Fidesz politician: Legality of Serbia elections can’t be questioned
Possible irregularities that may have been experienced in Serbia’s early parliamentary elections this month did not reach a level that would warrant questioning the legitimacy of the vote, the head of the Hungarian parliament’s foreign affairs committee said in Strasbourg on Monday.
Zsolt Németh told MTI by phone on day one of the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that it would be “preferable if certain political forces didn’t question the legitimacy of the vote in Serbia just because it was won by a political side that they don’t sympathise with”.
He praised the recent achievements of the CoE, namely the relations it has fostered with the opposition in Russia and Belarus as well as its contributions to the representation of human and minority rights in Ukraine despite the war.
He said that without the CoE’s contributions, it would have been impossible to achieve “even the relative improvement” that has been Ukraine’s amendment of its minority law. He added that while the amendment was “an important step in an encouraging direction”, it was not enough, and more efforts would need to be made to restore the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians and other national minorities in Ukraine.
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- Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria presidents sign declaration for families
- Hungary establishes another important regional cooperation
Concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict, Németh said it was “regrettable” that the Hamas terrorist group’s attack on Israel could not have been prevented, that there was no progress in ending the war, and that anti-Semitism was on the rise again in Europe.
Meanwhile, Németh said he was hopeful of good cooperation with newly-elected PACE President Theodoros Roussopoulos based on the new president’s inaugural speech on Monday. He said he had supported Roussopoulos in the hope that the new president would be a partner in the enforcement of human and minority rights norms.
Németh also told MTI that he had been re-elected deputy leader of PACE’s conservative group.
Hungary establishes another important regional cooperation
Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia could start operating a regional electricity bourse in the first half of the year, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Saturday.
Decisions on the exchange have already been taken at the expert and corporate level, Péter Szijjártó said, adding that all that was necessary now was government approval. Cooperation between European countries to face the challenge of energy security has “never been more important”, he added.
Defence minister: Hungary to host Austrian (Donau) Derby
Hungary will host the Austrian Derby for the first time this year, Defence Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in a post on Facebook on Saturday. Budapest’s Kincsem Park will host the Hungarian Derby on July 7 and the Donau Derby on August 4, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.
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German barge sank after bumping into Danube bridge
The German Antonia cargo barge bumped into a Danube bridge and sank near Palánka with more than a thousand tonnes of fertiliser on board.
According to telex.hu, local media outlets said no trace of the fertiliser was found in the Danube after the accident. Authorities managed to take the wreck out from the river, but the Serbian-Croatian border crossing was closed to traffic.
The media did not share the kind of fertiliser the German ship carried. Experts believe it contained ammonia. If that is true, pathogens might proliferate in the region, resulting in the death of fish and other animals in the river.
Here are some photos:
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
Read also:
- Hungarian ship sank in Germany, crew barely escaped – Read more HERE
Featured image: illustration
Refuelling in Hungary? Fuel is cheaper in almost all neighbouring countries
In January, Mol will increase the price of fuel in two instalments by a total of HUF 41, to take account of the increased excise duty. According to a report by Világgazdaság, even with the first increase introduced on 1 January (which is HUF 20), it is already more expensive to fill up in Hungary than in practically any other neighbouring country.
As we reported before, Mol will implement the increase in excise duty on fuel in two steps, with the HUF 20 change on 1 January followed by a HUF 21 price change on 15 January. After that, domestic petrol and diesel prices will be among the highest in the region. According to the report of Világgazdaság, even now, after the first price increase, fuel prices are already higher in Hungary than in most neighbouring countries.
According to Holtankoljak, the lowest price of petrol in Hungary on 4 January was HUF 523 (EUR 1.38) per litre, and HUF 555 (EUR 1.46) for diesel. The average prices are HUF 561 (EUR 1.48) and HUF 599 (EUR 1.58). In the middle of the month, these retail prices will rise by a further HUF 21 per litre.
Refuelling in Croatia
In Croatia, the government reduced the excise duty on fuel and capped the profit margin for traders last spring, effectively making fuel an officially priced product. Currently, a litre of standard fuel of both types costs EUR 1.4.
Thanks to the price cap, Hungarians living near the border have been regular visitors to Croatian petrol stations for some time, Világgazdaság writes. On an average tank of fuel, you can save up to HUF 3-4000 (EUR 8-11) there.
Even cheaper elsewhere
However, fuel prices are even cheaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thus, while Hungarians fill up in Croatia, Croatians go to their neighbour. There, a litre of petrol costs HUF 450 (EUR 1.19) and the same amount of diesel costs HUF 460 (EUR 1.21).
Fuel in Slovenia
At about the same time as Croatia, the Slovenian government also intervened in fuel prices, using almost the same model as Zagreb, Világgazdaság reports. In Slovenia, petrol costs HUF 520 (EUR 1.37) per litre, and diesel costs HUF 560 (EUR 1.48). As a result, Hungarian cars are becoming more common at Slovenian petrol stations.
According to Világgazdaság, regional fuel prices are as follows:
Regional fuel prices
Prices in HUF (EUR)
| Petrol | Diesel | |
| Croatia | 532 (1.40) | 532 (1.40) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 450 (1.18) | 460 (1.21) |
| Slovenia | 520 (1.36) | 560 (1.47) |
| Slovakia | 589 (1.55) | 570 (1.50) |
| Serbia | 562 (1.47) | 627 (1.65) |
| Romania | 508 (1.33) | 544 (1.43) |
Source: Világgazdaság
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Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria presidents sign declaration for families
The presidents of Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria, published a New Year’s declaration raising their voices for the importance of families.
In the declaration published in Hungarian and English on the website of the Sándor Palace on Monday, Katalin Novák, Aleksandar Vucic and Rumen Radev said they saw families as “the foundation of our society, the source of our values, and the strength of our nations”.
“The family provides support, guidance and love and shapes our character and identity. The family is also the best environment for raising children, who define the paths of our nations and shape the future of our globe,” the members of the Network of Family-Friendly Presidents said.
They said families were the source of “the culture of responsibility” that would contribute to sustainability and to curbing the threat of climate change.
“We believe that families deserve protection, assistance and recognition from states and societies. Therefore, we strongly support policies that promote the well-being of families, and strengthen family cohesion, provide a supportive environment to family foundation, enable women to strive both as mothers and professionals … We encourage our citizens, in this New Year to continue to nurture the family as the most important institution in our societies, and reach out to those in need,” the declaration said.
The full declaration
We, the Network of the Family-Friendly Presidents consider the beginning of each and every year a proper time to learn from the past and plan for the future, renew our optimism and hope, and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead and issues that are important to us.
We raise our voice, on this occasion for the importance of families in today’s world. We are convinced that families are the foundation of our society, the source of our values, and the strength of our nations. The family provides support, guidance and love and shapes our character and identity. The family is also the best environment for raising children, who define the paths of our nations and shape the future of our globe. Strong families guarantee the culture of responsibility which contribute to sustainability and diminish the threats of climate change.
We believe that families deserve protection, assistance and recognition from states and societies. Therefore, we strongly support policies that promote the well-being of families, and strengthen family cohesion, provide a supportive environment to family foundation, enable women to strive both as mothers and professionals, uplift those in need, and provide a secure future for children.
We encourage our citizens, in this New Year to continue to nurture the family as the most important institution in our societies, and reach out to those in need. Let’s make a difference for our families, and thus for our countries.
From our family to yours, we wish you peace, prosperity, health, and a happy New Year.
Katalin Novák, President of Hungary
Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia
Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria
As we wrote earlier, Bulgaria is repealing a law on hiking the transit fee for Russian gas which has put a question mark over Hungary’s energy security, details HERE.
Hate crime in Novi Sad: ‘Hungarian bastard, you should be killed’
An unknown man attacked Ivan Fece Firči, a well-known musician among locals, in Novi Sad, Serbia, on Sunday afternoon. The attacker was shouting and swearing loudly in the street. The musician does not even claim to be Hungarian.
According to the man, the attacker was shouting loudly in the street. “He insulted me, cursed and said that you should be killed, you Hungarian bastard. Then he started hitting the car and damaged the headlights,” Fece said. He added that the assailant then walked away and when he got out of the car to assess the extent of the damage, the aggressive passer-by came back and tried to hit him, Szabad Magyar Szó reports.
The drummer was then approached by three men, and the attacker walked away again. The three mystery men then said they would pay if the victim did not dial the police number. Fece refused to accept the money and immediately called the police. The responding officers took the assailant into custody, who, handcuffed, continued to berate the musician and the police officers, whom he also attacked.
Fece testified at the police station that he was not Hungarian. “My parents come from so many mixed marriages that we don’t have a dominant nationality. I was happy as long as I was able to feel Yugoslav in Yugoslavia,” Szabad Magyar Szó quoted the man as saying.
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Orbán’s closest political advisor will help Trump win the presidency?
Árpád Habony and Csaba Faragó, the foreign affairs director of Századvég have been operating Századvég in several countries, such as Serbia, Slovakia, Poland, and the United States. Political powers sympathetic to Viktor Orbán have increasingly relied on advice from Habony and his team in recent European elections. Where could you have heard of these advisors being involved before and what country seems to be the next on their list?
Slovakia and Fico
The organisation appeared in the Slovakian elections too. Habony first appeared last year around Peter Pellegrini’s party, Hlas. Hlas is the social democratic party and Peter Pellegrini is the speaker of the house. The intermediary was Matús Sutaj Estok, who has since become the Minister of Interior in Slovakia. However, with the growth of Fico’s party, Smer, the number of Fidesz associates also increased. Allegedly Századvég helped with the popularity ratig of Smer, writes Telex. This was done by conducting public surveys on which political messages work best.
According to sources “Hungarian collaboration with Smer remained strong even after Fico’s election victory.” You can read more about Slovak and Hungarian ties HERE.
Serbia
There are also mentions by 444, that Századvég actively participated in the Serbian elections. Mostly by Faragó helping the Vojvodina Hungarians’ Alliance, which is affiliated with Vučić’s party, in achieving good results.
The lost case of Poland
Although Habony’s team also worked on the Polish elections, the outcome was less favorable.
Not everywhere did Habony’s advice prove beneficial. After their advised party, the Law and Justice Party lost several politicians from the party blamed Habony Árpád and the consultants from Századvég for their loss of power. According to the international investigative organization, during the election period, they suggested to the party to choose aggressive and divisive political messages and to conduct a negative campaign against their opponent, Donald Tusk. Tusk, who is pro-Europe, won in the end and became the Prime Minister of Poland. We already wrote about it HERE.
Next on the list is Uncle Sam?
The ocean is not an obstacle, when talking about Habony and his influence. There has been talk of Habony being employed by none other than Donald Trump in his upcoming campaign for reelection. Former U.S. ambassador to Budapest, David Cornstein actively lobbies for Donald Trump to employ Habony, who is working on this project with Századvég fervently, especially Gergely Losonci, political director of the organisation. Habony has recently visited Florida multiple times and met with Trump’s people, so it seems like their collaboration is nearing the inevitable.
Serbian elections 2023: Vučić’s party wins, Hungarian party remains in government
Early parliamentary elections were held in Serbia, where the Hungarian Association of Vojvodina (VMSZ) will have at least as many seats as before.
The ruling right-wing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of President Aleksandar Vučić is in the lead in a snap parliamentary election, Reuters said. According to projections by the pollsters, the SNS won 47 percent of the vote and is expected to hold about 130 seats in the 250-member assembly.
The second largest party, Serbia Against Violence (SPN) alliance, a centrist coalition won only about 23 percent of votes, according to the projections.
VMSZ has been a huge success
We have at least as many votes and seats as in the previous election, which means that we have achieved our electoral goals, and I can say that the Hungarian Association of Vojvodina (VMSZ) has won, Bálint Pásztor, acting president of the Hungarian Association of Vojvodina, stressed at a press conference late on Sunday.
Pásztor stressed that the party’s goal was to keep its independent parliamentary group in the Belgrade parliament – which requires five MPs – and that it had achieved this goal according to all preliminary results.
He pointed out that the VMSZ had managed to stay strong after a difficult period, following the death of party president István Pásztor. He said that many people expected the party to disintegrate after such a tragedy, but this was not the case, the party remained united and strong, and the Hungarians of Vojvodina supported the party.
The Hungarian Association of Vojvodina has been a member of the ruling coalition since 2014 and expects to continue to play such a role in the coming period. It intends to participate in government work at the level of state secretary.
In addition to early parliamentary elections in Serbia, provincial elections were also held in Vojvodina (Vajdaság). In the province of Vojvodina, the VMSZ has the third largest parliamentary group, ahead of several other Serbian parties. Only the list of the Serbian Progressive Party and the opposition list Serbia Against Violence were ahead of the Hungarian Association of Vojvodina.
Bálint Pásztor thanked the Hungarian government and Fidesz for the support they had given the VMSZ during the campaign.
Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó was speaking at the campaign closing event of the ethnic Hungarian VMSZ, details HERE.
Read more news about Serbia Serbia HERE.
Deputy PM congratulates VMSZ on election success
Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén congratulated on behalf of the Hungarian government the Hungarian Association of Vojvodina (VMSZ) on its success at the Serbian elections in a post late on Sunday.
The Hungarian government is a strong ally of the current Serbian government in the region, and the cooperation between Vučić and Orbán is expected to continue.
Potápi hails ethnic Hungarian party’s success in Serbia election
The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ) had achieved a “great and shining” victory in Serbia’s recent general election, Árpád János Potápi, the prime ministerial state secretary for Hungarian communities abroad, said on Monday, adding that VMSZ had become “the most successful ethnic Hungarian party in the Carpathian Basin.
VMSZ has proved in the past 32 years that “the Hungarian community must have a single ethnic party” in a given country, Potápi told an event. He highlighted the efforts of VMSZ activists in the election campaign, “reaching out practically to each and every Hungarian” in Vojvodina, adding that the ethnic party had retained its earlier position in Serbia’s parliament.
Bálint Pásztor, the acting leader of VMSZ, said his party had garnered 62,000 votes, which translates into six seats in parliament.
Orbán government for strong Hungarian representation in Belgrade parliament
The strongest possible parliamentary representation for Vojvodina Hungarians in the regional parliament and Belgrade “is an important economic and security issue”, the foreign minister said in Subotice (Szabadka), in northern Serbia, on Thursday.
Stronger than ever representation
Speaking at the campaign closing event of the ethnic Hungarian VMSZ, Péter Szijjártó said a successful electoral performance was key to keeping up the successful cooperation of past years.
“Let’s hope we will have representation in Belgrade and the regional parliament that will be stronger than ever,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.
“If we have a strong enough representation, we can also achieve greater security, so that people living here wouldn’t need to meet illegal migrants or hear shots,” he said.
He noted that four new border crossings have been opened between the two countries since 2010, and there is a renewed rail link between Subotica and Szeged, in southern Hungary. The line between Subotica and Baja will also be revamped, he added.
The economic development programme started in Vojvodina has also led to investments in Transylvania, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia and Transcarpathia, he said.
“But the Serbian authorities’ approach was by far the fairest”.
“The resulting trust between Serbs and Hungarians is the basis of similar cooperation in the future,” he said.
The two countries helped each other during the coronavirus pandemic by providing equipment. The fact that that Hungary “receives almost all of its natural gas imports” through Serbia, and the latter stores a significant portion of its reserves in Hungary, was especially important during times of an energy crisis, he said.
Hungary had emerged strengthened from the crises of past years “because we can build unity in every crisis, and we can hang onto each other in difficult situations.”
“Even though the pressure was enormous, there have always been attempts to interfere and divide us,” he said.
Szijjártó said cooperation between Serbia and Hungary was better than ever before, “and that hasn’t always been a given, the process started from deep down.”
Vojvodina economic development programme ‘success story’
The Hungarian government’s economic development scheme for Serbia’s Vojvodina region “is a great success story”, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Ada, in northern Serbia, on Thursday.
Speaking at the inauguration of a development of Eurotextil, Szijjarto said Hungary’s government is supporting the investment with 51 million forint (EUR 134,000) grant. The plant will now be able to cover all phases of production, and the investment has created 25 new jobs, he added.
The economic development programme has disbursed 80 billion forints to 14,263 companies in the region over the past years, fostering investments worth some 170 billion, he said.
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Hungarian FM hails ‘high point’ of Serbia-Hungary ties
Relations between Serbia and Hungary are at their zenith, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Ada, in Serbia, on Thursday, adding that excellent ties benefited both countries, especially the Hungarian minority in Vojvodina, which could continue to count on the support of the Hungarian government.
Speaking after his talks with Balint Pasztor, acting chairman of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, Szijjártó said the late leader of the party, István Pásztor, been key to ensuring good ties, the ministry said in a statement.
Szijjártó cited milestones such as the re-establishment of a rail link between Szeged in Hungary and Subotica in Serbia, the fact that the border crossing between Röszke and Horgos is open 24 hours a day, and investment support by the Hungarian government for more than 14,000 entrepreneurs in Vojvodina, creating 170 billion forints worth of investments there.
He assured Hungarians in Vojvodina of the government’s continued support, adding that the business development programme will continue with two tenders for 4 billion forints of support for small businesses and agricultural producers.
Szijjártó said the VMSZ leader was striving to realise the strong representation of Hungarian interests in Belgrade and to promote the development of the Baja-Subotica rail line as well as to divert part of cross-border freight traffic to the Hercegszanto-Santovo border crossing.
He emphasised that a strong representation of Hungarian interests in Belgrade was also needed to maintain peace in the region near the border and to keep out illegal migrants who made “life a misery” for the Hungarians living here.
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PM Orbán for deepening Hungarian-Serbian friendship – UPDATED
Serbs can only be successful by working together with Hungarians and vice versa, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview to Serbian news agency Tanjug.
He said in the interview published on Friday that Hungary, a Christian, Catholic country, had succeeded building “fruitful” relations with Serbia, noting issues on which they could work to the countries’ mutual benefit, such as the European integration of Serbia, the situation in Kosovo, the Hungarian national minority in Vojvodina and Hungary’s position in the European Union.
Orbán said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had taken a “bigger risk” by committing to good relations between Hungarians and Serbs because there was a larger ethnic Hungarian community in Serbia than the Serb community in Hungary. He said the large Hungarian community in Vojvodina posed a significant legal, intellectual and political challenge because it meant having to find a way to coexist with the national minorities of a neighbouring country.
He said this was not an easy matter, noting there were very few positive responses to this challenge throughout Europe. He praised Vucic for having managed to find an answer with “very modern … European, but at the same time, Christian foundations to this question”. Orbán said Vucic considered Hungarians a community that contributed to Serbia’s success, rather than a burden, challenge or danger.
Orbán said this approach had proven successful, and today, all Serbs — “even the extremist nationalist Serbs” — saw that it works.
He said Hungarians had contributed significantly to the two countries’ shared success, adding that there was no reason to attack Hungarians or to “play the anti-Hungarian card in Serbia’s domestic politics”.
Minorities needed for good cooperation
The prime minister said it was important that it was the Serbs and the ethnic Hungarians in Vojvodina who first started cooperating, arguing that they knew each other well and had understood the advantages of good cooperation. The Serbs and Hungarians living in Vojvodina, he added, had been the ones to prove that cooperation was better than animosity. Orbán said it would have been harder to establish the good relations between the two countries without the minorities.
As regards the European integration of the Western Balkan countries, Orbán said it was unfair that their accession talks with the European Union had been going on for years, while Ukraine would suddenly start its own accession talks for political reasons. He said European leaders failed to understand the strategic importance of Serbia and the Western Balkans, adding he considered it his mission to help the EU understand the significance of Serbia and the Balkans, “and what is at stake”.
Orbán said the problem was that the EU did not understand that it needed Serbia more than Serbia needed the EU, arguing that Serbia also had other options and more room for manoeuvre, and could choose the European or a different strategic path.
Minister: Strong Hungarian representation in Serbia important for Hungary-Serbia ties
Paying a visit to Zrenjanin (Nagybecskerek) in Serbia’s northernmost Vojvodina region, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office called strong representation of Vojvodina Hungarians on a national level important for maintaining good relations between Hungary and Serbia.
The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ) has always played an important role in building good relations between Hungary and Serbia as well as between Hungary and Vojvodina Hungarians, Gergely Gulyás told a local forum.
He welcomed that VMSZ’s local supporters had attended the forum in large numbers which he said illustrated that they were aware of the December 17 parliamentary elections’ importance for the Hungarian community.
Gulyás noted that in Hungary’s general election last spring, 68,000 Vojvodina Hungarians casting their ballots “contributed with their votes to the victory of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance”.
Speaking about the pressure posed by illegal migration, Gulyás underscored Hungary’s efforts to stop illegal immigrants, calling for criticism on Serbia’s part of Brussels’ approach to the issue. “In Serbia, VMSZ has been the one that has spoken out against [Brussel’s stance on] migration and is regarded by the Hungarian government as a reliable partner on the matter,” he said.
Ukraine not ready
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had phone talks on Thursday with Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez. Noting serious differences between member states regarding Ukraine’s EU aspirations, Orbán told Sanchez that Hungary wanted the issue removed from the agenda of the European Council’s next meeting, arguing that integration talks would be “untimely” and would lack the requisite preparations, the PM’s press chief said in a statement.
Orbán stressed the importance of preserving European Union unity, the statement said, noting that Spain currently holds the rotating EU presidency, which Hungary will take up in the second half of 2024.
Read also:
- Another kick into Schengen: border control prolonged at this Hungarian border – Read more HERE
- Orbán: Ukraine is corrupt, Hungary will not be mixed nation
Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia to launch electricity bourse in 2024
Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia will start operating a regional electricity market in 2024, the energy ministry said on Thursday.
A Budapest-based holding company will be established for the purpose by the end of 2024. The company will be owned by the transmission system operators of Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia. European power exchange EPEX SPOT, to provide the technology for the new bourse, will also hold a stake. The new bourse will cover the regions of Central Europe and the Northern Balkans.
The ministry said the regional cooperation would boost the enterprise value of the Hungarian Power Exchange (HUPX) on which transactions affecting 60-70 percent of domestic consumption are brokered.
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Hungary developing ties with the Serbian Republic of Bosnia
Economic Development Minister Márton Nagy held talks with Radovan Viskovic, the prime minister of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia, in his office on Thursday, his ministry said.
Nagy and Viskovic discussed strategically important global developments and further opportunities in boosting bilateral economic cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked as Hungary’s 44th trading partner in 2022 importing substantial volumes of grain, chemical products and plastic components.
Nagy told his partner that Hungary sought to strengthen its role “of an economic bridge” in order to protect jobs and refuel economic growth, adding that Hungarian investments in the Western Balkan region would be further promoted.
He supported Viskovic’s proposal on strengthening bilateral economic ties primarily in the manufacturing, agricultural, financial and energy sectors, as well as on organising a joint economic forum.
Read also:
- Hungarian government supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU integration – Read more HERE
Is a disaster coming? Shocking decline of Hungarians living beyond the borders
The Hungarian population, not only within the borders of Hungary itself but also beyond, is facing a concerning decline. Regions such as Transylvania, Transcarpathia, Vojvodina and even Upper Hungary are witnessing a significant decrease in their Hungarian inhabitants.
Experts’ opinions
According to a report by 444, a conference addressing population decline in Central Europe saw insights shared by experts such as Irén Gábrity Molnár, László Józsa, Tamás Korhecz, Katalin Kovály, Patrik Tátrai, Péter Vataščin, and Valér Veres. The consensus among experts is that the declining Hungarian population extends beyond Hungary itself to Hungarians residing outside the country. In Transylvania, a striking trend emerged, with one-third of the Hungarian population disappearing over a span of 35 years. Transcarpathia witnesses a similar unsettling pattern, with only slightly over half of the population remaining compared to two decades ago. The 2022 census results in Vojvodina are deemed a demographic disaster. Even in Felvidék, where the situation is relatively better, the number of Hungarians is on the decline. This prompts the crucial question: Can the ongoing depopulation be halted?
Transylvania: vanishing identities
In Transylvania, a startling statistic emerges – one-third of the Hungarian population has vanished within a mere 35 years. The latest census data from Romania, however, is met with skepticism. According to Tamás Kiss, a researcher at the Institute for Minority Studies, methodological errors cast doubt on the accuracy of the figures. Kiss suggests that Romania has an interest in portraying inflated numbers, as the reality might lead to reduced EU funding. According to Valér Veres, the number of ethnic Hungarians is at 1.1 million, a figure steadily decreasing since the 1977 census, which counted 1.7 million Hungarians. Intriguingly, the loss of identity seems less significant in Hungarian-Swabian and Hungarian-Romanian relations but holds pronounced importance in Hungarian-Romanian relations. This phenomenon indicates a growing trend where native Hungarian speakers are increasingly identifying themselves as Romanian in census declarations.
Transcarpathia: the impact of external factors
The situation in Transcarpathia is complex, with external factors playing a significant role. The last census in Ukraine dates back to 2001, making it challenging to assess the current state accurately. However, since 2017, the estimated number of Hungarians has dropped, exacerbated by the Russian attack in February 2022. Katalin Kovály predicts a continued exodus, especially from Hungarian villages, due to the ongoing war.
Upper Hungary: resilience amidst decline
Hungary’s cross-border population is more resilient in Upper Hungary. Despite a decrease in Hungary’s overall population, the region has only experienced an 8% decline. Assimilation, rather than emigration or natural decrease, stands out as the main factor. Patrik Tátrai emphasises that, unlike in other regions, assimilation is more common among young men than women.
Vojvodina: Serbia’s alarming situation
While Romania faces a decline in the Hungarian population, Serbia, particularly Vojvodina, presents the most alarming scenario in the Carpathian Basin. The 2022 census indicates 184,000 Hungarians, a significant drop from nearly 500,000 in 1961. Emigration, natural decline, and assimilation are identified as the primary reasons for this distressing trend.
Can this concerning decline be stopped?
The data paints a grim picture of the Hungarian population’s decline beyond Hungary’s borders. As experts debate the accuracy of census figures and assess the impact of various factors, the pressing question remains: Can this depopulation be stopped? The future may depend on effective policies, international cooperation, and a commitment to preserving the cultural tapestry of Hungarian communities dispersed across Central Europe. For further insights, explore the government’s initiative to bring Hungarians living abroad back home by reading our article HERE.
This Hungarian international train is back on track
MÁV just made the important announcement! They retired this international train 8 years ago. Now it starts running again after its hiatus.
The train between Szeged- Rendező and Röszke continues where it left off eight years ago, better than it ever was. On a more than 13 kilometer section the line and it’s environment was renovated, so now it runs smoothly between the two countries.
Upgraded environment
According to Portfolio the Röszke station was also fully reconstructed to better accommodate the hopefully increasing number of people passing through it’s halls. Among others, they improved the parking lot and made a new raised platform, making it more accessible for those with reduced mobility. They added new rain shelters too! In addition, along the Szeged area they built a noise protection wall on a long section of the track, writes Portfolio.
The actual reconstruction of the line finished last summer, and freight trains could already operate it, but the line was not yet open for passenger trains. This is mostly due to the fact that the necessary safety equipment took longer to obtain and these lacking later had to be revised in the error log. The necessary approvals got approved slower because of this and so the expected opening of the track had to be postponed from October 23rd, 2023.
What to expect
After these hardships, the track will once again open to passenger trains on the 28th of November. There will be ten trains or five pairs running between the two countries daily. The expected travel time will be an hour and a half, this is with the mandatory border control included.
The schedule counts with morning commuter traffic too, since the first pair of trains will arrive to their destinations by half past seven in the morning the latest. It should be noted that the Hungarian discounts can’t be used in Serbia, which includes the county passes and the elderly discounts as well as the children’s. A full price ticket for the whole ride will cost 6.20 EUR or 2360 HUF, except for children under the age of 6, because they ride for free.
Another
Hungary is in a train frenzy! The government has issued a decree, which allows for the Southern Circular railway to be developed. The plans for this development were heavily campaigned against, since it would mean the felling of hundreds of trees. The proposal was refused by the court twice before. Now, the government stated, referring to the war in Ukraine, that the railway was a important element of the national defense system. However with this development in the case, the construction can’t be officially stopped, even if someone would veto the decree. According to a civil organization work has resumed on the track days before the decision was finalized.
As is obvious Hungary is going crazy over trains this month.
From Bucharest to New York, the 120th anniversary of János Neumann is being celebrated
On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the birth of John von Neumann, the namesake and inventor of the operating principle of today’s computers, the John von Neumann Computer Society is participating in prestigious events organized in the United States, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Romania.
Budapest, November 24, 2023. In addition to numerous domestic programs in the #neumann120 memorial year in 2023, significant events are being celebrated beyond the borders at the end of November in honor of the 120th anniversary of the birth of the world-renowned mathematician John von Neumann.
Celebratory conference and gala in New York
As part of the American series of events, a reception was held at the Hungarian Consulate in New York on November 8, where, in recognition of decades of work and, in particular, for preserving Neumann’s scientific legacy, Professor Péter Dávid Lax, an Abel Prize laureate who had previously worked under Neumann’s direction in the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, was awarded the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Hungarian Order of Merit by the decision of the President of the Republic. This year, due to his age, the 97-year-old Péter Lax was represented by his son, James D. Lax, who received the award on his behalf.
The following day, a full-day interdisciplinary conference based on John von Neumann’s scientific achievements took place at New York University. The panel discussions and presentations covered questions related to the future development of artificial intelligence, the possibilities of artificial intelligence in medicine, the physical sciences, economics, and social sciences. A gala dinner was held at the prestigious National Museum of Mathematics after the conference, where Ananyo Bhattacharya, the author of the book ’The Man from the Future: The Visionary Ideas of John von Neumann’ which was also published in Hungarian this year, delivered a keynote address. The event was addressed by Tamás Novák, scientific and technological attaché, John Overdeck, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, and David Nirenberg, the newly appointed director of the Institute of Advanced Study.
For the participants from Hungary, Tamás Novák, the scientific and technological attaché, organized a visit to Princeton on November 10, during which the participants visited the graves of John von Neumann and physicist Eugene Wigner.
Neumann Memorial Conference in Subotica (Szabadka), Serbia
On the occasion of the Hungarian Science Festival on November 6, the Vojvodina Hungarian Academy Council organized a Neumann Memorial Conference in Subotica for the #neumann120 memorial year. During the full-day program organized at the Hungarian-language Teacher Training College, participants heard lectures on John von Neumann’s life and scientific achievements in the fields of computer science, game theory, economic-mathematical applications, and artificial intelligence. Representing the Neumann Society, Gábor Képes presented the stages of the polymath Neumann’s career.
The event was realized with the joint support of the Vojvodina Hungarian Academy Council, the Hungarian Teacher Training College of the University of Novi Sad, Óbuda University, and the Hungarian Fuzzy Society, operating as a section of the Neumann Society.
Neumann Symposium in the Netherlands
On November 27, the Embassy of Hungary in the Netherlands is organizing a Neumann Symposium in Delft: András Kocsis, the Hungarian ambassador in The Hague, will deliver a welcome address, and Ananyo Bhattacharya, who wrote the biography of the genius, will give the opening lecture on the life of John von Neumann.
Eric van Damme, professor of economics at Tilburg University, will speak on game theory, Gábor Elek, mathematician and scientific advisor of the MTA Rényi Alfréd Mathematical Research Institute, will deliver a lecture titled “The Neumann Dimension,” and Professor Georgi Gaydadjiev, computer architecture professor at Tilburg University, will summarize the history of post-Neumann era computing.
In Bucharest, Neumann, the polymath, will be presented
On November 28, John von Neumann will be presented as the polymath by János Varga, a Neumann researcher, at the Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Center in Bucharest. On the occasion of the anniversary, the institute will hold a scientific and educational presentation, which is partly addressed to the professional audience and partly to the students and teachers of the Ady Endre Theoretical High School in Bucharest.
For students, learning about John von Neumann’s outstanding contributions to the logical design of electronic computers can be fascinating. The close relationship of today’s younger generations with computers can provide a good foundation for understanding where it all started. The event will also showcase the digital display created by the Neumann Society and HUN-REN SZTAKI about Neumann’s life.
The Neumann Society, celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, has dedicated the entire year of 2023 to the Neumann 120 jubilee year. The neumann120.hu celebration site presents videos, photos, publications, and other interesting materials related to John von Neumann’s life and career, alongside domestic and foreign events.
About the Neumann Society
The John von Neumann Computer Society is the oldest and most prestigious national information technology organization. Since its founding in 1968, it has played a prominent role in creating digital equality. Among its activities, it emphasizes IT talent development, serving as the main organizer of the Nemes Tihamér Competitions and the National Graphic Programming Competition for decades, and preparing teams for student Olympiads (IOI, CEOI, EGOI, eJOI, IIOT). It is the introducer and operator of the ICDL exam system, which provides an international certificate. It is the founder and maintainer of the Information Technology Historical Museum in the Szent-Györgyi Albert Agora in Szeged. The society’s goal is to serve as the digital world’s GPS, helping navigate the information society.
Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia join against Bulgaria
Hungary, Serbia and North Macedonia are taking joint action against Bulgaria in connection with the hike in its fee to forward natural gas, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign affairs and trade minister said in Belgrade on Friday.
At a joint press conference with Serbian energy minister Dubravka Đedović, Szijjártó said Serbia helped to undergird Hungary’s energy security, while some EU countries did the opposite.
He said no one had the right to threaten the security of another country’s energy supply. Bulgaria’s “hostile” measure was, he said, “unacceptable”.
“We’re ready to give a sufficiently weighty response to this hostile Bulgarian step within the framework of the European Union,” he said, noting their request for an infringement procedure.
He said North Macedonia was also “on board”, referring to “tight” cooperation and coordination with the country.
Bulgaria’s move, he said, put European solidarity in doubt. “Allies don’t do this to each other.”
Also, Bulgaria was going against EU rules by levying what amounted to a customs duty, he said, adding that it hindered the free movement of goods and undermined common EU trade rules.
“We expect Bulgaria to withdraw this hostile decision,” he said. Also, the EU should enforce its own rules should Bulgaria refuse, he added.
Szijjártó called Serbia a “reliable ally” in helping Hungary to ensure the security of its energy supply.
Fully 4.7 billion cubic meters of gas was piped to Hungary via Serbia this year, he said, while Serbia currently stored more than 200 million cubic meters of gas in Hungary.
The minister said that work was progressing well on preparations for a new oil pipeline connecting the two countries, while electricity transmission capacity would be doubled by 2028.
“This is hugely important for us as we’ll need a large amount of new electricity to supply investments related to the electric car industry,” Szijjártó said.
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Regular train services come between Hungary and Serbia
Regular train services will be introduced between Subotica and Szeged, border crossings will remain open longer and a common electronic toll system will be introduced.
Connecting Serbia and Hungary
Hungarian and Serbian ministers signed an agreement in Belgrade for cooperation on the electronic toll system, alongside discussions about the schedule for the railway line connecting Subotica and Szeged.
“Hungary sees Serbia as a strategic ally, and an important objective of this strategic cooperation is to make Hungary Serbia’s western corridor”, said János Lázár in Belgrade. The Hungarian Minister of Construction and Transport added that the border crossing between Horgos and Röszke handles the most traffic at the external Schengen borders.
The railway service between Szeged and Szabad will start in the first days of December at the latest, economx.hu reports. Initially, the journey will take 80 minutes, later reduced to 60 minutes, with services running every three hours.
The Hungarian government may acquire real estate
The government is preparing to amend a decree regarding the development of the railway line between Budapest and Belgrade.
The railway construction, deemed a priority investment for the national economy, might face opposition. According to Népszava, the annex listing the real estate affected by the project will be extended.
The list covers more than a thousand properties. Almost half of the land to be expropriated is located in Budapest, in the IX, XX and mostly in the XXIII districts. In addition, the annex includes land in and around Dömsöd, Kiskőrös, Kiskunhalas and Taksony.
According to the newspaper, the property owners concerned by the expropriation procedure cannot anticipate favourable outcomes.. For instance, the municipality of Kelebia received a total of HUF 1.316 million (EUR 3,493.61) for 3,000 square metres of forest, or HUF 440 (EUR 1.17) per square metre.