Solar power accounted for 25pc of electricity generation in Hungary in 2024, more than in any other country in Europe, a report by the international independent think tank Ember shows, the Energy Ministry said on Thursday.
Hungary was ahead of Greece and Spain, where solar power generated 22pc and 21pc, respectively, of electricity, the ministry said on social media. On sunny days, Hungary’s electricity generation is entirely carbon-free, taking into account the output of the Paks nuclear power plant, it added.
Solar power capacity in Hungary climbed over 7,550 MW at the start of 2025. Four-fifths of that capacity has been installed since 2020. By 2030, capacity is set to reach 12,000 MW. Over 300,000 homes have solar panels in the country.
Energy supplies to Hungary ‘secure’, says foreign minister
The government can guarantee Hungary’s continued energy security even after Ukrainian restrictions of gas deliveries, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Thursday, noting that he spoke by phone today with Alexander Novak, Russia’s deputy PM in charge of energy affairs, to discuss energy issues affecting the region.
“Crude and natural gas deliveries to Hungary are flowing continuously,” he said, noting that the Turk Stream gas pipeline was shipping record volumes. “So we have reinforced our commitment to protecting that transit route,” he said on Facebook.
Szijjarto noted reports in the past days and weeks had caused alarm over the security of energy supplies the region, emphasising that Hungary’s energy was secure.
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Minister Gulyás: Government very optimistic about economy, Trump follows Orbán’s policies – read more HERE about yesterday’s government info
Modul University Vienna, a prestigious private institution, is facing significant challenges after the European Commission declared it ineligible for EU funding. The decision, linked to a controversial ownership change in 2023 involving a Hungarian foundation associated with the Orbán government, affects both Erasmus scholarships and Horizon Europe research funding, sparking widespread debate over its justification.
EU funding decision
Modul University Vienna, a renowned private institution specialising in tourism studies, has recently been at the centre of a significant EU funding decision. According to Der Standard, the European Commission clarified that the university in Kahlenberg, Vienna, is no longer eligible to receive EU funding for its students. This measure follows a highly unusual move by the EU to restrict a university from enabling its students to participate in Erasmus scholarships.
Photo: Facebook / Modul University Vienna
The decision stems from Modul University’s change in ownership in 2023 when a Hungarian foundation closely linked to the Orbán government acquired a 90% stake. This foundation, which also oversees the Matthias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), an institution heavily funded by the Hungarian government, has prompted the Commission to inform Erasmus programme agencies across Member States of the university’s ineligibility for EU financial support.
Change in Modul University Vienna’s ownership
Modul University Vienna has been embroiled in controversy over its eligibility for Erasmus funding following a change in ownership in 2023. The university is now controlled by a Hungarian “public interest trust,” chaired by Balázs Orbán, Political Director to Hungary’s Prime Minister, with other government affiliates playing key roles on its boards. This ownership structure places Modul University under the EU Council’s 2022 ban on funding for Hungary, which halted Erasmus grants to 21 Hungarian universities managed by similar state-run foundations. Despite protests from Budapest over the funding restrictions, the measure remains in force.
Photo: Facebook / Orbán Balázs
Following the ownership change, the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD), which is responsible for Erasmus grant distribution, ceased approving new applications from Modul University Vienna. Ernst Gesslbauer, OeAD’s programme director, confirmed that partnerships funded by EU money were also suspended. To resolve the matter, the agency sought guidance from the European Commission, which affirmed that Modul University Vienna is ineligible for Erasmus funding under the current EU Council ruling.
Is the decision justified?
Modul University Vienna has contested the EU’s decision to cut off its funding, stating that the measure is “in no way justified” and pledging to challenge it. While Erasmus grants are unavailable, the university claims its students are “not disadvantaged” as it is providing equivalent financial support for studies abroad. However, the funding restrictions extend beyond Erasmus, with the university also excluded from Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research funding programme. The university has declined to comment further on the matter, according to the Austrian Ministry of Science.
A tender for the conversion of the lignite-fueled Mátra Power Plant to a combined-cycle gas turbine plant has been successfully closed, Energy Minister Csaba Lantos said at a conference organised by the Hungarian Hydrogen Technology Association on Thursday.
New, CCGT power plant to be built
Lantos noted that the tender was the first of three for CCGT power plants to be successfully closed. A condition of the Mátra Power Plant tender was ensuring the facility could operate with 30pc hydrogen, he added. Lantos said all efforts would be made to advance the green transition, but “the reality” was that large-capacity power plants would need to be put online rapidly in the coming 20-25 years to meet demand.
Photo: PrtScr/FB/Energy Ministry
Lantos noted that more than one-fourth of Hungary’s electricity had come from renewables in 2024. Solar power capacity stands at 7,550 MW, he added. Lantos said Hungary’s current hydrogen strategy needed to be reviewed and a predictable, simple and transparent national regulatory framework established.
Zoltán Áldott, who chairs the supervisory board of oil and gas company MOL, which hosted the conference at its Budapest HQ, said both green hydrogen and low-emissions hydrogen needed support.
Government-close businessmen among the winners
According to 24.hu, the winner of the tender was a consortium of Status KPRIA, the Egyptian Elsewedyvel and West Hungária Bau. The estimated price of the investment is 14.74 million euros. The Status KPRIA is in the interest of Lőrinc Mészáros, the wealthiest Hungarian, who acquired most of his wealth thanks to the numerous public procurements he won one after the other. West Hungária Bau is in the interest of István Tiborcz, the son-in-law of PM Orbán.
According to the Hungarian News Agency, the consortium will build a 500-650 MW CCGT power plant to replace the 884 MW lignited-fueled Matra Power Plant which generates close to one-tenth of Hungary’s electricity and accounts for almost 5pc of the country’s carbon emissions. Emissions of the gas-fueled plant will be just one-fourth of the lignite-fueled one. State-owned energy group MVM will finalise the financing structure for construction of the CCGT power plant after the contract with the winning consortium is signed.
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Hungary becomes regional distributor of Russian gas, generating windfall revenues
Will Hungary make Romania Moscow-dependent by gigantic gas deal? Romanian secret services may join the “game” – read more HERE
Gránit Asset Management has been added to the Constitution Protection Office’s list of qualified market operators, thus enabling its participation in the investor visa program aimed at modernizing and improving the quality of Hungary’s real estate stock.
On January 22, 2025, Gránit Asset Management was notified that it has been added to the Constitution Protection Office’s list of qualified market operators. Consequently, Gránit Asset Management complies with the provisions of Section 22(9) of Act XC of 2023, and the sale of the Gravitas Hungary Real Estate Fund, previously established specifically for this purpose and already registered with the National Bank of Hungary (MNB), can now commence for interested parties applying for an investor residence permit.
The Gravitas Hungary Real Estate Fund, previously established specifically for this purpose and already registered with the National Bank of Hungary, can now be marketed to investors. In accordance with the legal regulations, at least 40% of the fund’s assets will be invested in residential properties in Hungary, thus contributing to the modernization and qualitative expansion of the Hungarian real estate stock.
“As a real estate investment specialist asset manager, we are delighted to have received the permit to participate in the investor visa program. With the Gravitas Hungary Fund, we plan to purchase primarily new, modern residential properties that we will rent out for the long term. This not only provides investors with a stable return but also contributes to sustainable urban development and the expansion of the rental housing market, especially in Budapest,”
emphasized Álmos Mikesy, President and CEO of Gránit Asset Management.
Gránit Asset Management, operating for sixteen years, manages assets worth more than EUR 2.6 billion, of which nearly EUR 1 billion is managed in real estate investment funds, making it a recognized expert in this field. Supervised by the National Bank of Hungary, Gránit Asset Management offers a highly diversified product range, from traditional investment funds to institutional portfolios and innovative, sustainable investment products. Its client base includes approximately 50,000 investment unit holders, nearly 500 premium wealth management clients, and numerous institutional partners.
A 40km north-south dual carriageway in the west of the country could be built with HUF 200bn by the end of the decade, Construction and Transportation Minister János Lázár said on Thursday.
The expressway will connect Szombathely with Kőszeg, to the north, and Körmend, to the south, Lázár said at a joint press conference with Szombathely mayor András Nemény. Planning for the expressway, which will cost HUF 5bn, will be completed by year-end, he said. Permits have already been acquired and the state is earmarking HUF 2.0bn for the acquisition of land, he added.
Photo: FB/Lázár
The “real task” will be getting the HUF 200bn for construction of the expressway, he said. He added that a bypass around the city of Szombathely could be built in a cooperation. The government backs the development of an industrial/logistics park in Szombathely that could involve partnering with regional railway company GYSEV, majority owned by the state of Hungary, Lázár said.
Mayor Nemény said the municipal council would strive to cooperate with the government to implement development plans for the city.
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New motorway to be built in southern Hungary – read more HERE
The government is optimistic as the Hungarian economy is set to grow markedly, Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, said at a weekly press briefing on Thursday. Gulyás said an assessment in an analysis presented by the national economy minister at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday gave “reason for optimism”. On another subject, Gulyás said the government “is ensuring security at schools”, adding that an investigation had started concerning multiple bomb threats at schools earlier in the day.
Higher domestic consumption
Concerning the economy, Gulyás pointed to “tangible” indications of an economic turnaround and said chances for the war in Ukraine to end within the foreseeable future were “much greater than at any other time in the past”. He noted that the employment numbers hit a record 4.7 million, while real wages were on the rise, consumption and retail sales were increasing, and retail lending stock was growing.
Growth trends will be reinforced by the government’s new economic policy action plan, he added. Gulyás said real wages had increased by around 10 percent in Hungary last year, though he noted that the final figures were not yet available. The three-year agreement between the government, employers, and employees ensures another 5-6 percent increase in 2025, he added. He also noted that “the middle class and the poorest” had benefitted the most, with an increase exceeding 15 percent.
Gergely Gulyás. Photo: MTI
Higher domestic consumption, Gulyás said, also gave rise to optimism: in the first three quarters of last year consumption increased by 4.1 percent, the fifth highest ratio in the EU. Retail trade has been on the increase for 13th months in a row, and domestic tourism “broke all records”, he added.
Trump follows the policies of the Orbán cabinet, said Gulyás
The number of mortgages increased by over one third in 2024, while the sales of new and second-hand cars also increased, the minister said. Once the war in Ukraine is over, not only would energy prices improve but “a number of other areas” in the economy would also benefit, he said, adding? “We have good reason to be optimistic.” Meanwhile, Gulyás said the executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump were in line with the steps taken by the Hungarian government over the past decade.
“What Trump is doing in the United States is what we’ve been doing over here for years,” he said. Gulyás said Hungary and the US now shared the same positions on the issues of border protection and immigration and gender policy.
According to Gulyás, Hungary is in a better situation than the US in terms of migration, because “we have not had a long Democrat government and the country did not allow just anyone to enter; neither does Hungary need to find ways to remove those people from the country.” Hungary’s border controls “ensure that migrants cannot come into Hungary,” he said, adding however that “Brussels is punishing Hungary” for its border control system.
Meanwhile, commenting on “gender policy”, Gulyás said its number one advocate in Hungary had been the US ambassador in recent years. He added that the new US administration, however, planned to enact “the biological principle that humans are either male or female”.
Slovakia shares the same position as Hungary
Regarding NGOs, Gulyás said the US no longer supported “Soros organisations and networks” and could suspend their financing. Gulyás said that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has briefed the cabinet of his Tuesday visit to Bratislava. Not only are Hungary and Slovakia good neighbours, they also share the same position on major issues affecting European politics, he said.
The two governments were “a sober voice in European politics”, especially regarding enlargement policy, he said, adding: “Hungary stands in solidarity with Slovakia.”
Regarding Ukraine, Gulyás said that as an EU membership candidate, the country “cannot deliberately take measures that make the energy supply of EU member states impossible”. Accession is also conditional on respecting national and minority rights, he said. “Ukraine is either misinterpreting its own position or it does not really mean to join the EU,” he added.
US-Hungary ties expected to be better than ever
Asked about the government’s expectations after US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Gulyás said bilateral ties were expected to be better than ever.
The US government, he said, placed protection of its own economy in first place and would want to change “all economic cooperations where it is in the red”. That can happen by agreements or tariffs, Gulyás said, adding that Hungary would prefer an deal since tariffs on the EU would harm Hungary, too.
Europe must negotiate an agreement with the US and find ways to reduce the US deficit, he said. “I’m not saying we should be blithely optimistic … but let’s hope we can achieve an agreement with the US, as President Trump wants a deal first and foremost.” Asked whether the fact that Trump had already started expelling illegal migrants would have an effect on EU policies, Gulyás said: “I hope it will.” The majority of EU governments had changed their stance on migration lately, he said.
Agreement with Russia on the horizon
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Gulyás said the US aimed to broker peace and an agreement with Russia. Europe should be a part of that work as the results would directly affect its own security, he added. At the same time, “whenever Europe follows US instructions slavishly, it betrays its own interests,” he added.
Gulyás said Trump was looking for a way to end the war as quickly as possible and wanted to negotiate with the Russian president. “[Trump] said that if there is no agreement, there’s another way, through more conflict.”
So far “Europe has done the opposite”, Gulyás said, adding that the EU had refused to negotiate with the Russian president. “Neither did it make an effort to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table”, but issued sanctions, he said. Gulyás said the Hungarian government long held the view that sanctions had harmed Europe more than Russia, and argued for the policy of sanctions to be abandoned.
Trump-Orbán meeting comes
Gulyás said that now the EU would have to reconsider its policies in view of the new US approach. So far sanctions were extended automatically, “but it is different this time”, Gulyás said. Regarding a future meeting between Orbán and Trump, Gulyás said a meeting was planned but no date has been set as yet.
Responding to another question, Gulyás said he expected Antal Rogán, the minister who heads the cabinet office, to be removed from the sanctions list of the US soon. In response to a question, Gulyás said the US entry ban on Rogán was not on the agenda of this week’s cabinet meeting, adding that the government knew for certain that the cabinet office chief was not accused of anything. He said Rogán did not have any assets in the US, “so there wasn’t even a risk that he’d incur any loss”.
Gulyás slammed Budapest’s leadership
Asked about the project to transform the area around the Rákosrendező train station and rail yard in Budapest’s 14th district, Gulyás said it was justifiable to want to know what would be built there, adding that the construction and transport minister had spoken about this.
He said the Budapest metropolitan council had not expressed an opinion on how this area should be put to use, and had never made an offer to buy it or engaged in talks about it. The city council, he added, had not even offered to help move the waste from the site.
“But now that the government wants to put the area to use, the metropolitan council is suddenly showing interest in it and saying that it would have no problem paying the purchase price, while also saying that the government is bankrupting the city,” Gulyás said.
Rákosrendező agreement is about a multi-hundred billion forint development
He said the agreement with the UAE investors was about a multi-hundred billion forint development in an area of the city that had been neglected, which would ease housing problems, create jobs and generate tax revenue and was ultimately good for the capital. He said it was worth discussing the scope of the construction project, “but transforming a polluted, waste-filled area where no one has done anything for 30 years into a development area is good and is also in the city’s interest”.
Gulyás underlined that the UAE government did not have the right to determine who could exercise pre-emption rights. He explained that the Hungarian government has signed an agreement with the UAE according to which the UAE will bring an investor to Hungary that will spend hundreds of billions of forints to transform a given area. “We’re the ones making the decision to work with an international investor,” he said, adding that the international agreement superseded any pre-emption rights.
Gulyás said he had no knowledge of any financial transactions between the contracting parties, adding that both the investor and Budapest had in interest in normalising their relationship.
120 metres is the tallest possible building in Budapest
Asked how tall the proposed buildings in the redeveloped area would be, Gulyás noted that under the construction law, buildings cannot be taller than 90 meters. Gulyás cited János Lázár, the construction minister, as saying that “the tallest he could imagine is 120 metres”, which he agreed with. The government will discuss the plans with the developer in detail, whose point of reference will have to be the Hungarian legal environment, Gulyás said.
In response to a question, he said the government had not seen a reason to consult with the Budapest city council on whether it wanted to exercise its pre-emption rights before the sale, arguing that the city “had no plans with that area for 34 years”.
Asked about Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony’s suggestion that the solidarity tax had been unlawfully charged to the city council’s account, Gulyás said there were clear rulings issued by the Constitutional Court and a court declaring that the city had an obligation “to show solidarity, and this is the case”.
Asked about Ukraine’s decision to halt the transit of Russian gas through its territory, Gulyás said the EU was an alliance and recent “negative experience” showed that “countries that have a tendency to be hostile towards their own allies shouldn’t be EU members”.
Ethnic rights in Ukraine need to be restored
He said Ukraine had still not restored the acquired rights of ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia, and was also “deliberately threatening” the region’s energy security. He said Hungary had reminded Ukraine that its EU membership was not “a given”, and that its admission to the bloc would also need to be approved by Hungary and Slovakia.
In response to a question, Gulyás said there was a “rule-of-law crisis” in Poland, arguing that the government there was ignoring the Constitutional Court’s rulings, questioning the status of judges, refusing to comply with court rulings and ignoring lawmakers’ immunity. “This sort of thing has never happened in Europe,” he said. “If someone requests asylum in a situation like this, their request must be assessed and they must be granted asylum if they meet the criteria.”
He said Poland’s response to Hungary’s decision to grant political asylum to the former Polish justice minister was “unusual in diplomacy, ineffective” and “grossly impolite”.
Asked about a recent poll showing that the opposition Tisza Party was ahead of ruling Fidesz, Gulyás said: “There are those who poll voters and there are those who publish voters’ preferences without polling them.”
Asked about Fidesz parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis’s Facebook post calling on the German authorities to turn over to Hungary the antifa activists suspected of having carried out violent attacks on the streets of Budapest in 2023, Gulyás said that since the suspects had committed the attacks in Hungary, Germany was expected to turn them over in line with European cooperation in legal assistance.
Shortfall in VAT revenues
Commenting on the investigation against the head of the Integrity Authority, Gulyás said the head of the authority, like everyone else, was innocent until proven guilty. Asked about a 1,200 billion forint shortfall in VAT revenues, Gulyás said it was “bad news for the budget” but “looking at the background, it may not be that bad because people’s savings have increased.” Last year, real wage growth was around ten percent, “which everyone can spend as they wish, and consumption growth was significant, at four percent.”
University tuition fees and salaries
Asked why the government had cut the number of state-financed scholarships in higher education, Gulyás said the total number had actually increased, adding that “it is at the ministry’s discretion to determine in which areas more or fewer [state-financed] places are needed.” In 2025, there are 87,175 state scholarships, while this number was 75,730 last year, he added.
Concerning a possible pay rise for employees in higher education, Gulyás said wages “in some areas in the public sector” were “lower than they should be”, adding that the government was determined to increase those wages, “the economy permitting”.
Meanwhile, asked about the US decision to pull out of the World Health Organisation, Gulyás said the WHO “made the mistake of publishing documents which proposed global governance after the covid pandemic, which gave the goosebumps to any normal person for whom sovereignty matters.” It is good to have a global organisation at times of epidemics to coordinate best practices such as the procurement of vaccines, he said, adding that WHO would face difficulties as “the US has so far contributed 18 percent of its budget”. But even without the US, the WHO would manage to pursue its activities, while the Hungarian government has not made a decision to quit the organisation, he added.
Jewish organizations could not agree
Concerning the House of Fates museum in Budapest, Gulyás said the facility had not been opened to the public “due to a lack of understanding between Hungary’s Jewish organisations”. He said the property would be sold by the state, but being a museum “there are constraints” around the sale.
Asked about Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent holiday in India, Gulyás said “not publishing reports on the trip does not mean that it has been kept secret … the prime minister is entitled to go on holiday and take a rest.” Gulyás also mentioned the possibility of releasing any information withheld for security reasons later if warranted.
A bomb threat targeting over a hundred Hungarian schools has sparked speculation of a Russian link after a 15-year-old programmer hacked the email behind the threats. His findings revealed ties to a Yandex account and suspicious activity pointing to possible Russian involvement. While the boy’s claims have gained attention, Hungarian authorities have yet to comment on his investigation, leaving questions about the true source of the threats unanswered.
Teachers carry out the task of bomb technicians
As Szeretlek Magyarország reports, a bomb threat targeting 121 schools caused widespread alarm on Thursday after institutions received a menacing email sent via a foreign server. In some Budapest schools, including Csík Ferenc Elementary and Secondary School, teachers were tasked with checking classrooms due to a lack of bomb squads, according to reports. Gergely Gulyás stated that police are stationed at the affected schools, but teaching will continue unless headteachers decide on extraordinary holidays, particularly where many pupils have been taken home. Authorities, including the secret service, have launched an investigation into the threats of public danger.
Photo: FB/Norbert Trippon
Hungarian boy hacks email connected to the bomb threats
As Pénzcentrum writes, the email address used for the bomb threat targeting Hungarian schools was hacked, revealing a trail of suspicious activity. A 15-year-old programmer, who allegedly decrypted the address, shared his findings on Reddit. The email domain, “harcos@coredp.com,” originally belonged to a legitimate company until its closure in 2010. Since then, the domain changed hands multiple times, being linked to activities ranging from call girl services to scam websites and APK downloads, some potentially malicious. The programmer’s detailed investigation sheds light on the domain’s murky history, raising questions about its use in the bomb threat.
Photo: Pixabay
A possible Russian tie?
The programmer’s investigation into the bomb threat email uncovered a potential Russian connection. He discovered that the email address was linked to both a Pornhub account and a yandex.ru account, the latter suggesting a possible Russian tie. While he managed to access the Pornhub account, finding only video preferences, he was unable to reset the Yandex account without further details.
Notably, the same threatening emails sent to Hungarian schools were also sent back to the address itself. The programmer speculated that the attackers, potentially Russian or state-sponsored, may have orchestrated the threats as a coordinated effort, similar to incidents in Slovakia and Serbia. However, he cautioned that the Russian link remains uncertain, as anyone could create a Yandex account to mislead investigators. In addition, it is important to note that the authorities have not yet confirmed any of the information found by the 15-year-old boy.
UPDATE: Opposition politician reacts
Márton Tompos, President of the Momentum opposition party, thinks that Russians are behind the bomb threats. He explains in a Facebook post that the bomb threats targeting Hungarian schools resemble incidents in Slovakia and the Czech Republic last year, where Russian involvement was suspected. The emails share similar Islamist rhetoric, but intelligence, including Czech secret service insights, points to Moscow. Tompos calls on Hungary’s National Security Committee to convene urgently, with assurances of direct participation to address the issue.
József Váradi, CEO of Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air, has announced ambitious plans for a 20% rise in passenger numbers in 2025, as the company positions itself to surpass rival Ryanair. The airline also revealed a raft of long-awaited, customer-focused improvements aimed at enhancing the passenger experience.
Wizz Air aims for 20% growth in 2025
In an interview with Turizmus.com, Mr Váradi outlined Wizz Air’s strategy to grow passenger numbers by 20% in 2025, despite challenges in 2024 stemming from issues with Pratt & Whitney engines, which left 20% of the fleet grounded. Nonetheless, the airline managed to increase passenger numbers from 60 million to 62.8 million during the year.
The carrier operated close to 300,000 flights in 2024 and expanded its fleet by adding 34 new aircraft, bringing the total to 226. Plans for further growth include acquiring an additional 50 Airbus A321neo and A321XLR aircraft by 2026. Wizz Air also carried 6.4 million passengers on Hungarian flights in 2024, a 23% increase on the previous year, according to figures shared with the Hungarian News Agency.
Váradi stated that Wizz Air plans to carry 20% more passengers in 2025, equating to 75 million tickets sold. He expressed hope that the year would be free from major disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic or ongoing conflicts. While their projections do not factor in a resolution to the war in Ukraine, he noted that an end to the conflict could significantly boost the airline’s expansion efforts.
Ryanair’s advantage to diminish in 2025
Váradi addressed competition with Ryanair, noting that the Irish carrier enjoyed an advantage in 2024. However, he predicted that this advantage would diminish in 2025, as Boeing’s delivery delays leave Ryanair unable to receive new aircraft on schedule.
He also welcomed the Hungarian government’s decision to phase out its controversial windfall tax on airlines, describing it as a “nonsense” that had placed carriers at a disadvantage.
Váradi revealed that three of their aircrafts remain stranded in Ukraine, though they are unharmed. He estimated it would take six months to restore them to operability once they can be retrieved.
Wizz Air CEO József Váradi. Photo: FB/Budflyer
Wizz Air’s long-range ambitions
Contrary to speculation, Wizz Air has no plans to launch services to Pakistan, Váradi clarified. Instead, the airline’s next focus is India, with the new, longer-range Airbus A321XLR aircraft enabling routes such as London-Jeddah and Milan-Abu Dhabi.
Rejecting the idea of acquisitions, Váradi reaffirmed his belief in organic growth, which he said has kept Wizz Air free of debt. He also highlighted the popularity of the airline’s innovative Multipass and All You Can Fly subscription services.
Enhanced customer service for passengers
According to iho.hu, in a move welcomed by passengers, Wizz Air will scrap its premium-rate customer service phone number from 28 January. The airline plans to restructure its help centre, making it easier for customers to resolve issues related to flights, bookings and luggage.
The carrier’s chatbot, Amelia, available 24/7 in English, German and Italian, will continue to handle straightforward enquiries, while live chat and phone support—charged at local rates—will assist with more complex issues.
“Wizz Air is committed to introducing innovative solutions and providing the best possible service for its customers,” the company said in a statement.
The average gross wage in Hungary rose 11.9pc year-on-year to HUF 695,100 in November, data released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) on Thursday show.Based on the KSH, half of the Hungarian employees earn less than EUR 940/month.
Average net median is 940 EUR/month
Net wages climbed at the same pace to HUF 462,200. Real wages rose 7.9pc, calculating with November CPI of 3.7pc. The gross median wage increased 12.5pc to HUF 550,800, which is net HUF 383,400 (EUR 940). That is 13.3% higher than in November 2023. Hungary’s statutory monthly minimum wage was raised by 15pc to HUF 266,800 for unskilled labourers and by 10pc to HUF 326,000 for skilled workers from December 1, 2023, KSH wrote.
Excluding Hungarians working full time in fostered work programmes — who earned on average gross HUF 114,500 in November — the average gross monthly wage was HUF 706,600. The average gross wage in the business sector, which includes state-owned companies, rose 11.3pc to HUF 695,100. The average gross wage in the public sector climbed 13.9pc to HUF 692,000. In the non-profit sector, the average gross wage increased 12.8pc to HUF 703,600.
For the period January-November, gross wages averaged HUF 639,500 and net wages came to HUF 425,200, both up 13.5pc from the same period a year earlier.
General govt deficit close to HUF 4,096bn at year-end
Hungary’s cash flow-based general government deficit reached HUF 4,095.8bn at the end of December, the National Economy Ministry said in a detailed release of data on Wednesday. The central budget had a deficit of HUF 4,003.9bn at the end of the month and the social security funds were HUF 230.1bn in the red, but separate state funds were HUF 138.2bn in the black.
The deficit widened from HUF 3,284.3bn at the end of November. The accrual-based deficit is expected to be around 4.8pc of GDP, the ministry said. The ministry said the year-end gap was more favourable than expected and noted that the 2024 budget had ensured the protection of Hungarian families and pensioners amid the wartime situation.
In spite of the difficult external circumstances, the ministry said the government had preserved the results of its economic policy, while the budget ensured resources for defence, regulated utilities prices, family policies and maintaining the value of pensions.
“Additionally, the government significantly improved balance indicators, substantially reducing the deficit relative to GDP from 6.7pc in 2023,” it added. Spending on pensions rose by HUF 474.2bn to HUF 6,853.9bn, while expenditures on state-subsidised prenatal baby support loans increased by HUF 31.3bn to HUF 208.3bn. A 32.2pc pay rise for teachers resulted in HUF 406.1bn of additional expenditures.
The ministry noted that revenue from taxes and contributions had climbed by 8.7pc. In 2025, the government will continue to improve balance indicators and targets a 3.7pc-of-GDP deficit and declining state debt levels amid better economic performance, high employment and growing wages, the ministry said.
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Hungary is regrettably no stranger to poor animal welfare conditions, puppy farms, and frequently overcrowded or poorly managed animal husbandry facilities. Yet in recent months, the harrowing story of the Gyömrő “horror dog shelter” has dominated social media and press coverage. Nearly 700 dogs and countless cats were reportedly kept in unimaginably dire conditions at the Gyömrő Dog Shelter, located on the outskirts of the town. While the authorities remained inactive, NGOs stepped in to take action.
The horror dog shelter in Gyömrő
Footage and photographs released by volunteers late last year revealed that animals were often kept in appalling conditions in the dog shelter. For days on end, many lacked food, water, or medical care. By 2023, most of the dogs were found huddled together in groups, sick, languishing in their own excrement, or confined for months in holding traps, awaiting a better life that never came.
Despite numerous accounts of these conditions, reports suggest that even volunteer helpers were frequently unwelcome at the dog shelter, which remained largely closed to the public apart from occasional weekend visits. The former manager of the dog shelter had contracts with nearly 30 municipalities and received significant subsidies, but the facility he operated fell far short of acceptable standards.
Now, József Herczig, the embattled manager of the dog shelter, has surrendered the remaining 240 dogs and nearly 100 cats on site. The rescue effort is being led by Edina Karámos, president of the Animal Welfare Foundation for Saved Lives, with the work documented through a dedicatedFacebook group. NGOs and animal welfare organisations have united to help save the animals still trapped. The shelter is set to close on 31 January – just eight days from now – and will be demolished. At present, the fate of 68 dogs and around 50 cats remains uncertain.
Source: Sintérbiznisz-könyörtelen halál a rácsok mögött
No official help, just a sham measure from the Government
This dog shelter scandal has served as a wake-up call for many, exposing the lack of meaningful government intervention. Official animal protection in Hungary remains largely a theoretical concept. Tragically, the situation at Gyömrő is not an isolated case; the country is rife with breeding farms and poorly managed shelters, while the so-called “pound business” continues unchecked, with authorities largely turning a blind eye.
Even those previously indifferent to the issue were shocked by the distressing revelations surrounding the dog shelter. In response to the public outcry, the Government hastily announced a 250 million forint subsidy, purportedly to be distributed among 14 dog shelter facilities in 19 counties. However, this move has raised more questions than it has answered. Many are asking why these specific facilities were chosen, and why there is still no prioritisation of a centralised shelter for each county or district.
Moreover, the 250 million forint allocation appears to be little more than a superficial gesture. For decades, animal welfare in Hungary has been treated as an afterthought by politicians, regardless of party affiliation. As a result, almost all animal shelters are locked in a daily battle for survival. The Government’s announcement, lacking any semblance of professionalism, underscores the long road ahead before Hungary establishes a comprehensive and effective animal protection framework.
Examples from other countries demonstrate that meaningful progress can be achieved when governments and NGOs collaborate. However, transparent and predictable public funding, combined with an appropriate legal framework, is essential.
Source: Sintérbiznisz-könyörtelen halál a rácsok mögött
What can we do as civilians?
The Gyömrő case has sparked widespread outrage and an overwhelming desire to help. Many individuals are asking what they can do to support rescue efforts. Here are some suggestions:
Donations
Monetary donations: Contribute to charities actively involved in rescue operations.
Material donations: Provide items such as pet food, medicine, warm blankets, leashes, and harnesses.
Volunteering
Temporary fostering: Offer to foster a dog or cat, even if only one, for a short period.
Assist with operations: Help with organising transport, facilitating medical examinations, or even cleaning rescue premises.
Raising awareness
Spaying and neutering: Highlight the importance of sterilisation to prevent overpopulation and reduce the number of animals in shelters.
Adopt, don’t shop: Avoid purchasing pets from breeders. Instead, consider adopting from rescue organisations that specialise in pedigree breeds.
Education and community building
Build networks: Establish a supportive community to prevent similar tragedies in future.
Share credible information: Follow NGOs on social media and share their updates to keep others informed.
Source: Sintérbiznisz-könyörtelen halál a rácsok mögött
A closing reflection
.The case of the Gyömrő “Dog Castle” is merely the tip of the iceberg. It highlights the cruel treatment of animals that humans have a duty to protect. Yet, the unprecedented collaboration between NGOs and animal lovers demonstrates that hope remains and meaningful action is possible.
A society’s humanity is reflected in the way it treats its most vulnerable members – whether they are children, the elderly, or its animals. Responsible animal care and preventive measures, such as spaying and neutering, must become a priority if Hungary is to finally put an end to the tragic stories of “horror shelters.”
If you can, please support the NGOs and foundations involved in these rescues. For more details, visit their Facebook pages, informational websites, or contact animal welfare groups directly. Every small donation can make a big difference.
Auchan Magyarország is set to open an autonomous store in the Hungarian capital at the end of February.
The unmanned, 18-square-metre Auchan Go shop, operating 24/7, will be located in the southern part of Budapest, the retailer has announced. Customers will complete their purchases with the assistance of a mobile application, an AI-powered camera system, and shelves equipped with weight sensors.
According to Telex, the new autonomous store will not sell alcoholic beverages or other items restricted to customers aged 18 and over. However, a range of Auchan products will be available for purchase. The store will be situated in Budapest’s 11th district, at the corner of Bártfai and Vahot streets. Scheduled to open in February, it will function with the operational support of the Albertfalva Auchan store.
Illustration. Source: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Not the first autonomous store in Hungary
Intriguingly, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta pioneered the country’s first autonomous store, which has been serving customers at the Fény Street Market. More recently, Coop announced similar plans, indicating growing interest in autonomous retail solutions, which we covered HERE.
Auchan raises non-management pay by almost 7%
Auchan Magyarorszag is raising the pay of non-management staff at its stores by close 7pc on average from January 1, the supermarket chain said on Thursday. Gross monthly pay will range between HUF 402,000 and HUF 550,700 (EUR 980 – 1,340) for people in unskilled positions. Pay for skilled positions will rise by 8pc. Auchan Magyarország’s headcount stands around 6,000.
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Unstaffed shops in Hungary: Here is how we can shop in these hybrid stores
In the Tiszazug, a remote and impoverished region of Hungary, a gruesome series of murders took place between 1911 and 1929. The villages concerned, especially Nagyrév, became home to women known as ‘poisoners’, who used arsenic to kill their families. The case shocked not only the country but also the world and is still considered one of the biggest Hungarian criminal scandals.
The background to the murders
Tiszazug was an isolated, agricultural region characterised by poverty and social isolation. After the First World War, the returning husbands were often violent and crippled, which aggravated the situation of the families. For the women in the villages, midwife Gyuláné Fazekas Oláh Zsuzsanna offered a ‘solution’. Mrs Fazekas discovered that arsenic soaked out of flypaper could be used as a deadly poison. She sold her “fly water” in vials to women who wanted to get rid of their unwanted husbands or other pregnant family members.
The targets of the poisonings were mostly abusive husbands, elderly or sick relatives and disabled children. Arsenic was easy to obtain and use: as a colourless, odourless substance, it could easily be mixed into food or drinks. Murders were often motivated by economic interests or personal revenge.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
How they got caught
The killings remained hidden for a long time because of the tacit acceptance of the local community. In 1929, the authorities were alerted by anonymous letters accusing the women of murder by poisoning in Nagyréve. During the investigation, dozens of bodies were exhumed and large quantities of arsenic were found in the victims’ bodies. Investigations have proved the deaths of at least 162 people, but some estimates put the number of victims as high as 300.
The role of Gyuláné Fazekas
The role of Gyuláné Fazekas was a central figure in the poison mixing. Her charismatic personality built trust with local women, who often turned to her for advice and help. When the gendarmes tried to arrest her in 1929, she ended her life with a cattle prod, thus escaping justice. After his death, however, several women testified against him, confirming his leadership in the case.
The trial and the verdicts
The trial of the case began in 1929 in Szolnok. A total of 28 people were tried (including 26 women), six of whom received the death penalty – three women were hanged, while others had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. The trial revealed that the killings were not only motivated by personal reasons, but also by a sense of community norms in the area.
Social and psychological dimensions
The case of the Tiszaug poisoners goes beyond a simple criminal story. Deep social problems were behind the killings: poverty, oppression and hopelessness in the villages concerned. Women were often victims of violent relationships or economic vulnerability; for them, arsenic was the only way out.
From a psychological perspective, the case also highlights how murder can become accepted as a means of problem-solving within a community. The lessons of the case raise questions about social norms and the functioning of justice that are still relevant today.
International reactions
The story of the Tiszaug poisoners has been widely publicised around the world, even in the New York Times. And Zsigmond Móricz’s investigative reports presented the crimes and their social background with literary sophistication.
Legacy
Although more than a century has passed since the first poisonings, the story of the Tiszaug poisoners continues to fascinate the public and researchers. The case not only remains one of Hungary’s darkest criminal mysteries, but also holds important lessons about how extremist patterns of behaviour can develop in a society. The treatment of the case – whether in literature or in academic analysis – is a reminder, time and again, of the consequences of ignoring social problems.
Read also:
Dozens of Hungarian schools received bomb threat, PM Orbán in hotline – read more HERE
Lake Balaton’s hidden depths: Local legends speak of secrets and treasures below – details in THIS article
The group leader of the ruling Fidesz party has called on the German authorities to turn over to Hungary the antifa activists suspected of committing street violence in Budapest in 2023.
The “antifa criminals who attacked … people based on their appearance in the Hungarian capital two years ago” recently turned themselves in in Germany, Máté Kocsis said in a post on Facebook.
Máté Kocsis speaking in the Hungarian Parliament. Photo: Facebook/Kocsis Máté
“Now these same criminals are saying they’re afraid of Hungarian prisons,” Kocsis said. “If the antifa activists had the courage to assault Hungarian citizens, they should bear the consequences over here.”
Since Hungary was the one to issue the international arrest warrant against the suspects, it has to request that the German authorities turn the suspects over to Hungary so that they could stand trial, Kocsis said.
Read also:
Italian Antifa attacker kept in “inhumane conditions” in a Budapest prison? – read more HERE
VIDEO: German authorities extradite a suspect in antifa case to Hungary
New flights are set to link Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, with Tel Aviv, the bustling coastal hub of Israel. The Israeli budget airline Israir will operate the twice-weekly service, offering passengers direct access between the two destinations.
New flight to connect Hungary with Israel
According to Airportal, the first Israir flight connecting Debrecen and Tel Aviv is scheduled to depart on 24 April. Flights will operate on Mondays and Thursdays, with fares starting at $400, a premium compared to similar routes.
Beach, office buildings and apartment buildings in Tel Aviv. Source: pexels
Planned flight schedules:
TLV-DEB 21:30-23:55
DEB-TLV 00:55-04:50
TLV-DEB 20:30-22:55
DEB-TLV 23:55-03:50
The route was previously operated by Hungary-based Wizz Air, which suspended services following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Compounding the disruption, Wizz Air announced the closure of its Debrecen base this winter, leaving the city with a single flight connection—to London Luton Airport.
Debrecen Airport. Photo: FB/Budflyer
Following Wizz Air’s departure, Debrecen Airport’s operator expressed its commitment to restoring high-demand routes. In a statement, they specifically highlighted Tel Aviv as a priority, promising to resume the connection by summer 2025.
European airlines renew Israeli routes
Israir is expanding its operations, adding flights from Tel Aviv to Vilnius, Lithuania (starting 24 April), and Basel, Switzerland (from 10 June). The Basel route will run weekly.
Meanwhile, European carriers are re-establishing links with Israel. The Lufthansa Group and Ryanair have joined the resurgence, alongside Wizz Air, which resumed Tel Aviv-Budapest services on 15 January. From the end of this month, new flights between the Hungarian and Israeli capitals will operate daily.
The Budapest metropolitan council will open a new venue where “the independent cultural organizations abandoned by the state” can create and perform, Gergely Karácsony, the city’s mayor, said in a statement on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Culture on Wednesday.
“Art in Budapest is free, artists are free, and Budapest protects the city’s diverse culture, its cultural assets and institutions with all its might,” Karácsony said. He said the city council had supported “the cultural organizations abandoned by the state” for years. He announced that a new institution will be opened this year, adding that he will submit the call for applications launching the institution for next week’s session of the city assembly.
Photo: FB/Gergely Karácsony
Karácsony said Budapest will secure a venue for independent theatres and other types of creative organizations in a former school building owned by city council in the 13th district. He said Budapest would continue to support theatres run and financed by the metropolitan council.
Read also:
Another unexpected turn in the Grand Budapest project: here’s the National Asset Management’s reaction – details HERE
Hundreds of Budapest and country schools received bomb threats in the morning in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán shared a Facebook post stating that he was in contact with the Interior Minister via a hotline. He assured the public that Hungarian authorities were prepared to enhance the safety of educational institutions and investigate the motives behind the threats.
Bomb threats in several Budapest schools
According to Telex, the first mayor in Budapest to confirm the bomb threats was Lénárd Borbély, the mayor of the 21st district. He stated that elementary and secondary schools in Budapest had received bomb threats in the morning, prompting authorities to evacuate the schools.
He added that the local government had opened a summer camp for children whose parents could not take them home. He also announced that food would be provided for the children. The first institution to report a bomb threat was the Vermes Miklós Elementary School in Csepel. A Facebook post informed parents that they could pick up their children to take them home.
Illustration. Photo: MTI
Rural schools also affected
According to Mandiner, approximately 20 schools in Budapest and across the country were affected. Promenad24 reported that authorities began searching the Németh László Secondary School in Hódmezővásárhely after it received bomb threats. Based on police information, the bomb threat emails originated from a single location, with schools receiving them in the morning. PM Orbán pledged to uncover the origins of the threats.
Telex noted that in some schools, the evacuation was so abrupt that students were forced to leave their phones and schoolbags behind.
Here are some photos from Csepel:
Krisztina Baranyi, the mayor of the 9th district, reported that two schools in her area were affected. Norbert Trippon, the mayor of the 4th district, wrotethat five schools were targeted, adding that the total number of affected schools in Hungary had reached 50. He urged the public to remain calm and stated that parents had been informed and could collect their children. László Somody, the deputy mayor of the 18th district, confirmed that one institution, the Vajk-sziget Elementary School, had been affected.
Photo: FB/Norbert Trippon
In the 2nd district, the Fillér Utca Elementary School received a bomb threat. In Csepel, the mayor decided to evacuate kindergartens and nurseries as a precautionary measure.
Recently, both Slovakia and Serbia faced similar crises involving mass bomb threats targeting schools.
UPDATE: The number of schools affected by bomb threats has risen to 240, with threatening emails claiming to act “in the name of Allah.”
Government spokeswoman Eszter Vitályos announced today that the number of Hungarian schools targeted by bomb threats has increased to 121. The Hungarian police updated their article about the bomb threat and said more than 240 schools were affected.
Gergely Gulyás, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, informed the press that the emails were reportedly sent as an act of revenge “in the name of Allah.” He emphasized that Hungarian authorities are collaborating with their Slovakian counterparts, who dealt with a similar series of mass bomb threats in 2022 and have relevant experience to share.
UPDATE 2: Bence Rétvári talked about 268 threatened schools
Interior Ministry secretary Bence Rétvári updated the number of schools concerned with the bomb threat. He said 268 schools received a threat, 245 in Budapest and 23 outside the capital. He added the direct danger of an exploding bomb is not present in any of those schools. However, he said that authorities had to examine all threats. He said the Hungarian police got in touch with Interpol and their Slovak, Czech and Bulgarian colleagues. He highlighted that all schools concerned would reopen tomorrow in Hungary following their normal schedule.
UPDATE 3: No explosives found
Police spokesman Kristóf Gál said no explosives were found in the schools searched so far. “This supports [the theory] that the email, sent to hundreds of addresses with the same content, probably lacks all foundation,” Gál said.
Government spokeswoman Eszter Vitályos said in a Facebook post today that “it can be clearly seen where Brussels’ flawed migration policy leads to: it puts the whole of Europe at risk.” “This is the same Manfred Weber-led Brussels elite that has promised immunity to [Hungarian Tisza Party leader and MEP] Péter Magyar in exchange for representing Brussels’ policy,” she said. “They’re spreading fake news and lies and putting Europe, including Hungary, at risk.”
Péter Magyar blames secret services and interior minister
The security of children and staff at schools is of paramount importance at all times, Péter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, said on Thursday, after a number of schools received bomb threats across the country, and condemned “the coordinated act of intimidation”. Magyar said the government should ensure adequate information to parents as to “what is happening to their children, where they are and when the parents can fetch them.”
According to Magyar, the government must inform the public “whether they had previous information on the threats, and if they did, why they didn’t inform the public and take preventive measures.” He laid the blame at the door of the minister responsible for the secret services and the interior minister “if they had no knowledge of such a coordinated attack”.
Magyar also suggested a link between the bomb threats and Hungary’s releasing people smugglers from prison, and said that “public security is jeopardised by the government’s interfering with the Middle East conflict.” He called for Hungarian soldiers to be called home from countries stricken with civil war, and for a review of “the decision of the Orban government to sell the largest developmental area in Budapest to Arab investors way below the market price.”
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Nigerian gang leader lived in luxury and lavished money in Budapest after scamming wealthy women
Romanian national threatened to kidnap mayor’s kids, said Méhkerék would burn
In a binding ruling, a court in Gyula has sentenced a Romanian national to three years in prison for threats of committing terrorist acts on his social media site on Oct 2023, the court said on Wednesday.
The man was banned from participating in public affairs and expelled from Hungary for three years, the court said. The man was charged with accusing local residents of theft and extramarital affairs and claiming that his life had been threatened in videos posted on social media. Another video showed him burning furniture and household items in his courtyard saying: “It is time somebody put things in order”. He added that Méhkerék (Békés County) will burn and will be blown up.
