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Adrien Brody reflects on Hungarian roots and new film “The Brutalist”

adrien brody

Golden Globe-winning actor Adrien Brody recently sat down for an interview with nlc.hu to discuss his latest film, The Brutalist in which he portrays a Hungarian architect. The film, largely shot in Hungary, holds special significance for Brody due to his own Hungarian heritage.

In an interview with nlc.hu, Adrien Brody shared insights into how his family background influenced his performance: “My Hungarian heritage was ingrained in me from childhood. I remember my grandfather struggling with his thick Hungarian accent while trying to find work in America. It was incredibly stressful and difficult for him to assimilate into American society.” The actor also emphasised the importance of his roots in shaping his career and perspective. “These experiences shaped my path and made me who I am. I’ve always approached people who’ve gone through such difficulties with respect and understanding.”

Golden Globes Spotlight Adrien Brody and Hungary shine in The Brutalist!
Photo: MTI/AP/Invision/Chris Pizzello

Mastering the Hungarian language

One of the challenges Brody faced was delivering authentic Hungarian dialogue. He worked extensively with a dialect coach to perfect his accent: “The sounds, gestures, expressions, and tonality are all things I was very accustomed to from my grandparents’ house as a child. I focused specifically on their dialect when researching male figures from that era,” he told nlc.hu. Brody also credited filming in Budapest for helping him maintain authenticity. “There was serious pressure on me not to sound stupid in front of our Hungarian crew who heard me speaking Hungarian every day. Whenever I went to the store or struck up a conversation with someone, I heard authentic Budapest dialect. This helped a lot,” he recalled.

The American dream and The Brutalist

adrien brody
Photo: depositphotos.com

When asked about the American Dream, a central theme in The Brutalist, Adrien Brody offered a nuanced perspective: “In the era when information didn’t spread as freely as it does today, the idea of arriving in a hopeful continent full of endless possibilities, where there’s no religious or other persecution, and where you can start a new, prosperous life, was understandably attractive and joyful. And there was truth to it”. However, he also acknowledged the challenges faced by immigrants. “Starting over is always incredibly hard. The obstacles in front of you are much bigger than those faced by people who were born in that country,” Brody admitted.

The Brutalist is set to premiere in Hungarian cinemas on 23 January 2025, with some advance screenings available earlier.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Orbán cabinet says fuel prices in Hungary are high due to the Biden administration and Ukraine

Fuel prices in Hungary

The National Economy Ministry said the Ukrainian threat to crude supply along with U.S. sanctions was lifting vehicle fuel prices in a statement issued on Saturday.

The ministry pointed to the impact of U.S. sanctions targeting a “shadow fleet” exporting Russian crude as well restrictions on Serbian oil company NIS. It also noted the shutdown of the Druzhba pipeline at the start of January as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The ministry stressed that the government would do everything in its power in the interest of families and businesses to ensure security of supply as well as stable vehicle fuel prices. The government aim remains to guarantee that prices at the pump in Hungary remain under the average in neighbouring countries, it added.

Fuel prices in Hungary
Illustration. Photo: depositphotos.com

The average price of petrol in neighbouring countries stood at the equivalent of HUF 637/litre during the reference period, HUF 1 over the price in Hungary, while the price of diesel averaged HUF 654/litre, HUF 1 under the price at the pump in Hungary, the ministry said.

The data show prices at the pump in Hungary are in line with the average price in neighbouring countries, it added. The government is prepared to intervene if prices in Hungary exceed the average in neighbouring countries, the ministry said.

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FM Szijjártó talks about “Golden Age” to come in US-Hungary relationship

trump szijjártó us hungary foreign minister

Cooperation between Hungary and the US stands before “great opportunities and a new golden age after the nearly unprecedented destruction wrought by former ambassador David Pressman”, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Friday.

According to a ministry statement, Péter Szijjártó said in an interview with commercial news channel HírTV that Pressman had “pushed Hungarian-US bilateral cooperation to a historic low which is especially apparent after they thrived under former ambassador David Cornstein.”

Szijjártó said cooperation was on the verge of a “new golden age” as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President-elect Donald Trump “are clearly political allies. They have the same approach to the great challenges of the world, and have similar stances on great political issues.”

szijjártó ukraine energy transit route
Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter

Referring to Pressman, Szijjártó said that the past years had shown “the difference between a lieutenant sent by George Soros and a real ambassador”.

“We send and receive ambassadors to make cooperation with the country in question better and more successful so that both countries can profit from it. David Pressman was here not to boost relations between Hungary and the US but to try to push the patriotic, conservative, Christian Democrat Hungarian government towards pro-war, pro-migration and pro-gender politics,” he said.

Hungary awaits the new ambassador “with joy and respect”, and is ready to work to lift political cooperation “from historic lows to historic highs”, Szijjártó said. “We have every chance of that, as our defence and economic cooperation is excellent and the leaders of the two countries are soon going to be political allies,” Szijjártó said.

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Hungarian government will attract investments from anywhere, adds punitive tariffs on China do no good

Investments in Hungary

The government wants to make Hungary a place that can attract investments from anywhere, Zoltán Kovacs, the government’s international spokesman, said in an interview with Eurasia Magazine.

“Hungary remains committed to openness. We continue to welcome investments from all parts of the world, whether in production, innovation, or development,” Kovács said. “These benefit not only our nation but also contribute to Europe’s overall competitiveness and economic growth,” he added.

Controlsoft Transylvania Szeklerland investment Hungary money
Photo: FB

He said Europe’s competitiveness hinged on acknowledging the diversity among Europe’s regions, unique differences that “cannot be standardised”. Regions need to be allowed to make the most of their own distinct capabilities, he added.

“Common sense” rather than “ideology”

Decisions that are “forced” on affected businesses, such as punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs, can do no good for European competitiveness, he said. He added that isolationist policies would lead nowhere. Kovács called for “common sense”, rather than “ideology”, when taking decisions on matters such as the green transition.

Asked whether he thought the Trump presidency would respect Hungary’s considerations with regard to China, Kovács said “ideologically-based pressure” was not expected, making things much easier from the start. He said the approach to the Trump White House would be founded on mutual respect, “something that is entirely lacking in Western European politics”.

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PM Orbán: Trump will bring peace, anti-Russia sanctions should be abolished, Soros empire moved to Brussels

PM Viktor Orbán interview

A new day will dawn on the West on Tuesday morning after US President-elect Donald Trump takes office and the “bitter, difficult, painful and failure-ridden four years” of the Democratic administration comes to an end, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told public radio.

Not surprising that US-Hungary relations hit rock bottom under Democrat leadership

Orbán said that the Democratic administration had got off to a “bad start” because “after all, they stole the presidency from Donald Trump”. “If they hadn’t cheated in 2020, Donald Trump would’ve stayed in office and then the Ukraine-Russia war doesn’t happen,” he said.

The prime minister said Democratic administrations were “always different” from Republican ones, arguing that Republicans “stand on a national foundation” while Democrats “are globalists” who enforced their interests through global organisations “like the Soros network”. “While not directly government organisations, these networks are connected to the US government,” he said.

PM Viktor Orbán interview
Photo: MTI

Orbán said Democrats put their economic interests before politics and had “strong world-bettering intentions”. “That’s when the world is flooded with migration and the related chaos, gender madness runs rampant … and they don’t hesitate to use war to meet their objectives, as they did in the Russia-Ukraine war,” he added.

Orbán said that Hungary-US relations “were expected” to hit rock bottom during a Democrat administration. The US did not extend the agreement on double taxation and made Hungarians’ travel into the US more difficult, “they harmed us wherever they could”, he said.

US sanctions strengthened minister’s position, says Orbán

Orbán said sanctions against Antal Rogán, the Hungarian cabinet minister, were “just the last, smallest story” in that process. “This has strengthened the minister’s position in Hungarian politics and the government to an unprecedented degree … if Antal Rogán, the minister responsible for national security services and the first vanguard in the protection of the nation’s sovereignty, is being penalised by a world power, that means he is doing his job well.”

PM Viktor Orbán interview
PM Orbán arriving to the interview. Photo: MTI

Orbán said President-elect Donald Trump‘s inauguration on Monday would be the “start of a new era”.

Commenting on the work of outgoing US ambassador David Pressman, Orbán said the US “has sent a thug here with the task of forcing Hungary into the globalist, liberal, Democrat canon that is pro-migration, pro-gender and ready to use war to spread the word and Western values in the world”. “The problem was that Hungary is not such a country,” that it has a 1,100-year history, “its own way and mission” that did not suffer “a thug coming here and telling us that this land is no longer ours, that others will come from the other side of the world to move into what we have worked for for 1,100 years,” Orbán said.

Pressman’s work was therefore “doomed to fail from the start”, he said. He said he had refused to meet the ambassador during his tenure: “His task was clear even when he arrived, and I didn’t want to assist to that.” Orbán said Hungarians were family friendly, and “can’t accept disdain and mockery of the traditional family model.”

Trump liberated America

He said he had an agreement with Trump to launch a “fantastic, long-ranging golden age in US-Hungarian relations that will be noticeable in everyday life, in pockets and families’ budgets”. Trump’s election victory had been a “prerequisite of the Hungarian economy’s flying start as early as this January”, as it had brought the possibility of peace and construction after three years of war destruction, Orbán said.

Orbán says President Trump will end the war in Ukraine Orbán cabinet
Photo: FB/Orbán

President-elect Trump had “liberated America” and US billionaire George Soros’s “forces” have retreated to Brussels, Orbán said.

“The single objective for us Europeans has to be to push them out of Brussels. If we fail to do this then Brussels will become the new Washington, continuing to pursue the policies of US Democrats, which goes against the interests of the European and the Hungarian people.”

He said the top foreign policy goal of 2025 had to be pushing the “Soros empire” out of Europe. Orbán said Hungary, which, he noted, “has always openly engaged in this conflict”, was likely to be the first country to drive out the “Soros empire”.

Soros empire in Brussels

“It’s time to set the record straight and wind up the networks endangering Hungarian sovereignty and send them packing,” Orbán said, adding he hoped that Hungary would not be alone in doing this. The prime minister said the number one priority was “taking funding away from them, or to be more precise, not giving it to them in the first place”.

“The Soros network today is funded in large part from the Brussels budget. We mustn’t tolerate this; this is our money, too,” he added.

Orbán said the biggest corruption scandal was that “George Soros has got Brussels in his pocket”. “The MEPs, Brussels bureaucrats and serious decision-makers are obviously bought and paid for,” he said, adding representatives of the “Soros network” paid regular visits to Brussels.

He said Hungary had to set an example in driving out the “Soros network”, adding that this was what the spring would be about.

George and Alex Soros
Father and son: George and Alex Soros. Photo: FB/Alexander Soros

Everyone talks about peace

As regards the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU, Orbán said its success had even been acknowledged by the government’s political opponents in Brussels.

He said that whereas at the start of the six-month presidency only the Vatican and Hungary had been talking about peace, today everyone was talking about it. “So we managed to get the issue of peace on the table and keep it there,” he added.

Orbán said that though the peace mission taken on by Hungary “was disproportionate to the country’s weight on the international stage”, it had still carried it out “as a Christian country and out of a moral duty”.

Trump will bring peace, Orbán believes

But, he added, it was now time for Donald Trump to “take up the torch” and “continue the difficult mission that is more in line with the weight of the United States”.

The second important result, he said, was Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, noting the work done by himself, EU Affairs Minister Janos Boka and Interior Minister Sandor Pinter.

He noted that the EU entered into accession talks with Albania during the Hungarian presidency, and “the issue of the Western Balkans has been brought back into European politics alongside the Ukraine issue to which everything took a back seat”.

Meanwhile, he said the Hungarian presidency had managed to conclude important agreements concerning the issue of the bloc’s competitiveness, adding that Hungary had “punched above its weight” during its time at the helm of the Council of the EU.

Orbán warned that a new era was about to begin, so the most important consideration was for Brussels to adapt to the new situation, “primarily when it comes to the issue of war and peace as well as sanctions”.

Sanctions-free relationship with Russia needed

“It’s time we threw sanctions out the window and establish a sanctions-free relationship with the Russians,” the prime minister said, adding, however, that the signs coming from Brussels were “not encouraging at the moment”, and such a shift would take “one or two months”.

He said Ukraine’s accession to the European Union “would, for the time being, bring more dangers than opportunities from the point of view of Hungarians”.

He said “Ukraine can be dealt with” once the war had ended and the EU’s policy of sanctions concluded, “because it is a serious challenge, even a threat” to the European economy.

Ukraine’s accession as envisaged by the EU today would mean that “Hungarian, Polish, and even French farmers can close up shop”, he said, adding that such a move would require “sufficiently stringent regulations.”

Keep an eye on Brussels, Ukraine

Orbán said Ukraine “cannot stand on its own feet … it wouldn’t exist today without Western monies”. He said the country “has no economic activity that could be integrated into the European economy, there are only ruins”. At the same time, Ukraine’s agriculture, which remains productive, “is expressly clashing with the European economy rather than fitting in with it,” he said.

Orbán said that when discussing the Hungarian economy, it was important “to keep one eye on Ukraine and Brussels”.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said 2025 would be “the year of strengthening the middle class”.

Orbán said he expected a “tangible advance” for all strata of society in 2025 and said assistance would go to people who were still under the middle class threshold.

Orbán said the government’s most important goal was ensuring work for everyone, adding that the aim was achievable in 2025, pointing to the 81 percent employment rate among 20- to 65-year-olds, the fifth- or sixth-highest rate in Europe.

The government also aims to ensure incomes are enough to support families and pave the way for everybody to feel they are taking a step ahead, he added.

2025 will be fantastic

He said he expected 2025 to be a “fantastic year”, noting that 2024 had been about compensating for the losses inflicted on the country by the war in 2023, such as the “energy shock”. “But since we’ve done that, we have a good starting position for this year,” he added.

Orbán said the domestic savings rate was at 24 percent compared with the EU average of 14 percent, adding this meant that there was a “household financial savings system that can be mobilised for 2025”.

He said high energy prices were the biggest threat to the success of Hungary’s economic policy, so the aim was to ensure that Brussels did not pursue a sanctions policy that went counter to falling prices.

Orbán said that until expansion of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant was completed between 2030 and 2032, the country was vulnerable when it came to energy, so significant energy price increases could “thwart our economic plans”.

He also said Hungary could not carry out its economic plans unless the TurkStream natural gas pipeline was protected and kept running.

UPDATE: Opposition reactions

The opposition Tisza and Jobbik parties have criticised Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over his morning radio interview for “failing to touch on several important topics”, while the Democratic Coalition has said the prime minister “needs to be replaced together with his regime”.

Péter Magyar, the leader of the Tisza Party, said Orbán “got buried under his own lies during his weeks-long luxurious vacation in India”.

“While the prime minister talked about the fight against illegal migration, he made no mention of how he himself released 2,290 convicted people smugglers from Hungarian prisons,” Magyar said in a statement.

He said Orbán had also “failed to mention that the Hungarian economy is not off to a flying start, and all the important indicators are down”. He criticised the prime minister for not mentioning “the cost-of-living crisis they have pushed millions of Hungarians into”.

Magyar said food prices were “out of control again”, adding that food inflation in Hungary was 2.5 times the EU average over the last four years.

He vowed that his government would cut the VAT rate on fruits and vegetables, and eventually all basic foodstuffs, to 5 percent if Tisza won the election.

Opposition Jobbik criticised Orbán for “limiting his interview to talking about Trump, Soros and Ukraine”.

The party said in a statement that fuel prices and inflation were rising again, the forint was weakening, bank fees were up and the health-care sector was “falling deeper into crisis”.

They said Orbán had failed to offer any solutions to these problems in the interview.

Ferenc Gyurcsány, the leader of the leftist Democratic Coalition (DK), said his party agreed with “the assessment of the United States administration that Antal Rogan, the minister in charge of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, is corrupt.”

He said “the regime as a whole, including the prime minister” was corrupt, “but the regime cannot be banned from the US”.

Gyurcsány said “the regime’s … key elements and people cannot be ousted one by one” and “Orbán has to be replaced together with the regime”.

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Orbán’s minister: Rogán banned from USA because of George Soros, PM Orbán will soon meet Trump

George Soros

The opposition is in its deepest moral crisis 18 months before the election, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás said on Thursday.

Head of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office Antal Rogán will not be on the US sanctions list by the end of this year, Gulyás said in an interview with news channel ATV. He added that even the US administration could not deny that a purely political decision had been made in the case of Rogán. HERE is what you need to know about the scandal.

“The Americans have also admitted that there had been no secret services information behind the decision, only [US businessman] George Soros and the corrupt reports of various civil organisations that could not be considered a legal source or even evidence in the case,” he said. “It is political witch hunt, the petty revenge of the outgoing US ambassador,” he added.

George Soros
Photo: FB/Soros

American ambassador Pressman hated the government and the country

He said that during the US presidential campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had referred to the Hungarian prime minister more than a hundred times. “Unfortunately, the Democrats had sent here a US ambassador who hates the government and the country. “As a result, when talking about sanctions against Hungarians in his own Democrats milieu, he could achieve easy success,” Gulyás added.

He said Hungary had no “democracy deficit” and it was a false claim that the Hungarian government maintained too close links with Moscow or China.

“The new US administration is organising a Trump-Putin meeting. Yet, I would not accuse the US of drawing close to Moscow. The German chancellor recently had a long telephone conversation with Russian President Putin, but this does not make him an ally of Russia. It is best to be careful with such remarks. Hungary pursues politics and diplomacy along Hungarian national interests, we are not trying to please anyone either in the previous or the new US administration,” he said.

Gulyás said the banning of Rogán would be a short-lived measure that would remain a perfect symbol of the “petty Hungary-hatred” of the outgoing Democrats administration.

rogán orbán
PM Orbán and Minister Antal Rogán. Photo: MTI

Removing Rogán from the ‘global Magnitsky list’ will be difficult

He added that removal from the list would not be a presidential decision but a decision by the US Department of the Treasury. He said the procedure was regulated by law and in order to be removed from the list, it was the banned person who must prove that the decision lacked any basis.

“Despite this I think that considering the obvious motivation behind the decision and the complete lack of evidence, a relatively quick decision could be made,” he said.

In response to another question, Gulyás said there would be no early election or government reshuffle before the 2026 election, and President Tamás Sulyok would fulfil his mandate. “The only question is whether his mandate will be five or ten years long, considering that the president can be re-elected once,” he added.

Hungarian opposition in deep moral crisis, says minister

Commenting on polls showing the popularity of the opposition Tisza Party, he said “it is the best situation for us that 18 months before the election, the opposition is in its deepest moral crisis and the leader of the strongest party is insane”.

He said the basis for victory at the election would be the government’s performance, and the situation was favourable to the ruling party. “Pollsters that indeed assess public opinion instead of just trying to meet political demands or commissions show that Fidesz maintains a very considerable lead,” he added.

péter magyar tisza party orbán inflation
Photo: Facebook/Péter Magyar

In response to another question, he said Tisza served not only a guarantee for Fidesz’s victory in 2026, but even Fidesz’s success in 2030. “This is my sincere opinion. There was a mid-term election this Sunday, national elections were held last June, and there are public opinion polls, all showing the same,” he added.

Asked whether he would talk to Magyar ever again, Gulyás said

“it is ruled out, I consider him a traitor,”

adding that “not every traitor is an agent of Brussels, but every agent of Brussels is a traitor, and Magyar belongs in that latter category”.

Trump and Orbán will meet soon

Asked about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s absence from the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump, Gulyás said that in line with the protocol, Hungary will be represented at the event by Hungary’s ambassador. “Viktor Orbán has been an ally of Donald Trump long enough so that he does not need to push himself ahead among the several thousand participants just to demonstrate his importance and closeness to the new president,” said Gulyás, adding that “there would certainly be a meeting between Trump and Orbán in the foreseeable future.”

Regarding the issue of EU funds for Hungary, Gulyás said Hungary is among the best in drawing them down. “There is pre-financing, we send the invoices to Brussels and they pay,” he said. “So there is no reason for particular concern, there are plenty of free resources that can be drawn down, and our goal is to also access what is not yet available,” Gulyas said.

Magyar slammed Gulyás and Orbán in reaction

Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar said in a statement that Gulyás had given “his usual meaningless” ATV interview. Magyar accused him of betraying “the most vulnerable … for power and money while donning the mantle of Christianity” and of accepting a big wage rise “while 3 million of our compatriots” live below the poverty line.

Gulyás, he added, “clinks glasses of expensive French champagne with the state secretary for health and the head of the ambulance service … while they deliberately dismantle the state health-care system…” Magyar also accused Gulyás of helping to direct public money towards the purchase of “castles, railway stations and airports” for the prime minister’s “family and oligarchs”, while “wasting EU funds in the billions”. The opposition politician also blamed Gulyás for every day failing to report “serious corruption cases” and of operating a “North Korean-style propaganda” to mislead citizens.

Read also:

  • Ukraine’s proposed ban on Russian oil transit raises concerns for Hungary and Slovakia
  • Orbán did not receive an invitation to Trump’s inauguration, confirms Hungarian government – read more HERE

Sensational: Hungarian space device could help unravel one of the Moon’s greatest mysteries

moon space exploration water

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed its first deep space (lunar) research data purchase agreement with Puli Space Ltd. The Hungarian company’s “water snooper” will reach the Moon as part of a commercial mission, the Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission, where it will collect data on water ice, Puli Space told MTI.

Hungarian “water snooper”

The second lunar mission of Intuitive Machines, a private company based in Houston, is scheduled to launch no earlier than the end of February. The mission will carry Puli Space Technologies’ NASA award-winning miniature neutron spectrometer, the Puli Lunar Water Snooper (PLWS), the statement said.

PLWS puli space
The Puli Lunar Water Snooper (PLWS). Photo: Puli Space

According to the release, the device will collect data on water ice in the Moon’s south polar region. The PLWS, mounted on Intuitive Machines’ rocket-powered drone, the Micro Nova Hopper, will also provide direct surface measurement data from a permanently shadowed crater.

The importance of international recognition

“International recognition is important for us as it supports the planning and validation of our further work. We are especially excited that ESA is joining us in the Intuitive Machines mission to reach the Moon’s south pole and conduct measurements in a permanently shadowed crater, where temperatures hover around minus 200 degrees Celsius,” said physicist Tibor Pacher, founder of Puli Space Technologies, in the statement.

“It’s fascinating to see how far Puli Space and Intuitive Machines have come in preparing this mission to create such a unique data package. We are eagerly anticipating the mission and are curious to learn what these data can reveal about the nature of water on the Moon,”
the statement quoted James Carpenter, head of ESA’s Lunar Exploration Office, as saying.

The United States and China are both working on ensuring a permanent human presence on the Moon, supported by significant private investments, making the celestial body an increasingly attractive target for economically sustainable space activities, the statement noted. One of the initial tasks in the emerging cis-lunar economy is to verify the potential local use of resources.

Water ice, a promising resource

moon space exploration water
The Moon. Illustration. Photo: depositphotos.com

One of the most promising potential resources is water ice, as sustainable lunar water extraction could catalyse the establishment of permanent lunar bases and help build an affordable cis-lunar and deep-space transport system, making space travel more sustainable, efficient, and accessible, the summary emphasised.

Previous measurements from lunar orbit have provided multiple pieces of direct scientific evidence for the presence of hydrogen on the Moon’s surface, but its distribution varies significantly. However, the spatial resolution of this data is insufficient to identify potential mining sites, making it necessary to map local concentrations of water ice on the surface.

According to the statement, the collaboration between Hungary’s Puli Space Technologies and Intuitive Machines marks the first attempt to map water ice concentrations on the Moon’s surface.

The PLWS

The PLWS, weighing just 400 grams, is mounted on Intuitive Machines’ Micro Nova Hopper, a unique autonomous rocket-powered drone. It will explore the environment of permanently shadowed areas around the Moon’s south pole and aims to land in such a shadowed crater for the first time. The ESA Lunar Exploration Office recognised the importance of data collection when signing its first deep space research data purchase agreement with Puli Space Technologies.

This milestone supports the development of private-sector space exploration activities and paves the way for future partnerships between public agencies and private companies, the statement highlighted. The ESA will work closely with the Puli Space team on data analysis and standardisation, which will later be made publicly accessible.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Orbán did not receive an invitation to Trump’s inauguration, confirms Hungarian government

orbán trump inauguration

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, like other foreign leaders, was not officially invited to the inauguration of Donald Trump as the next U.S. President on 20 January, according to Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communication. In a Facebook post, Kovács clarified that no Hungarian government representative received an “official” invitation to the event, emphasising that the ceremony is traditionally a celebration of the peaceful transfer of power in the United States, not a gathering of foreign dignitaries.

Kovács highlighted that any foreign leaders or politicians attending the inauguration do so on personal or staff invitations, not in an official capacity. “This is not an occasion for formal talks or meetings but serves an entirely different purpose,” he wrote. Kovács also confirmed that Viktor Orbán would not attend the event. Instead, Orbán is scheduled to deliver a speech at a conference in Budapest evaluating the results of Hungary’s EU Presidency.

orbán trump inauguration
Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump in December 2024. Photo: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán

Speculations about foreign leaders’ attendance

Kovács addressed speculations that some leaders, including Orbán, might have been invited, following reports that several foreign politicians had been asked to attend the ceremony. The Argentine President Javier Milei’s office confirmed last December that he had received an invitation, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on January 9 that she planned to attend, Politico reported. Other notable figures, such as Britain’s Nigel Farage, France’s Éric Zemmour, the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders, and Belgium’s Tom Van Grieken, are also expected to participate. However, Kovács clarified that these invitations were not official and were extended on a personal or informal basis.

Hungarian officials’ stance

Hungarian officials maintained that there was no practical reason for Orbán to attend the inauguration. In an interview with atv.hu, Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, stated:

“It only makes sense for the head of government to go to Washington if they can engage in substantive talks with the new U.S. administration. Inauguration Day is certainly not that day, as it is primarily an event of U.S. domestic politics. Viktor Orbán has been an ally of Donald Trump long enough to not need to jostle among the thousands attending the inauguration to demonstrate his closeness to the new president.”

This position was reinforced by Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s Press Chief, who informed Telex that Orbán’s absence was due to his prior commitment to a domestic event. By addressing the lack of an official invitation and clarifying the nature of the inauguration, the Hungarian government has sought to quell any misunderstandings surrounding Orbán’s absence from the ceremony.

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Hungarian minister Antal Rogán on US blacklist: What you need to know!

david pressman us ambassador

Following Tuesday’s meeting of the Hungarian National Security Committee, Zoltán Sas, the committee’s chairman, announced that the Hungarian secret services had officially contacted the relevant US authorities regarding the case of Antal Rogán. The aim of the investigation is to clarify the basis for the US sanctions against Antal Rogán; however, the US side has so far been unable to provide any evidence.

The legal background to the US sanctions regime is that the decision is lawful, as acknowledged by the Hungarian authorities. Antal Rogán’s inclusion on the so-called Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list occurred in the final hours of the Biden administration, reflecting ongoing tensions in US-Hungarian political relations. David Pressman, the US ambassador in Budapest, stated that Rogán was a central figure in Hungary’s system of corruption, which largely justified the sanction.

rogán antal orbán viktor
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Hungarian intelligence: answers and questions

According to the committee meeting, the Hungarian intelligence services perceive external actors as attempting to hinder the improvement of US-Hungarian relations, particularly in light of a possible Trump administration return.

As reported by Telex, the exact details of the information are classified as state secrets and are not publicly available. At the same time, the request for information from the intelligence services raises the question of whether Antal Rogán himself could gain access to information from US sources, given that he oversees Hungary’s civilian intelligence services.

The deterioration in US-Hungarian relations can be attributed to Hungary’s policy towards Russia, which has been repeatedly criticised by the Biden administration. The sanctions are based on corruption allegations made by the US through a presidential decree. Hungarian public opinion remains divided over the case: while some view it as a legitimate decision, others suspect it is an act of political revenge.

Public opinion and policy implications

According to 24.hu, a significant proportion of respondents believe the sanctions are detrimental to Hungary, while a minority consider them a political move by the outgoing Biden administration.

The political dimensions of the issue are further complicated by the fact that many link the US decision to Hungary’s pro-Russian foreign policy.

Orbán German carmaking industry
Photo: depositphotos.com

Other security issues were also discussed at Tuesday’s meeting, including the Syrian plane hoax, on which no substantive information was provided, and the hacking attack on the Defence Procurement Agency, which poses a serious cybersecurity threat. Further details regarding the attack are expected in February.

Hungarian public opinion is divided on the potential return of a Trump administration. Few believe that a new administration would immediately remove Antal Rogán from the sanctions list. Many anticipate a protracted legal process or a gradual waning of attention on the issue.

The case highlights the complex dynamics of Hungarian-American relations, where geopolitical interests and allegations of corruption are closely intertwined. How the situation unfolds could significantly influence political relations between the two countries in the near future.

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Things you need to know in filing U.S. taxes from Germany

Filing U.S. taxes while living in Germany involves navigating a complex web of international tax regulations. The United States’ citizenship-based taxation system means U.S. citizens and Green Card holders are required to file and report their worldwide income, even when residing abroad. In this guide, we’ll cover the key aspects of filing U.S. taxes from Germany, including important deadlines, available tax benefits, and tips to avoid double taxation.


Understanding U.S. Tax Obligations

As a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder residing in Germany, you’re obligated to report your worldwide income to the IRS. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

  • Filing Thresholds: The filing thresholds depend on your filing status. For example:
    • Single: $12,950
    • Married Filing Jointly: $25,900
    • Head of Household: $19,400
  • Foreign Accounts and Assets:
    • FBAR (FinCEN Form 114): If the total value of your foreign bank accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the year, you must file the FBAR.
    • FATCA (Form 8938): Required if your specified foreign assets exceed $200,000 on the last day of the tax year ($300,000 for married couples filing jointly).
  • Worldwide Income: You must report all income earned in Germany or elsewhere, including wages, investments, and rental income.

Tax Treaties Between the U.S. and Germany

The U.S. and Germany have a tax treaty to avoid double taxation and clarify how income should be taxed. Key points include:

  1. Avoiding Double Taxation: The treaty determines which country has the primary right to tax different types of income (e.g., employment, retirement, and business income).
  2. Tax Credits: You can claim a Foreign Tax Credit for taxes paid in Germany to reduce your U.S. tax liability.
  3. Social Security Taxes: The U.S.-Germany Totalization Agreement prevents you from paying social security taxes in both countries for the same income.

Steps to File U.S. Taxes from Germany

1. Determine Your Filing Status

Your filing status (e.g., single, married, head of household) determines your tax bracket, standard deduction, and eligibility for certain credits. Ensure you’re selecting the correct status for your situation.

2. Gather Necessary Documents

  • U.S. Forms: W-2, 1099s, or equivalent documentation.
  • German Tax Documents: Proof of income, tax returns filed in Germany, and receipts for taxes paid.
  • Bank Account Information: Details for FBAR and FATCA compliance.

3. Leverage Tax Benefits for Expats

Several provisions can help minimize your U.S. tax liability:

  • Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): Excludes up to $126,500 of foreign earned income (2025 threshold). You must meet either:
    • The Physical Presence Test (330 days in a foreign country).
    • The Bona Fide Residence Test (establishing a permanent home in Germany).
  • Foreign Tax Credit (FTC): This credit reduces your U.S. taxes dollar-for-dollar for income taxes paid to Germany.
  • Foreign Housing Exclusion/Deduction: You can deduct qualified housing expenses exceeding the IRS base amount for Germany.

4. File the Appropriate Tax Forms

Some of the key forms include:

  • Form 1040: Standard U.S. tax return.
  • Form 2555: To claim FEIE and the Foreign Housing Exclusion.
  • Form 1116: For the Foreign Tax Credit.
  • Form 8938: For FATCA reporting.
  • FinCEN Form 114: To report foreign bank accounts.

5. Pay Attention to Deadlines

  • April 15: Standard tax deadline. If you owe taxes, payments are due by this date to avoid penalties and interest.
  • June 15: Automatic two-month extension for expats living abroad.
  • October 15: Extended filing deadline (requires filing Form 4868).

Managing German Tax Obligations

While living in Germany, you’re also required to comply with German tax laws. Key points include:

  • German Income Tax Rates: Ranges from 14% to 45%, with an additional solidarity surcharge (5.5% of the tax liability).
  • Tax Filing Deadlines in Germany: Typically due by July 31 of the following year, with extensions available upon request.
  • Tax Class System: Germany’s tax classes determine your withholding rates and filing obligations. These classes depend on your marital status and other factors.

Avoiding Double Taxation

To avoid paying taxes twice on the same income, use these strategies:

  1. Foreign Tax Credit vs. FEIE: Evaluate whether the Foreign Tax Credit or FEIE offers greater benefits. The FTC is often more beneficial for expats in high-tax countries like Germany.
  2. Tax Treaty Provisions: Use the U.S.-Germany tax treaty to clarify your tax obligations and avoid conflicts.
  3. Proper Documentation: Keep detailed records of taxes paid to German authorities and ensure proper reporting to the IRS.

FAQs: Filing U.S. Taxes from Germany

1. Do I need to file if I owe no U.S. taxes? Yes, filing is mandatory if your income exceeds the IRS thresholds, even if your German taxes eliminate your U.S. liability.

2. How do I handle currency exchange rates? The IRS requires income and expenses to be reported in U.S. dollars. Use the average annual exchange rate unless a specific transaction rate applies.

3. Can I claim dependents while living in Germany? Yes, dependents meeting IRS criteria (e.g., U.S. citizenship or residency) can be claimed.

4. What happens if I miss the filing deadline? Late filers may face penalties. File as soon as possible and include a reasonable cause explanation to request penalty relief.


Conclusion: Simplifying U.S. Tax Filing from Germany

Filing U.S. taxes while living in Germany requires careful attention to both U.S. and German tax regulations. By understanding your obligations, leveraging tax benefits, and adhering to deadlines, you can avoid penalties and maximize savings. If the process feels overwhelming, consider consulting with a tax professional specializing in expat taxes to ensure compliance and peace of mind.

Disclaimer: the author(s) of the sponsored article(s) are solely responsible for any opinions expressed or offers made. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of Daily News Hungary, and the editorial staff cannot be held responsible for their veracity.

Orbán cabinet: New golden age may dawn in American-Hungarian relations

Trump and Orbán American-Hungarian relations

American and Hungarian relations must be placed on a new foundation, a new golden age in bilateral relations may dawn, National Economy Minister Márton Nagy said in a post on social media on Monday.

Changes in American-Hungarian relations

Nagy said the government is eagerly awaiting the start of Donald Trump‘s presidential term. The government expects the new presidential term to bring an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war and that peace would mean physical and economic security and confidence for families and businesses, which could lead to increased consumption and investment.

The minister said the government sees four main areas for the rebuilding of relations, including restoring an agreement to avoid double taxation, easing visa rules, restarting direct flights between Budapest and the most important American cities like New York and Washington and achieving that the US is once again among the top three investors in Hungary. Nagy added that the Hungarian government is also awaiting the new American ambassador as “revenge and scheming” must come to an end.

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

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

Pressman’s legacy

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

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

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Hungarian foreign minister slammed Biden administration for sanctions endangering C Europe

The outgoing Biden administration’s latest package of sanctions poses serious challenges to central Europe, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Sunday, adding that Hungary’s government will be in close consultations with its regional partners in order to minimise the increase in fuel prices.

Biden administration endangering Central Europe

The sanctions put on a company critical to Serbia’s oil supply is set to lead to a fall in the amount of crude oil being imported by central Europe, Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement, adding this would also increase the demand for refined petrol and diesel.

“If demand rises but refining capacity falls, it unfortunately means that we are facing a threat of serious price increases,” Szijjártó warned. “The sanctions recently imposed by the outgoing US administration could lead to a serious increase in fuel prices in central Europe.”

biden speaking
Photo: FB/Biden

He said that over the coming days and weeks the Hungarian government will be in close consultations with its regional partners with a view to minimising the sanctions’ negative impact on fuel prices and protect the Hungarian and central European people.

“Because we know full well that rising fuel prices … don’t just make people’s lives harder and increase their expenses, but they also have a negative impact on economic output as a whole, which we want to avoid,” Szijjártó said.

Meanwhile, the minister welcomed that in a few days “the United States will have a president who views Hungary as a friend and not as an enemy”.

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The world is astonished: Trump may meet Putin in Hungary

Trump may meet Putin in Hungary (Copy)

Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and a Senator of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, believes Hungary would be ideal for President Trump and Putin to meet and discuss how to end the ongoing bloody conflict in Ukraine. According to Trump, Putin asked for the meeting.

Orbán cabinet believes Trump will bring peace to Ukraine

President Trump said during the election campaign that he would put an end to the ongoing violent conflict in Ukraine in no time if elected. As Trump’s inauguration draws near, it seems he will be able to meet that promise since he said President Putin asked for a meeting, although he did not specify what topics they would discuss or when that may happen. Trump only said that the meeting is now being set up.

According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, they may meet in Budapest, Hungary, or at least that is what Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and a Senator of Russia also serving as the Representative of the legislative (representative) authority of the Jewish Autonomous Region, said in an interview.

The Hungarian government is looking forward to Trump’s inauguration. Orbán endorsed Trump back in 2015, making him the first country leader to do so. Before the 2024 election campaign, Trumpist Republican politicians regularly travelled to Hungary, took part in different conferences, CPACs, etc. (more about the – financial – background of their bromance in THIS article). We covered yesterday that Orbán’s chief spin doctor, Árpád Habony, regularly travelled to Florida to network with the Trump team. He also worked e.g. in the Georgian campaign for the pro-Russia Georgian Dream movement.

Hungary spent a lot of money on creating and improving links with the Trump team

Orbán regularly said during the election campaign that Trump is the only pro-peace candidate for the presidency and all who want to bring peace to Ukraine should endorse, support, and vote for him. Since the Hungarian government has been accusing the Hungarian opposition of being pro-war for years, the fight for the White House became a crucial domestic issue in Hungary.

Because of the Orbán-Trump “bromance” and Orbán’s smooth relationship with Putin, Budapest can be a good place for the two leaders to meet. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian press that the USA has not yet officially asked for a meeting, which is unsurprising since its president will still be Biden for eight more days, who would not like to meet with Putin.

Trump may meet Putin in Hungary, Russian Senator says

Meanwhile, Senator Dzhabarov told a journalist in an interview that Hungary could be an ideal venue for a Trump-Putin summit. He believes PM Orbán could guarantee the safety of the two world leaders. He added the two parties should meet on “neutral” ground. Before, Finland could have been a perfect place, but they joined NATO and became very aggressive towards Russia. He did not mention in the interview that Hungary is also a NATO member state.

Trump may meet Putin in Hungary (Copy)
Trump and Putin in 2019 in Osaka. Photo: PrtScr/Youtube

Dzhabarov said the two world leaders should meet because there are lots of questions they need to discuss. In the last four years, the Russian-American relationship deteriorated, so they must discuss. He added, however, that nobody can say when such a summit could be organised.

Donald Trump appointed Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia in November. Kellogg said Trump aimed to find a solution to the war in Ukraine in his first 100 days in power.

Before, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed his country’s readiness to provide a platform for negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. “If it comes to that – why not”, Putin evaluated the offer in December.

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“Still cannot believe what happened” – Hungarian top model’s villa toasted in brutal LA fire – PHOTOS

Hungarian top model's house toasted in brutal LA fire

“It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of the recent fire that destroyed our property. It’s hard to find the words when you’re faced with something like this. The flames took so much, but we’re holding on to the memories that live on in our hearts”, Lívia Pillmann, a Hungarian top model writer, producer and award-winning actress, wrote on Instagram about the devastation. She also shared some shocking images, but does not blame anybody.

Hungarian top model’s house toasted in Malibu

According to the top model’s post, not only the entire house was destroyed, but also her car and the garden were covered in waste. “Devastation of the Palisades Fire. Still cannot believe what happened”, she wrote on Instagram. She shared many photos of her house and the garden.

Hungarian top model's house toasted in brutal LA fire
Photo: Instagram/Lívia Pillmann

“Swipe through these pictures to see the aftermath. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength we find in the most difficult moments.

Hungarian top model's house toasted in brutal LA fire
Photo: Instagram/Lívia Pillmann

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support. We’re taking it one day at a time and are incredibly grateful for the people who have surrounded us with care.”

Hungarian top model's house toasted in brutal LA fire
Photo: Instagram/Lívia Pillmann
Hungarian top model's house toasted in brutal LA fire
Photo: Instagram/Lívia Pillmann

According to her website, Lívia is not only a top model but also an award-winning actress, producer and writer. “Her acting skills, looks, and professionalism have quickly made her one of Hollywood’s freshest, exciting and unique talents”, the website’s introduction reads. In 2024, she starred with Kevin Spacey in a psychological thriller titled The Contract.

A Hungarian lady horseback rider conquering Hollywood

“Originally from Hungary, Livia has called Los Angeles home for the last six years. She began her ascent in Hollywood initially as an international top model who, besides gracing scores of magazine covers, has also appeared in dozens of commercials worldwide. During the course of the last years, she has focused on storytelling and honing her skills, including in martial arts, singing, weaponry and horseback riding.

Her passions outside of movies include inspiring others to succeed and to pursue their dreams. She volunteers most of her time and travels the globe to help mentor abused, young women and teaches them meditation and relaxation techniques. She is also the Ambassador for Protection4kids, a nonprofit organisation, focusing on combating violence against children. In December 2022, she spent two weeks in Nepal on a humanitarian mission teaching almost a hundred abused girls a relaxation technique that releases trauma and stress, called Access Bars and is currently producing a documentary that shares the personal plights of these children.”

At least ten people have already died in the wildfires, which have burned down thousands of buildings. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated.

In a podcast, Mel Gibson, who also shared some shocking images about his gone home, slammed California governor Gavin Newsom for the devastation. He said Newsom claimed he was “going to take care of the forests” but “didn’t do anything”. “I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel,” the actor added.

Lívia Pillmann did not blame anybody for her losses.

Read also:

  • You would not believe these world-famous celebrities have Hungarian origins – check out our collection HERE
  • Fabulous 101-year-old Hungarian grandma has 3.8 million views on TikTok, even Paris Hilton likes her – VIDEO and more in THIS article

PM Orbán’s spin doctor, Árpád Habony, allegedly tried to connect Trump with Georgia’s “pro-Russia” government

Habony’s task was to establish a relationship between the newly-elected Georgian prime minister (and the country’s de facto leader, Bidzina Ivanishvili) and President Trump, but the project was unsuccessful after the Magnitsky sanctions were imposed on Minister Antal Rogán. VSquare’s Szabolcs Panyi wrote that Habony, PM Orbán’s chief spin doctor, worked in Slovakia and Poland, as well, and he also travelled to Florida to network with the Trump team. Habony also played a key part in the Georgian elections last October.

Constitutional crisis in Georgia

Georgia is undergoing a constitutional crisis since President Salome Zourabichvili did not accept her removal by the newly-elected parliament. That comes after the disputed October parliamentary elections when the Georgian Dream (the former President’s previous party) won a majority and modified relevant measures. They placed the election of the president in the power of a parliamentary college of electors.

Hungary’s PM Orbán did not accept the doubts concerning the October elections and travelled to Tbilisi to congratulate Irakli Kobakhidze for his victory. “I congratulate the Prime Minister on his election victory. I look at the debate that has erupted around the election, I have read the assessment by international organisations, and I see that no one dares to question that this election was a free and democratic election. For all the critical comments, no one dares to go that far. And they are right not to do so because we Hungarians also sent observers, we were here, and we saw what happened with our own eyes. Before I came here I studied the reports of the Hungarian observers, which were clearly positive and reported a free and democratic election. I congratulate the Prime Minister on this”, the Hungarian prime minister concluded.

Orbán Viktor Georgia
PM Orbán in Georgia. Source: Facebook / Viktor Orbán

Trump and the Republicans do not like the pro-Russia Georgian PM

However, it seems that PM Orbán’s new Transatlantic allies, President Trump, his team and the Republicans do not share the Hungarian leader’s positive opinion about what happened in Georgia. According to VSquare’s Szabolcs Panyi, it caused outrage in Republican circles that PM Kobakhidze appeared together on a photo with Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas leaders. “The same terrorists actively plotted to assassinate Donald Trump and call for the death of America every day. We see you. America will not be fooled”, a Republican Congressman, Joe Wilson, posted on X in the issue.

Therefore, it is not surprising that President Trump did not invite Kobakhidze to his inauguration. Instead, he invited Salome Zourabichvili, who has become a leader of the Georgian political opposition. That is a kind of failure of Árpád Habony, PM Orbán’s spin doctor, whose task was to smooth the new Georgian prime minister’s relationships with the Trump leadership.

Árpád Habony
Habony (l) and Rogán (r). Source: PrtScr/Youtube

Orbán’s spin doctor has helped Georgian Dream for two years

Meanwhile, Habony completed his other task successfully. According to Mr Panyi, he actively contributed to the election victory of the Georgian Dream movement, PM Kobakhidze’s political party.

Behind the scenes, Orbán’s campaign strategists, particularly his chief spin doctor, Árpád Habony, have been aiding the pro-Kremlin GD government for at least two years, according to sources closely following Georgian politics. These claims were shared with me and German journalist Silvia Stöber, an expert on political developments in Georgia, who collaborated with me on this scoop. Multiple sources confirmed Habony’s frequent presence in Tbilisi, notably at the Sheraton Hotel near the airport and GD’s headquarters,” Panyi wrote on VSquare. Earlier, Habony worked in Slovakia and Poland, aiding Orbán’s local allies, and he also flew to Florida to network with the Trump team.

Árpád Habony
Árpád Habony and Fidesz parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis. Photo: PrtScr/Youtube

Will Trump meet the billionaire de facto leader of Georgia?

The new Georgian government turned away from the European Union and put accession talks on hold, sparking severe protests throughout the country. Georgian opposition says the Georgian Dream movement is a pro-Kremlin force.

Additionally, according to recent Georgian media reports, PM Orbán tried to broker a meeting between GD leader and Georgia’s de facto leader, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and Trump. However, the plan collapsed after the Magnitsky sanctions were imposed on Minister Antal Rogán.

Read also:

  • Will Hungary make Romania Moscow-dependent by gigantic gas deal? Romanian secret services may join the “game” – read more HERE
  • Russian gas supplies through Ukraine to Europe face sudden halt – Unexpected opportunity for Hungary?

PM Orbán and President Trump’s alliance represents the future, the Hungarian government believes

Trump Orbán

Brussels is the scene of a “battle between the forces of the future and the past”, the communications director of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats (KDNP) said on Facebook on Friday.

“Ten days until the pro-peace Donald Trump is inaugurated. The world is about to change,” Tamás Menczer said. “The pro-war, pro-migration and pro-gender forces have lost Washington.”

At the same time, the same forces are still in a majority in Brussels, “and they will concentrate their forces on keeping Brussels, the last bastion,” he said. “The fight between the pro-war, pro-migration and pro-gender forces of the past and pro-peace, pro-security and pro-family Patriots will be fought in Brussels,” Menczer added.

Trump Orbán
Photo: FB/Orbán

“The Hungarian leftist-liberal opposition from [Democratic Coalition leader] Ferenc Gyurcsány to [Tisza leader] Péter Magyar has lined up behind the forces of the past,” he said.

“Brussels has clearly said what they want: they want the war to continue, they want migrants to be brought in, the gender madness to spread, and Ukraine to swiftly become an EU member. Besides our physical safety, this also puts our economic security at risk,” he said, adding that such goals would also bring about high energy prices and inflation.

“Hungary comes first for us patriots! The alliance of Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump is the future,” Menczer said, adding that the government supported peace, security and families.

Read also:

  • PM Orbán responds to allegations surrounding his India trip – read more HERE
  • Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán condemns foiled attack on presidential palace in Chad

Budapest Mayor bids farewell to US Ambassador, highlights fight for democracy and rule of law

david pressman gergely karácsony us ambassador

Those in Hungary who consistently stand up in defence of the values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights and against corruption are “rewarded in the form of a political campaign of revenge”, the mayor of Budapest said on Wednesday.

In a post on Facebook, Gergely Karácsony said he had received outgoing US Ambassador David Pressman on a farewell visit in his mayoral office. Karácsony said that Pressman had told him at his inaugural visit three years ago that he would most likely be the new target and bearer of the bulk of “propagandists’ attacks” that he as mayor had to face before.

The ambassador, Karácsony said, had been right in his presumption and he then “fulfilled this undertaking as well”. “And I am to thank the ambassador not only for freeing us from a part of those propaganda attacks but also for his consistent … representation of democracy, the rule of law and human rights as well as efforts to fight corruption,” Karácsony said. “David Pressman is a friend and admirer of Hungary,” he added. The mayor presented to the ambassador a painting by contemporary artist drMáriás and a book about Budapest by András Török.

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