the people decide! That’s why we propose that parliament announcing its own dissolution on March 1. The time until then will be an opportunity to create the legal and political foundation for fair elections. In view of all that, I ask whether you are afraid of the Hungarian people, and support early elections? Hungary is awaiting your answer,” Gyurcsány wrote.

As we wrote earlier, opposition Tisza leader Péter Magyar called for early elections.

read also: Will early election be held in April in Hungary? PM Orbán’s main challenger in “campaign mode” – UPDATED: Think-tank, NVI

Is PM Orbán preparing for early elections in 2025?

Hungary early elections Orbán

According to Hungary’s 2025 budget law, the Orbán government plans to spend HUF 8.4 billion (EUR 20.5 million) on the upcoming general elections in 2025. Is that just a technicality, an error, or will there be early elections in Hungary next year?

No early elections since 1990 in Hungary

Hungarians could first elect freely in April and May 1990, after the collapse of the Communist state. Since then, no early elections have been organised in Hungary, even though sometimes it could have been, for the best. For example, in 2006, the Ferenc Gyurcsány cabinet faced protests after it became apparent that the prime minister and his government lied about the budget numbers to the European Union and the people. However, the Socialist government did not give up and served its full term to suffer a historic defeat from Fidesz in 2010 and “give” Orbán his first supermajority in the parliament.

Hungary early elections Orbán
Photo: FB/Orbán

PM Orbán believes that governments in Hungary should serve their terms despite the circumstances. According to him, cabinets serving their full term are a condition of stability and predictability. That is unique in Central and Eastern Europe, where early elections are common.

Péter Magyar emerged as Orbán’s main challenger

The Orbán system faces its biggest challenge in Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party in the upcoming general elections. Even government-close pollsters believe that Orbán has no chance for another supermajority. Neutral and leftist pollsters measure a significant Tisza Party lead.

Therefore, it makes sense to hold early elections in Hungary. Vox Populi választási kalauz, a Hungarian Facebook page focusing on elections and polls, shared that the 2025 budget of Hungary, accepted in December by Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP alliance, programs the election organisation spending, EUR 20.5 million, for 2025. That would cover the costs of printing ballots, sending out notifications for the citizens and sending voting packages to Hungarians living abroad.

Hungary early elections Orbán
Photo: FB/Vox Populi

Will 2025 be ‘annus mirabilis’?

A considerable disadvantage of an early election would be that the Hungarian economy underperformed even government expectations in 2024, so there is a widespread depression due to the decreasing value of real wages and the prospects of entrepreneurs. PM Orbán promised wonders in the Hungarian economy in 2025, which seems to be a preparation for the parliamentary elections. Furthermore, the government plans serious transfers to the electorates. For example, they will double the family tax benefits for families raising three or more kids.

Read also:

  • Péter Magyar’s Tisza party ahead of PM Orbán in latest polls but won’t field candidates on next election – read more HERE

Syrian plane in Budapest? Group leader of Fidesz responds

“Not a single word” of a story about a Syrian plane landing in Budapest is true, Máté Kocsis, the group leader of ruling Fidesz, said after a meeting of parliament’s national security committee on Wednesday.

Officials of Hungary’s secret services briefed the committee in detail about the “fake news spread by left-wing portal Magyar Hang” and Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, Kocsis said on Facebook.

Syrian plane in Budapest: “Fake news”

He said the report about the Syrian plane had reflected the “structured, detailed falsehoods that are typical of the statements made by the head of the Tisza Party”, adding, at the same time, that “the problem is that they pose a national security risk”.

The secret services had to play an active role in managing those risks, he said, noting that the story about the Syrian aircraft landing in Hungary had made its way to several European platforms and social media, as well as Middle Eastern news sites. The story could therefore also spread among the opponents of the ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, he said, adding that there had been a risk that they could “carry out an act of retaliation in Hungary”. Kocsis noted that the Hungarian embassy in Damascus had been attacked around the time the story spread.

Kocsis said the secret services were still investigating the source of the story and looking into those who had spread it on social media. “This time, Péter Magyar’s lies posed a substantial risk to our national security and our compatriots,” he added. Kocsis said no Syrian aircraft had landed in Hungary, counter-terrorism force TEK had not been deployed to protect Assad, and no one had been made to sign any kind of non-disclosure agreement.

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Hungarian Parliament’s final session brings key amendments to the constitution, election act, and more

In the Hungarian parliament, Fidesz, the governing party with a two-thirds majority, has introduced several important changes to the lawmakers:

Hungarian Parliament vote on law establishing 2025 budget

MPs approved legislation for establishing the 2025 budget in a vote in parliament on Tuesday.

The law includes several measures in various fields and was approved by lawmakers with a vote of 134 for, 47 against and 8 abstentions.

The law removes the legal institution of special economic zones from the statutory regulation as of January 1. The competent local municipalities will once again perform local government and state administration tasks related to the areas.

The February date for the payment of the bonus thirteenth monthly pension has been raised to a statutory level.

The law imposes a HUF 1.2m annual threshold limit for subscriptions of baby bonds on Start accounts in a calendar year per person.

A provision that the government sector balance must be determined in such a way that its deficit does not exceed 3pc of GDP has been removed from the stability act. The new regulations state that the government sector balance must be decided in accordance with the Basic Law and European Union law.

The law authorises the government to decide on the alienation of state-owned properties next to national core network railway tracks in the national economic interest, or on the establishment of land use rights on them, or on the creation of undivided common ownerships.

It was also determined that business associations that develop and operate real estate that is part of the national core network railway track, in which the state’s direct or indirect share reaches 10pc, will be considered to be included in state property.

Amendments on higher education, family affairs, culture

Hungarian Parliament approved amendments to laws on higher education, family affairs and culture with 134 votes in support, 17 against and 39 abstentions.

In line with the amendments, married students who have children will be eligible for state scholarships until the age of 30, and tuition-paying students will be transferred to state scholarships if they get married and have children.

Students returning to Hungary after taking out a student loan abroad will have the option to repay their loan through the Hungarian student loan system.

Students raising children aged under 14 will be allowed to choose distance learning.

Several foundations operating universities will receive properties free of charge.

The state can operate museums in the future, the local council, or by non-profit economic organisations owned by the state or local council.

The Fudan Hungary University Foundation will change its name to Tudas-Ter Foundation, and it will be tasked with implementing a student quarter dormitory development program under the arrangements of university cooperation and to develop student welfare services.

read also: Hungarian MPs decide on important tax laws

Lawmakers tighten criminal code’s statute of limitations rules

Parliament voted unanimously to tighten the criminal code’s rules on the statute of limitations.

In line with the amendment approved with 190 votes in favour, zero tolerance will apply regardless of the age of the perpetrator, and the statute of limitations will be eliminated in cases of serious crimes punishable by life imprisonment.

Current regulations stipulate that the maximum prison sentence for perpetrators aged under 16 is 10 years, and for perpetrators aged between 16 and 18 years it is 15 years. Additionally, there is currently a statute of limitations in force in such cases, and the crimes lapse after 10 years or 15 years, respectively.

In line with the amendment approved by parliament, a statute of limitations will be applicable only in the case of crimes punishable by over 10 and 15 years in prison.

The new regulations will enter into force on January 1.

The governing party has redrawn the electoral map to suit itself

Parliament voted in favour of the amendment to the electoral law on Tuesday, with 134 votes in favour and 52 against, and no abstentions.

  • The ruling party has completely redrawn the previously known electoral districts:
    Budapest, which was the opposition’s stronghold, has been truncated from 18 to 16 constituencies, meaning that two fewer individual MPs from the capital will be able to enter Parliament. For the amendment, all constituencies in the capital will be redrawn based on Fidesz’s analysis.
  • The two extra single MPs will be allocated to Pest county, which will have 14 constituencies in 2026 instead of the current 12.
  • The constituencies of Fejér and Csongrád-Csanád counties have also been changed.
  • Under the new law, it will no longer be necessary to carry an address card with you to vote, but only an identity card, passport or driving licence will be required to prove your identity.
  • The rules on the bundling and storage of ballot papers are clarified.
  • The law also creates the possibility and obligation of an automatic recount of votes.

The head of the committee Imre Vejkey, of the co-ruling Christian Democrats, said during the debate about the proposal that changes in demographics had prompted the amendments to the constituency allocations. The opposition parties have sharply criticised the proposal, saying that the changes served the interests of the ruling parties.

read also: Hungarian Parliament again extends the state of emergency

Lawmakers adopt 14th constitutional amendment

Lawmakers adopted the 14th amendment to Hungary’s constitution, giving parliament room to elect the chief prosecutor from outside the prosecutorial system.

The amendment passed with 135 votes in favour and 53 against.

In their justification for the amendment, the authors of the bill said the amendment brings the regulation in line with the domestic practice, arguing that two of Hungary’s three chief prosecutors since the change of regime in 1989/90 had not been prosecutors before their election.

The amendment proposal submitted by parliament’s justice committee also makes reference to international examples, pointing out that many European countries do not require the chief prosecutor to have served as a prosecutor before fulfilling the role.

The amendment will enter into force on January 1, 2025. Chief Public Prosecutor Peter Polt’s mandate expires in 2028.

The amendment also raises the minimum age for judges from 30 to 35 years effective March 1, 2025. Also, as of January 1, 2026, judges will be allowed to remain on the bench until the age of 70.

Parlt adopts amendments to laws on digitalisation of documents

Parliament adopted amendments to laws pertaining to digital citizenship and the digitalisation of documents on Tuesday.

The new regulations, adopted with 135 votes in favour, 22 against and 33 abstentions, are designed to fine-tune regulations and to align them with European Union law.

Personal data are already available in an application. From February 2025, users will be able to download and forward the authenticated contents of many official documents.

With the exception of personal IDs, documents will only be issued in physical form upon specific request. ID cards will be issued free of charge, but people above 14 will have to pay for the issuance of physical documents in other cases. Pensioners will have discount prices.

By reducing the number of plastic and paper documents, the government is expecting to reduce plastic waste by 11.1 tonnes a year, and paper waste by 1.2 tonnes.

Poll results: Only three parties would enter Hungarian Parliament if election were held today

The ruling alliance of Fidesz and the Christian Democrats would win a 61 percent majority in parliament if elections were held this Sunday, according to a fresh poll by the pro-government Nézőpont Institute.

Only three parties would enter Hungarian Parliament, if…

In December, 38 percent (2.9 million) of the total adult population eligible to vote (about 7.67 million) sympathised with Fidesz, 25 percent with the Tisza Party (1.9 million), the same as in the previous month.

Among those who are certain or likely to vote, Fidesz-KDNP’s list would capture 47 percent of the vote in a general election. Fidesz’s nearest opposition rival, the Tisza Party, would get 37 percent, with the leftist Democratic Coalition just clearing the 5 percent threshold for seats in parliament.

According to Nézőpont’s model, Fidesz would win 74 electoral district races, giving it 121 seats in the 199-seat parliament. Tisza would win the remaining 32 constituencies, giving it 71 seats, with DK winning 6 and the ethnic German minority 1 seat.

Read also: Two Hungarian politicians named on Politico’s list of the 28 most influential people in Europe

New constituency boundaries

The full picture also includes the fact that the percentages of the “most likely list result” are not the same as the distribution of seats in parliament, as individual constituencies play a key role in the Hungarian electoral system. The Nézőpont Institute has therefore modelled how the distribution of seats would evolve “this Sunday” after a hypothetical parliamentary election, taking into account historical electoral trends at the constituency level and the new constituency boundaries.

Taking the voting population as a whole, the ruling parties are backed by 38 percent of the electorate, with Tisza on 25 percent. The phone poll was carried out between December 9 and 11, with a sample of 1,000 adults.

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French conservative newspaper predicts Orbán’s downfall: Is Hungary on the brink of change?

Power struggles and surveillance: The 2018 shake-up of Hungary’s Information Office

Hungarian super secret service

The summer of 2018 was a crucial period not only for the Information Office, which is a branch of the secret service in charge of foreign intelligence, but also for the Hungarian political system. An unprecedented intelligence operation and power struggle took place, putting the relationship between the government and the intelligence services on a new level.

For a long time, the Information Office operated under the supervision of János Lázár, then head of the Prime Minister’s Office. According to Telex, during his years as the head of the Information Office, János Lázár paid considerable attention to intelligence activities related to the EU institutions. This practice did not only concern OLAF, but also other EU delegations and officials in Hungary. The Information Office’s increasing surveillance activities not only put the Hungarian intelligence services in a delicate position but also undermined trust within the EU.

This arrangement was terminated in 2018 when the fourth Orbán government was formed, and the Information Office was placed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, led by Péter Szijjártó. However, the handover process was not smooth and the situation quickly became tense.

szijjártó nato collective defence ukraine
Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter

Szijjártó’s first step was to invite the heads of the Information Office, including István Pásztor, the director general of the office, to a meeting. At the same time, however, he received an unusual order from the security department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: a special 30-strong team was to be allowed into the Information Office, demanding full access to the archives.

The search for documents

The task force, made up of representatives from various departments of the Ministry of the Interior, spent weeks at the headquarters of the Information Office. The official purpose of their investigation was to conduct a comprehensive review of the functioning of the intelligence services, but in reality, they were interested in information on specific cases. These included the economic affairs of the Orbán family, in particular those of István Tiborcz, the prime minister’s son-in-law, and the public procurement scandal involving Elios Plc.

During the raid, prosecutors questioned staff, searched archives and confiscated computers. The dismissed managers were not allowed to return to their offices, and their personal belongings were not returned until later.

viktor orbán
Photo: FB/Orbán

The raid was carried out by the forces supervised by the Minister of the Interior, Sándor Pintér, but the initiative may have been backed by Viktor Orbán’s circles. The aim was to find out what information the Information Office had collected in the previous years of the government, particularly on the affairs of the Orbán family. The events shed light on the internal power struggles between the different actors in the government.

OLAF monitoring and the Elios case

One of the most controversial areas of the Information Office’s work has been the monitoring of OLAF, the European Union’s anti-fraud office. Under the leadership of János Lázár, the Information Office actively monitored OLAF’s investigation in Hungary into procurement abuses by Elios Plc. OLAF staff were tapped by telephone, followed physically and even secretly recorded. The aim was to gain early access to information gathered by the EU body.

OLAF investigations eventually revealed irregularities in the Elios projects and recommended the recovery of HUF 13 billion (EUR 31 million) of EU funds. However, the Hungarian government covered this from the budget, thus avoiding direct financial responsibility.

The consequences

The events of 2018 highlighted the lack of transparency and political independence of the Hungarian intelligence services. The task force’s actions also raised legal questions, as the lack of official documentation could indicate illegal activity. According to Miklós Ligeti, legal director of Transparency International Hungary, the events raise suspicions of criminality in several respects.

The 2018 crackdown not only led to the replacement of the IH leadership but also to a complete reorganisation of the functioning and internal power relations of the Hungarian intelligence service. Viktor Orbán personally criticised the previous activities of the Information Office, and it became clear that the intelligence service was coming under tighter control of government interests.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

French newspaper predict Orbán’s downfall: Is Hungary on the brink of change?

An analytical piece in the French conservative daily Le Point offers a fresh perspective on Viktor Orbán’s current challenges, asserting that the Hungarian Prime Minister is navigating one of the most turbulent phases of his political career.

According to the article, opinion polls, economic difficulties and domestic and foreign policy challenges are all contributing to Orbán’s sharp decline in popularity. The article draws data from a recent survey by Medián, which shows that the opposition Tisza Party led by Péter Magyar, has gained a significant lead over Fidesz.

Orbán German carmaking industry
Photo: depositphotos.com

Public opininon: A change brewing?

According to Index, the French newspaper cited Medián’s survey, which showed that the Tisza party already leads Fidesz by 11 percentage points among voters who are sure of their vote. In recent weeks, Fidesz’s support has plummeted from 32% to 27%, a significant drop. At the same time, the opposition party has consolidated its lead, which could pose a serious challenge to Orbán’s fourteen-year rule. The paper emphasised that the scale of the change increasingly suggests that Hungarian voters are ready to turn away from the current government.

Orban’s government is also under pressure in its relations with the EU. The newspaper speculates that Hungary could lose up to EUR 1 billion in EU funds by the end of the year if it fails to implement reforms demanded by Brussels. The article details that these reforms concern transparency in public procurement, the fight against corruption and compliance with conflict-of-interest rules. The freezing of EU funds, which currently stand at around EUR 16 billion, could put Hungary under severe financial pressure.

The French newspaper also pointed out that Hungarian voters’ political choices are currently heavily influenced by the economic difficulties they face in their daily lives. Following the record 17% inflation in 2023, figures dropped to 4% in 2024, against an EU average of 2.3%. The European Commission forecasts that Hungary’s public debt could reach 74.3% of GDP this year, driven by low GDP growth and a high budget deficit. These indicators paint a negative picture of the state of the economy and undermine the government’s economic performance.

A new opposition: Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party

Le Point has a special focus on Péter Magyar, the leader of the Tisza Party, who was once a close ally of Viktor Orbán but has now become one of his main political opponents. Péter Magyar’s strategy differs from previous opposition approaches: rather than focusing on rule of law issues, he is drawing attention to the decline in Hungarian living standards and public services. In his speech to the European Parliament, for instance, Magyar compared Hungary’s minimum wages with those of other countries in the region, highlighting the weaknesses of the government’s economic policies.

PM Orbán and Péter Magyar Tisza party
Photo: FB/Magyar

The state of the Hungarian health sector emerges as a pressing concern in Le Point’s analysis. Péter Magyar delivered a scathing critique of the system’s deficiencies, highlighting that one in three Hungarians under the age of 65 faces significant challenges due to a shortfall of 40,000 nurses. Hospitals often lack essential supplies such as disinfectants and cleaning agents, underscoring the sector’s critical condition. Furthermore, the emigration of young people—central to Péter Magyar’s broader critique—has profound implications not only for Hungary but also for several countries across the region. However, the potential social and economic repercussions are particularly acute for Hungary.

In response to these challenges, Viktor Orbán may increasingly pivot away from negotiating with the European Union and instead seek alliances with the United States, notably with Donald Trump. According to Le Point, this strategic shift could gain momentum as the next general election approaches, driven both by mounting domestic political pressure and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding EU funding.

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Two Hungarian politicians named on Politico’s list of the 28 most influential people in Europe

Two Hungarian politicians have made Politico’s 2025 list of Europe’s 28 most influential figures. Viktor Orbán ranks fourth in the “dreamers” category, while Péter Magyar secures sixth place among the “disrupters.” As Magyar rises as a challenger to Orbán’s long reign, the tension between the “challenger” and the “globalist” is shaping Hungary’s political future.

Two Hungarian politicians on Politico’s list

Politico has unveiled its 2025 list of Europe’s 28 most influential figures, highlighting two Hungarian politicians. As Telex reports, Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Prime Minister, is ranked fourth in the “dreamers” category, surpassing prominent figures such as Kaja Kallas and Andriy Yermak. Meanwhile, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, earned sixth place among the “disrupters,” a group that includes Raffaele Fitto and Marine Le Pen. The rankings, which categorise politicians as “doers,” “disrupters,” or “dreamers,” underscore the growing influence of Hungarian politicians on the European stage. The full results of the list will be revealed on Tuesday evening.

The challenger vs the globalist

Péter Magyar was labelled “the challenger” as he is emerging as a key challenger to Viktor Orbán’s long-standing rule. Magyar, from a political family, has steadily built momentum, particularly among progressive urban voters and conservatives in rural areas, a stronghold of Orbán’s support. However, his challenge lies in balancing this appeal without alienating his base in Brussels, as Orbán uses state power, from the media to the judiciary, to undermine him.

Meanwhile, Orbán, labelled “the globalist”, is striving to reshape Europe’s political landscape through international alliances and his ideological influence in Brussels, where he has successfully mobilised conservative forces, especially with the backing of Donald Trump’s re-election. This growing network positions Orbán as a key player in linking Washington and Europe’s advancing conservative movement.

PM Orbán and Péter Magyar Tisza party Hungarian politicians
Photo: FB/Magyar

Magyar was quick to comment on Politico’s choice, in a Facebook post he writes:

There’s going to be a problem… Along with Al Capone of the Carpathians, I was included in Politico’s list of the 28 most influential European politicians as a challenger in the disrupter category. This year, the hereditary commissioner of Hatvanpuszta has been included in the globalist category in the “dare to dream big” category. Just don’t end up a nightmare, Prime Minister…

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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.

PM Orbán and Bardella
Photo: FB/Orbán

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 reveals the residence of Orbán's father, Hatvanpuszta

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.

Hungarian opposition politician reveals the residence of Orbán's father, Hatvanpuszta
Photo: Facebook / Hadházy Ákos

Modest way of living?

The Hungarian opposition has raised concerns over PM Viktor Orbán’s wealthy estate, which spans 6,000 square metres and features multiple swimming pools, a massive library, a grand ballroom, an underground car park, and even a tunnel. Ákos Hadházy, an independent MP and vocal critic, has used his pilot’s licence to fly over the site and document its development, likening it to a “mini-Versailles.” Speaking to French TV, Hadházy remarked that in a functional democracy, such excesses would lead to the government’s downfall.

The Hungarian opposition politician has criticised the stark contrast between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s modest personal lifestyle and the immense fortunes amassed by his family and close associates. While Orbán resides in a small village of 1,500 people, reportedly spending weekends smoking ham, those in his inner circle—including his father, son-in-law, and friends—have accumulated significant wealth. Notably, Hungary’s largest football stadium, the Puskás Arena, was constructed near his home, raising further questions about the intersection of public funds and personal proximity.

Hungarian opposition politician Hadházy writes in a Facebook post:

We also flew over Hatvanpuszta with the French public television crew, since the Hungarian party-state television has NEVER mentioned the Pusztaversailles, which symbolizes the Fidesz regime. It would all be very good if the French knew what was behind Viktor Orbán’s propaganda: the most corrupt politician in Europe, who had to lie more and more because he had stolen too much.

Asset declaration

According to Index, the Democratic Coalition challenged PM Viktor Orbán’s 2023 asset declaration, citing reports that he and his family allegedly use the Hatvanpuszta mansion, registered under his father’s name, for work meetings. Despite these claims, the property is absent from Orbán’s official declaration of assets. The Parliament’s Committee on Immunity dismissed the opposition’s case within two weeks, further fuelling criticism over transparency and accountability in Orbán’s administration.

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Is Fidesz campaigning through public arguments? Péter Magyar was insulted in front of a children’s home – VIDEO

Péter Magyar Tamás Menczer

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.

Péter Magyar's Tisza does not want to protect their utility price cap scheme
Photo: FB/Péter Magyar

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.

Secretary Hungary Slovakia fidesz brussels
Photo: Tamás Menczer/FB

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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