Viktor Orbán

Orbán cabinet: Hungary to seek compensation for border protection costs from EU

Hungarian border protection

The Hungarian government will request that the European Union compensate the country for costs incurred in protecting the bloc’s external borders, and is ready to sue the EU to that end, Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, told a regular press conference on Thursday.

Hungarian border protection

The government has mandated European Affairs Minister János Bóka to conduct talks with the European Commission regarding a ruling against Hungary over its migration policy, Gulyás said.

The government has established lines it “will not and cannot cross” during the negotiations with the EC, Gulyás said. “One of those red lines is the decision the Hungarian people have expressed at a referendum. No one can be settled in Hungary against the will of the Hungarian people,” he said.

The government will continue to protect the borders from illegal migrants, and will offer one-way transport to Brussels for those who are granted asylum, he said.

Gulyás noted that in 2015, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had warned that Schengen would collapse unless Brussels implemented community law, the Schengen Agreement and unless it obligated the countries with external borders to protect those borders effectively. “Migration and Germany are dismantling Schengen”, he said, referring to Germany’s decision to re-introduce border controls.

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PM Orbán meets Republika Srpska President in Budapest

Orbán meets Milorad Dodik

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Milorad Dodik, the president of the Republika Srpska of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Budapest on Thursday, the PM’s press chief said.

Orbán meets Milorad Dodik

The Hungarian PM and Dodik discussed the EU integration of the Western Balkans and Hungary’s opportunities to further the process while holding the rotating presidency of the EU, Bertalan Havasi said.

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Leaked – PM Orbán behind closed doors: 2026 can mark the end

pm viktor orbán azerbaijan Excessive deficit procedure

To journalists, Orbán and his leading politicians downplay Péter Magyar’s party, claiming the movement will discredit itself in the coming years, leaving people with no choice but to vote for Orbán and his Fidesz party in the 2026 general elections. However, behind closed doors, a different picture emerges. It appears even the Hungarian PM is considering a possible defeat at the hands of the newly-formed Tisza Party.

Orbán’s decade-old strategy collapsed on 9th June

PM Viktor Orbán delivers three key strategic addresses each year. The first is his state-of-the-nation speech in February, the second at the Bálványos Summer Free University in July (held in Transylvania), and the third in Kötcse in August. In Kötcse, he addresses a select audience behind closed doors, allowing him to speak more freely. Szabad Európa obtained information about his remarks from an unnamed participant.

Viktor Orbán
Orbán in Kötcse in his regular outfit. Photo: Facebook / Orbán Viktor

According to the source, the Hungarian PM acknowledged the success of the Tisza Party on 9th June. As a reminder, the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga achieved almost 30% of the vote in the European parliamentary elections, the highest percentage any political player has received since 2009.

Orbán stated that the central political landscape has collapsed, meaning they can no longer force voters to choose between Fidesz and former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány (and his Democratic Coalition). Therefore, they must win debates on key policy areas such as healthcare and the railway system. The Hungarian PM’s concern is understandable, as Péter Magyar has been able to highlight these issues throughout the summer. Magyar discussed the intolerable conditions doctors face in hospitals without proper air-conditioning, the dire state of the Hungarian State Railways, and the struggles of the Hungarian education system.

Péter Magyar in the European Parliament
Péter Magyar in the European Parliament. Photo: FB/Magyar Péter

Orbán to replace many MPs in 2026

Orbán admitted that Magyar’s party is likely to maintain its public support and will not fade away after a few missteps. He highlighted that the entire Hungarian political landscape has shifted.

Gábor Kubatov, the party director of Fidesz, revealed some additional shocking details about the 2026 elections at an open forum in Balatongyörök. Discussing the next general elections, he spoke of a potential neck-and-neck result. He added that they plan to replace one-third of their candidates in the constituencies because the party leadership is dissatisfied with their performance.

pm viktor orbán azerbaijan Excessive deficit procedure
Photo: Facebook/Orbán Viktor

Orbán was critical of his government’s performance, particularly regarding the slow pace of bureaucracy in accessing available EU funds. As a result, €12 billion remains in Brussels, which could have stimulated the Hungarian economy over the next two years. He suggested that the more money they secure, the better, implying he does not expect further billions from Brussels.

Will the Prime Minister face more criticism over the struggling economy?

He also criticised his former ally, the governor of the Hungarian Central Bank, György Matolcsy. Matolcsy had criticised Orbán and his administration for overspending in 2022 to win the elections and for failing to tackle soaring inflation. Orbán’s political director, Balázs Orbán, condemned Matolcsy. The Hungarian PM stated that they no longer cooperate with Matolcsy, and in March 2025, one of his ministers will take over the central bank. Experts believe this will be Mihály Varga, a long-time ally of the Hungarian prime minister who has been a Fidesz MP since 1990.

We wrote HERE about two alleged strategies, which are not mutually exclusive, that Fidesz might use to secure victory in 2026. The first involves creating constituencies beyond the border for Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin. Given Orbán’s support is over 90% there, this could mean 7-8 or even more seats for him in the next parliament.

The second strategy, as covered by Bloomberg based on unnamed government sources, involves distributing substantial sums of money to voters, as they did in 2022. This approach resulted in Europe’s highest inflation and a halt in the Hungarian economy.

  • HERE is our article about Orbán’s other announcements and promises in Kötcse.

Read also:

  • President of Chad may invite Hungarian troops to his country during Budapest visit – read more HERE
  • Washington Post: Orbán increasingly represents everything the EU opposes

PM Orbán starts his weight-loss journey using a Russian tool to train

Viktor Orbán Russia NATO secret plan PM Orbán

Viktor Orbán’s looking a lot slimmer these days, and people are starting to notice. The Hungarian Prime Minister recently spilled the tea on his fitness routine, showing he’s serious about getting in shape—he even packs his weights when travelling abroad. That’s true dedication!

Orbán’s new lifestyle

Szeretlek Magyarország writes that at a recent picnic in Kötcse, guests couldn’t help but notice the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s weight loss, which sparked widespread curiosity. Orbán later confirmed to Blikk that he’s back on the grind after an 18-month break from a kettlebell injury. Despite this setback, Orbán now trains without a personal trainer, exercising 4-5 times a week using 16 and 24 kg kettlebells. He even takes his weights with him on international trips, demonstrating his commitment to staying fit whenever his schedule allows.

Strict diet to keep in shape

In addition to exercising, Orbán has also adopted a low-calorie diet, though he admits curbing his appetite is a challenge, joking that he could “eat an iron nail.” While he hasn’t revealed how much weight he has shed, he avoids stepping on the scale. The Prime Minister’s workouts revolve around kettlebell exercises, a tool with roots in Russia, originally used by the Soviet army to keep soldiers fit. The kettlebell, an iron ball with a large handle, plays a key role in his fitness routine.

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PM Orbán meets Chad president in Budapest

PM Orbán meets Chad president in Budapest

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the president of Chad, at a working dinner in his office on Sunday evening, his press chief said.

Orbán holds talks with Chad president

Orbán will hold further bilateral talks with the Chadian president who is on a two-day official visit to Hungary, Bertalan Havasi said in a statement.

The topics of their talks include the fight against illegal migration in which Chad is a key country in Africa. Hungary is building cooperation with Chad with a view to the fact that migrants coming from Africa to Europe cannot be stopped without the involvement of countries in the Sahel region, he said.

The sides will also discuss cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and exchange their countries’ experience and knowledge in the area of defence, and possibilities in mutual training and operations.

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Orbán promises to increase wages and family subsidies

Viktor Orbán refugee camp

A draft of a budget for peace-time has been prepared, “we will raise wages and family subsidies”, the prime minister said in a Facebook post on Sunday, after addressing an annual picnic meeting in Kötcse, in southern Hungary, on the previous day.

Orbán’s plan

“We have an action plan. Although it has not been presented or announced yet, we haven’t put it under political work yet, but we usually refer to it as a peace-time budget and it is already in the drawer. This is more or less the case, and if [central bank] Governor [György] Matolcsy doesn’t force us to do so, then we will not have to pull it out ahead of time,” Viktor Orbán said.

The prime minister said that a 3-5 percent economic growth target for 2025 was at the centre of the draft budget. A budget must be drawn up that, in addition to preserving the financial balance – which is necessary because of the credit rating agencies and the entire financial world – is able to produce a 3-5 percent growth, he said.

“This is the basis for everything, and I think we can manage this,” Orbán added.

He said “dynamics” were needed when it came to wages. Employers and employees are in “very dynamic” talks about next year’s wages, Orbán said.

“The government is trying to stay out of this, but apparently unions will agree on a large-scale wage increase with employers, which the government will seal; and obviously they want to involve our money, but this is now beside the point ….but a series of negotiations are taking place at the moment about a significant minimum wage increase for years to come,” Orban said.

The prime minister noted “dynamic” wage increases in some areas, such as health care, adding that the biggest teacher wage increase in the history of Hungary was also taking place, which would continue next year.

He pledged to increase the value of family subsidies, arguing that “high inflation has gobbled up their value”.

“After 2020, when troubles caused by Covid began, we could not increase subsidies at a pace to keep up with the rate of inflation, but this must be compensated now,” he said and added that the tax-credit available to those raising children must be doubled in 2025.

The prime minister said that Márton Nagy, the national economy minister, was making good progress in launching a programme to support small entrepreneurs that was modelled on the one-time Széchenyi Plan.

The core of the scheme Orbán said was that “if you invest one forint, we will match it also with one forint”. “So, a programme aimed at including small and medium size businesses, not big ones, is also in place,” he said, adding that implementing such an economic action plan required “a coordinated economic policy”.

“The more we listen to the governor of the central bank, the more we feel as if we were moving in the opposite direction, but this is only an illusion. We in fact are moving at a proper pace towards a well-coordinated system for managing the country’s economy,” Orbán said.

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President of Chad may invite Hungarian troops to his country during Budapest visit next week

The President of Chad will visit Hungary next week

Based on Szabad Európa’s diplomatic sources, Chad’s President, Mahamat Déby, will visit Budapest next week, as the programme appears in the diplomatic schedule of the two countries. The Chadian President is in Beijing and plans to visit Budapest before returning home. He was due to come in June, but owing to the violent clashes between the army and Islamist groups, he could not.

According to Szabad Európa, plans are about multiple high-level meetings and bilateral agreements covering defence cooperation, Hungarian economic aid, joint fight against international terrorism, halting illegal migration, and strengthening cultural ties.

Signing the defence cooperation would mean that the mission of 200 Hungarian soldiers can start in the unstable Central African country within the framework of a complex support programme.

Gáspár Orbán’s (the Hungarian prime minister’s only son) presence during the negotiations in N’Djamena raised alarms for opposition politicians who want to know what interests the Hungarian soldiers will protect in the country. Some sources said before that the Orbán cabinet would like to gain access to uranium reserves to aid Russian interests, which is why the prime minister sent his son to the country. Others said the Chad mission was Orbán Jr’s idea, and that it would serve the extension of Hungary’s influence in far-away regions to find new business opportunities.

Azbej Tristan, the head of the Hungary Helps Programme, told 24.hu that Captain Orbán was in Chad as an officer of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

Hungary helps Chad
Azbej Tristan said farewell to Chad before. Hungarian soldiers may go to the country now. Photo: FB/Azbej Tristan

Szabad Európa wrote that the French would help Hungarian soldiers since the Hungarian Defence Forces did not have the experience and equipment for such a complex mission.

Opposition politicians fear the entire mission serves only the interests of some government-close business circles.

Official explained why Hungary helps Africa’s Chad

Hungary’s aid to preserve stability in Chad is serving, among other goals, to curb the number of migrants to Europe and to protect Christians, the state secretary for aiding persecuted Christians told public television on Friday.

External help is crucial to preserve stability in central Africa, a region blighted by political instability, desertification, food scarcity and religious persecution, especially that of Christians, Tristan Azbej said. This could lead to tens of millions of migrants leaving the region for Europe, which would have “unforseen consequences” for the continent, he warned.

Chad has an outstanding role as a country that, even though one third of its citizens are in need of humanitarian aid, acccepts the fifth highest number of refugees in the world, Azbej said. That warrants preserving the stability of the current government, he added.

Hungary helps persecuted Christians
Helping persecuted Christians. Photo: FB/Azbej Tristan

The government’s Hungary Helps programme offers help in handling acute crises such as the aftermath of natural disasters, and supports the counts with medical, engineering and agricultural expertise, Azbej, who is also head of the programme, said.

Chad and the neighbouring countries are home to the most migrants in the world, Azbej said. “Whatever happens in the Sahel impacts the future of Africa and Europe. If people living here can see their future in their own country, the migration weighing on Europe may ease … but if the stability of the countries here crumples one by one, we may be facing a general disaster of migration,” he said.

Hungary brings help for the Sahel region
Photo: FB/Azbej Tristan

In the wake of surging Islamist terrorism in the region, the persecution of Christians is also a significant problem, he said. Hungary is supporting the Chad government’s efforts to ensure the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Christians, he added.

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PM Orbán suggested solutions to the EU’s problems

PM Viktor Orbán at the Cernobbio forum

The European Union is a peace project, and there is a war in Europe, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at the 50th Cernobbio Forum in northern Italy on Friday, adding that war and migration are factors to be considered.

Waiting for the emergence of a peace plan acceptable for both parties in the war in Ukraine will not bring peace, Orbán said.

Few wars had been fought without communication between the warring parties, a key factor to ending the war, he said. Communication must be maintained with both countries, he said.

Orbán said brokering peace started with communication and led to a peace plan through a ceasefire.

He also talked about his travels to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and the US over the summer. He said he had started on a “peace mission” to “understand what are the chances of peace”. “And my conclusion was … that there is no intention on either side to have peace. Both leaders said … that time is on their side.”

The next step should be “creating an international context that expresses … that the world wanted a ceasefire as soon as possible,” Orbán said. Without that, it would be extremely difficult to convince the warring parties of moving towards peace, he said.

EU should forget political union

Speaking about Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the EU, Orbán said their priority was restoring the European Union’s competitiveness, adding that “forcing” a political union among member states would only make that goal more difficult.

He called for a review of the European Green Deal, which he said was going against the interests of European companies. The EU has recently imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which German car makers had said went against their interests, he said.

Orbán said red tape should also be cut and the number of bureaucrats and bureaucratic procedures reduced. Investments must be brought back to Europe, rather than having European companies invest in North America or China where the business environment was better, he said.

Orbán called for further strengthening ties in the united European market but “forgetting” a political union. The latter would be a mortal wound to EU competitiveness, he said.

While a political union was a potential “disintegrating factor”, further integrating defence capabilities would be crucial, he said.

War, migration, gender, the biggest challenges, Orbán believes

Orbán said political challenges were not about general European values enshrined in the treaties. The issues of war, migration, gender and a work-based society, however, were re-shaping the European political arena, he said. He cautioned against a political union among states with starkly different views on those matters because that could “disintegrate the European Union”.

Migration was another “disintegrating factor” in the EU, Orbán said, with member states battling various difficulties that couldn’t be handled with a unified approach. Migration should be decided on a national level, by the citizens and leaders of member states, he said.

If the EU forced member states to join forces in issues they disagreed on, that could disintegrate the EU, Orbán said.

Orbán asked why this was necessary and said it was a serious problem that many migrants had been allowed to enter Italy and several other countries, as these countries were now facing difficulties about how they can live together with them.

Orbán said Hungary’s problem was not how to live together with migrants but how not to let them into the country. These were different issues and the two different difficulties could not be handled with the same political tools, he added.

Countries unwilling to follow the EU policy on migration should be allowed to opt out, rather than forcing them to cooperate, risking that the conflicts then would “disintegrate” the bloc, he said.

Disintegration must be stopped

Europe is facing three major challenges, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters ahead of the Cernobbio Forum on Friday.

Peace or war is the first challenge, while competitiveness is second, he said, adding that the Hungarian EU presidency was aiming to set up a new competitiveness pact for the bloc. Without such a document Europe could not compete with the US or China, nor with the West and East, he said. As the third challenge, he mentioned migration. He said the regulations “forced upon us” a year ago “have failed” and insisted that migration could disintegrate the EU unless a new regime is created. The process of disintegration must be stopped, he said, adding, however, that peace must come first.

Orbán said “the Brussels elite” had decided to set up “the same [European] Commission” that had been unable to stop the war, prevent competitiveness from plummeting, and migration. “This is not good,” he said, but added that he trusted that people can change and perform better and expressed his support for the commission. The prime minister added, however, that as a “rational person”, he believed the EU had neglected voters’ desire for change.

Asked about a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, Orbán said the first step was communication followed by a ceasefire and a peace agreement.

Orbán also suggested that saying that the main objective of the European Union is to ensure peace was “a negative thing”, adding he did not believe this was good for the bloc.

Meloni is his “Christian sister”

Answering a question, Orbán noted Azerbaijan’s strategic importance and said Hungary, as rotating president of the EU, supported the bloc striving for closer, strategic ties with that country.

Meanwhile, Orbán said Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni was not only his counterpart but a “Christian sister”, adding that earlier these ties had not had great importance in European politics but a new era was approaching, and it would have a fundamental significance for both Hungary and Italy.

Concerning Italian MEP Ilaria Salis, who had been arrested in Budapest for violent acts, Orbán said that “to come to Hungary … in an organised way and to use violence against citizens who are just walking on the street and then be awarded membership in the European Parliament is a very Italian way”, adding that the case was “an Italian issue”. “The fact is that to beat peaceful citizens on the streets in Hungary is a crime,” he said.

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  • Master plan leaked? New electoral law may make PM Orbán invincible in Hungary and the EU – read more HERE
  • Republicans warn of Hungarian leader Orbán’s influence on Trump and U.S. policy

Bloomberg: Orbán cabinet prepares to unleash monumental pre-election spending despite serious budget imbalance

pm viktor orbán azerbaijan Excessive deficit procedure

The Orbán cabinet will accelerate state spending before the 2026 general elections because that is a way to win again. According to Bloomberg, instead of financial consolidation and budget cuts creating a balanced state budget, the Orbán cabinet plans to pour out a lot of money again. Last time, it resulted in Europe’s highest inflation and an economic backslide. Now, a lot depends on the American presidential elections. Is an economic collapse acceptable for another Orbán victory?

PM Orbán in trouble before the 2026 elections?

The Hungarian government surprised decision-makers by announcing earlier this year that they would not draft the 2025 budget plan before the results of the American elections are announced. Experts raised their eyebrows because such coupling between the USA and Hungary is weird, but we know that the relationship between Trump and Orbán is special. Trump regularly praises the Hungarian prime minister, and Orbán was the first world leader to back Trump in 2016. Probably that is why Politico’s Paul Dallison put Orbán in Trump’s dream team as secretary of state in a satirical column.

Orbán says President Trump will end the war in Ukraine
In July, in Florida. Photo: FB/Orbán

It seems that the 2026 elections will be difficult for PM Orbán, who has been holding the office since 2010 (he also had a term between 1998 and 2002). Based on the latest poll, the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga, Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party have only 0.5 million fewer votes than Orbán’s Fidesz. 42% of the voters promising to participate in the elections would choose Fidesz, while 33% would cast their ballots on Tisza. Never before has the difference between Fidesz and its main challenger been so narrow since 2010. Gyurcsány’s Democratic Coalition would receive 8%, while Our Homeland would get 7%.

Is Orbán preparing to spend a lot to win votes?

Bloomberg wrote yesterday that Orbán wants to introduce budget-shaking spending again to win the 2026 general elections instead of introducing austerity measures that Hungary’s budget badly needs. The media outlet talked with people familiar with the situation. However, Orbán will wait for the American presidential elections with the planned shift and the end-2024 credit rating of the country. Based on the expectations, Hungary will be rated at or near the lowest investment grade.

Shopping Hungary charity inflation multinational companies Aldi
Many Hungarians already go shopping abroad because of the high prices. Photo: Aldi/FB

According to index.hu, the recipe worked in 2022 and brought Orbán his biggest supermajority ever. However, the reimbursement of personal income tax for families raising kids triggered Europe’s highest inflation and an economic backslide. Moreover, the Hungarian National Bank had to increase the base rate to Europe’s highest, 18%, to protect the forint from a possible collapse. The government could not restart the economy despite their multiple attempts.

Critical voices from inside

Bloomberg wrote that the government will increase spending for 1.5 years before the elections extend the country’s budget deficit. PM Orbán supports the idea because he believes that is the only way to win the elections. Not everybody agrees with the prime minister. For example, central bank governor György Matolcsy called the spending before the 2022 elections and not joining the fight to curb inflation serious errors at a conference.

Governor György Matolcsy Hungarian National Bank
Governor of Hungarian Central Bank György Matolcsy. Photo: MTI

In 2024, the government turned to consolidation by postponing lots of developments and cutting back some expenditures. Some measures were controversial. For example, despite the economic hardships, the government bought Budapest Airport for EUR 4.3 billion.

This summer, the prime minister announced the doubling of tax refunds for families raising kids. He also talked about credit programmes for the SME sector and further tax reliefs for people buying property. The Ministry of Finance said such plans do not endanger the budget. Minister Mihály Varga called Bloomberg’s information a 5-star fake news. They added that the deficit will gradually decrease in the following years following this scheme: 4.5% in 2024, 3.7% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2026.

Minister discusses positive outlook for Hungary economy

The outlook for the Hungarian economy is good, with the current moderate economic growth set to accelerate, Finance Minister Mihály Varga said at the closing plenary session of the 62nd Itinerant Conference of Economists in Nyíregyháza (NE Hungary) on Friday.

Discussing the possibilities of the Hungarian economy, the minister noted that the country had to face a series of unexpected challenges during the past four years. Pandemic was followed by war, and the war still continues, he said.

Mr Varga said the outlook for the Hungarian economy was good and since 2010, the weaker long-term output of the economy had been due to external shocks such as the Covid pandemic or the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the growth potential of the Hungarian economy has been steadily increasing since 2010, he said.

This year, the government is taking steps to reduce the budget deficit and the state debt and achieve sustainable economic growth, Mr Varga said. Measures taken this year have increased the fiscal room to manoeuvre by more than HUF 1,000bn, he added. The government is keeping to the deficit target of 4.5% this year and will reduce the deficit to 3.7% next year and 2.9pc in 2026, the finance minister said.

He noted that the financing of 20% of the state debt is now directly held by domestic retail investors and the aim is to raise this to 25pc. The state debt is back on a downward path again and set to reach around 73% by year-end, he added.

All forecasts suggest that Hungary’s economic growth could be around 3.5% next year, above the EU average, Mr Varga said. In addition to stabilised indicators, growth could be supported by stronger consumption, improving foreign trade and persistently high employment. From the government’s side, growth should be supported by fiscal balance and targeted economic programmes.

Among downside risks, the minister named the declining industrial output, the ill health of the German economy and the unpredictability of raw material prices.

Industrial output edges 1.3% lower in July

Output of Hungary’s industrial sector fell 1.3% in July, a first reading of data released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) on Friday shows. Adjusted for the number of workdays — of which there were two more than in the base period — output was down 6.4%. KSH said production volume fell in the automotive segment, in the electrical equipment segment and the computer, electronics and optical equipment segment. Output of the food, drinks and tobacco segment rose.

In a month-on-month comparison, output was unchanged one a seasonally- and workday-adjusted basis. For the period January-July, industrial output declined 3.0% year-on-year. KSH will release detailed data on output of industrial sector branches on September 13.

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Pro-Orbán Roman Catholic priest, a flag-bearer of political Christianity participating in gay parties? – UPDATED

Father Gergő Bese gay parties

Why is it problematic if a Roman Catholic priest is gay, participates in gay parties, or maintains intimate relationships with men? Besides church consequences, such facts should remain part of his private life. However, the case of Father Gergő Bese is different. He is one of the flag-bearers of Orbán’s political Christianity, a strong protector of Fidesz from critics from inside the church, an influencer regularly publishing pro-government writings, a public figure, and it seems a financial beneficiary of the Orbán cabinet. Moreover, he kept slamming the LGBTQ movement, supporting and authenticating the government’s campaign by wearing a cassock. UPDATE: the Archbishop of Kalocsa-Kecskemét suspended Bese today. Details below.

On 29 November 2020, József Szájer, one of the founders of Fidesz and closest allies of PM Orbán, also an MEP of the party, submitted his resignation, entering into effect on 31 December. Nobody knew why one of the party’s strongmen resigned.

However, two days later, the Belgian police announced that they caught him fleeing a private 25-man orgy in violation of local coronavirus regulations. According to a statement by the federal prosecutor’s office, Szájer was seen fleeing via a window and a drainpipe.

PM Orbán said they would not forget and refuse his thirty years of work (e.g. drafting Hungary’s new constitution), but what he did did not fit into the values of Fidesz’s political community. Szájer’s departure was followed by opposition slams concerning the government’s anti-LGBTQ measures and attitude.

szájer fidesz mp scandal
József Szájer. Source: Fidesz.hu

Flag-bearer of political Christianity participating in gay parties?

It seems September may mark another Szájer-case in Hungary. According to Válasz Online, the new case focuses on Father Gergő Bese, the “star priest” of the Orbán regime. The online portal wrote that there were a series of documents proving that Mr Bese participated in gay parties and maintained intimate relationships with other men.

The Apostolic Nunciature to Hungary acknowledged that they learned about the serious allegations concerning Bese and forwarded the relevant documents to the Archbishop of Kalocsa-Kecskemét. Based on Válasz Online, he will decide in days. Mr Bese will be either suspended or expelled from the clergy.

Father Gergő Bese gay parties
Photo: FB/Gergő Bese

In government circles, people compare the scandal to Szájer’s, but say it is much worse. Válasz Online heard about the Bese scandal from four Fidesz-KDNP politicians, confirming that Bese took part in gay parties. Among the proofs, there are video recordings and messages. Additionally, some of the videos are available on gay porn sites. The media outlet sent questions to Bese but has not received an answer yet.

They also reached out to Balázs Bábel, the Archbishop of Kalocsa-Kecskemét, but he did not answer. However, Válasz Online learned he was baffled reading about the scandal. He thought he was in a good relationship with Bese but knew nothing about the clergyman’s double life. He will make his decision in days.

Father Gergő Bese gay parties
The last song as a priest? Photo: FB/Gergő Bese

A public figure slamming Orbán and Fidesz critics

Válasz Online wrote Mr Bese regularly crossed between church and public life. The media outlet said he was a flag-bearer of political Christianity, putting the interests of Fidesz above the Roman Catholic Church. He blessed PM Orbán’s office in Buda Castle’s Carmelite Monastery and the government-close Megafon Centre. He campaigned for the government during the 2022 general elections, writing that those voting for the opposition choose tuition fees in schools, unbearable payments in social institutes and the lockdown of village temples.

Father Gergő Bese gay parties
Gergő Bese in the government-close Hír FM. Photo: FB/Gergő Bese

He slammed Hungarian singer Gabi Tóth because of her divorce and the drag queens performing at the 2024 Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony. Bese wrote about the LGBTQ ideology and its aim to conquer the world and how difficult it was for a kid living in a single-parent family to find an identity. That is when LGBTQ propaganda can find and “change” them, he argued.

He slammed the demonstration of church school teachers, Péter Magyar, whom he called the Judas of Fidesz, accepting the 30 pieces of silver.

Father Gergő Bese gay parties
With Hungarian showman Lagzi Lajcsi. Photo: FB/Gergő Bese

His family received millions

Bese is also a financial beneficiary of the Orbán government. In the last six years, they received HUF 41 million (EUR 101 thousand) from a civil fund supporting almost only the Fidesz-close NGOs. Even though the two NGOs applying are officially led by Bese’s mother and sibling, his email address and phone number were given under the contact details. Apart from the subvention, they received more than HUF 60 million (EUR 152 thousand) through different programmes from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cultural Ministry and the Bethlen Gábor Fund. Moreover, he is renting the Regina Hungarorum in Medjugorje.

UPDATE: Bese suspended

After the publication of Válasz Online’s article, the Archbishop of Kalocsa-Kecskemét issued his official reaction concerning the issue. The brief statement wrote that Dr Balázs Bábel suspended Bese today. Mr Bese has not responded yet to Válasz Online’s questions but his Facebook page and profiles have become unavailable.

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Republicans warn of Hungarian leader Orbán’s influence on Trump and U.S. policy

Orbán says President Trump will end the war in Ukraine Orbán cabinet

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s growing influence in U.S. conservative circles, particularly among allies of former President Donald Trump, is raising alarms among Republican foreign policy experts, according to a piece by Politico.

As the article states, in October 2022, a conference co-sponsored by the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) brought Orbán’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, to the U.S., where he presented a pro-Russian stance on the Ukraine conflict. Attendees, including GOP strategists and policy officials, were handed pamphlets promoting Russian viewpoints, urging the U.S. to scale back aid to Ukraine and pressuring Ukrainian President Zelensky to negotiate for peace.

Orbán’s major influence in the U.S.

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

Orbán’s tactics seem to be filling the void left by Trump’s previous relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unable to maintain an open bond with Putin due to the war in Ukraine, Trump now appears to align with Orbán, who has visited him twice this year. Orbán’s influence is being felt not just through political meetings but through a network of U.S. conservative think tanks, such as The Heritage Foundation, and other initiatives that push Hungary’s geopolitical interests.

The Hungarian PM’s growing presence in U.S. conservative policy circles is not limited to foreign policy. His government’s funding of U.S. think tanks, partnerships with conservative groups, and conferences on topics like migration and religious values, often veer into pro-Russian narratives. These moves worry traditional Republican officials, who view Orbán’s alignment with Russia as a threat to U.S. national security and Western alliances like NATO.

Hungary’s ties with authoritarian regimes

Simultaneously, Orbán’s ties to authoritarian regimes, including both Russia and China, have deepened. China became the largest investor in Hungary in 2023, prompting further scrutiny from U.S. leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who condemned Hungary’s expanding relations with adversarial states.

“The details of China’s growing influence in Budapest should raise red flags,” McConnell said.

The Hungarian government has tried to soften its image by aligning itself with conservative causes in the U.S. However, critics point to the Hungarian leader’s ulterior motives, accusing him of leveraging these alliances to promote his country’s pro-Russian stance. Despite claims from Hungarian officials denying the spread of Russian propaganda, events hosted by U.S. think tanks with Orbán’s backing frequently include discussions on ending military support to Ukraine, pushing a narrative many experts view as aligning with Russian interests.

Orbán’s expanded influence: Danube Institute and Heritage Foundation

Heritage Foundation’s partnership with Hungary’s Danube Institute is one such example of Hungary’s expanded influence. The think tank has reportedly facilitated discussions on reducing U.S. involvement in Ukraine, sparking concerns about foreign interference in GOP policy-making. Trump himself, despite distancing his campaign from specific plans like Heritage’s Project 2025, continues to praise the Hungarian PM, underscoring his importance as a global conservative figure. This relationship has implications for U.S. foreign policy, particularly if Trump returns to the White House in 2025, with Orbán playing a significant role in shaping his worldview.

Ultimately, Orbán’s embrace of Christian conservative values in his messaging serves to endear him to the American right, while his government benefits from significant financial ties to China and Russia. Critics view Orbán as a cunning lobbyist, using his “illiberal” model to advance his geopolitical objectives while undermining Western alliances. As Orbán continues to cultivate his ties within the MAGA movement, many in the GOP foreign policy establishment fear the long-term consequences of this influence on U.S. global standing and security.

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Washington Post: Orbán increasingly represents everything the EU opposes

Orbán european parliament

According to the Washington Post, Viktor Orbán’s policies are weakening the European Union from within. In a critical report on the first few months of Hungary’s presidency of the EU, the paper addresses issues ranging from “troll diplomacy” to Orbán’s visit to Moscow.

“As soon as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán assumed Hungary’s presidency of the European Union in July, one thing was clear: he increasingly stands for everything the EU opposes,” writes The Washington Post in a recent article on the Hungarian EU presidency. The paper examined Orbán’s first two months of the rotating presidency, raising concerns over whether the Hungarian Prime Minister is aligned with or against the European Union’s goals.

EU presidency turning to “troll diplomacy”

“The problem is that Orbán increasingly stands for everything the EU opposes,” The Washington Post writes, citing as an example last year’s national consultation on issues such as migration, LGBTQ+ rights, and support for Ukraine,  At the time, AP News wrote of the national consultation that it struck “a combative tone toward the EU,” accusing it of “trying to force policies on Hungary.”

Péter Krekó of the Center for European Policy Analysis told the WP that the first two months of the Hungarian EU presidency have descended into “troll diplomacy,” with Orbán wanting to “provoke more anger from the leaders of the European Union.” The paper recalls the Prime Minister’s controversial visit to Moscow as part of his “peace mission,” which also included meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

All of this, The Washington Post highlights, occurred despite the fact that China is increasingly regarded as the European Union’s “systemic rival,” and that the EU has “embraced US President Joe Biden after four especially acrimonious years with Donald Trump.”

Putin Orbán Russians washington post
Putin and Orbán meet in Moscow in July. Photo: Viktor Orbán / Facebook

Washington Post: EU leaders displeased with Orbán

In a scathing description of the status quo, the Washington Post writes that

“In the halls of the EU institutions from the parliament to the executive European Commission, every day officials are on the lookout for what Orbán might do next to discredit the bloc until the end of the year.”

One indication of the growing dissatisfaction felt by EU politicians towards the actions of the Hungarian Prime Minister is that the meeting of foreign ministers on Thursday was organised in Brussels rather than Budapest. Furthermore, as the Washington Post points out, some states have already refused to attend other meetings in Hungary, sending lower-ranking bureaucrats instead of ministers.

However, as the decision-making process of the European Union often requires unanimity, “taking tough action is extremely difficult,” giving Hungary significant bargaining power when it comes to contentious issues.

Hungary: middleman between the EU and other states

Despite the often harsh criticism levelled against the European Union by the Orbán government, Hungary has no plans to leave the bloc, the Washington Post adds, quoting Orbán’s statement at a summer camp:  “In Brussels, we are not passive, but we have set up shop there: we are not moving out, but moving in.”

Hungary’s position as an EU member also makes it important to nations like Russia and China. According to the Washington Post, for these states, Hungary provides  “a foot in the door of the massive bloc they would not have if Orbán chose to leave the community he loathes.” Péter Krekó adds “I would absolutely agree that what Orbán does is usually serving the interests of Russia and China, but it serves his own interests as well — Orbán wants to weaken the European Union from within.”

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  • EU foreign ministers to discuss ‘dangerous proposals’, says Orbán cabinet – HERE
  • ‘War psychosis’ still rampant in Brussels, says FM Szijjártó – Read HERE

Von der Leyen recalls 1956 Soviet occupation to send message to Hungarian government

GLOBSEC ursula von der leyen

At this year’s GLOBSEC conference, Ursula von der Leyen addressed leaders from several Central and Eastern European countries, highlighting the importance of the region to the EU, the war in Ukraine, and the Hungarian government’s foreign policy stance.

At the GLOBSEC conference on regional security, Ursula von der Leyen indirectly addressed the Hungarian Prime Minister in her keynote speech with a pointed reference to the 1956 Soviet occupation of Hungary, reports 444.hu. Although the President of the European Commission did not mention Viktor Orbán by name, the intent of her message was unmistakable.

Central and Eastern European states meet in Prague

GLOBSEC is a non-partisan, non-governmental organisation based in Slovakia, which holds the annual GLOBSEC Forum on foreign policy, security, European affairs, and the economy. According to the GLOBSEC Forum’s website, the event is “the convergence point for key figures in politics, business, think tanks, NGOs, international organisations, academia, and innovation,” with the aim to “underscore Central and Eastern Europe’s growing significance in upholding global stability.”

In 2024, the forum is hosted in Prague, where, from 30th August to 1st September, discussions will focus on four key themes: (re)defining the global order, from war to just peace, charting the GeoTech frontier, and Europe’s make-or-break moment, with more than 1,500 participants expected from over 70 countries.

This year’s event was opened by Czech President Petr Pavel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who delivered her first public speech since being re-elected for a second term as Commission President.

GLOBSEC ursula von der leyen
Ursula von der Leyen gives her keynote speech at GLOBSEC 2024.
Photo: PrtSc / European Commission Press release

Von der Leyen: some EU leaders are “muddying the waters of our conversation about Ukraine”

Von der Leyen began her keynote speech by emphasising that “Central Europe is not only geographically at the heart of Europe. It is also politically and strategically central to the future of the European Union.” Highlighting the dynamism of the Czech and Polish economies, she remarked that “when we talk about competitiveness, I think Europe’s West has a lot to learn from Europe’s East.”

Beyond the economy, the region has demonstrated “impressive strength” in response to the war in Ukraine, becoming “the beating heart of European solidarity.” Reflecting on two and a half years of Russia’s invasion, she noted that “Peace cannot be taken for granted. You warned us years ago about Putin’s intentions. Well, we should have listened more closely to Central and Eastern Europe.”

However, von der Leyen continued: “Today, some politicians inside our Union, and even in this part of Europe, are muddying the waters of our conversation about Ukraine.” These politicians blame the war not on “Putin’s lust for power but on Ukraine’s thirst for freedom.” Although she did not name Viktor Orbán directly, her words were clearly directed at the Hungarian Prime Minister. This became even more evident when she posed the question:

“Would you ever blame Hungarians for the Soviet invasion of 1956?”

She went on to state that when the Soviets invaded Hungary, or when they suppressed the Czechs in 1968, “The Kremlin’s behaviour was illegal and atrocious back then. And the Kremlin’s behaviour is illegal and atrocious today.” Von der Leyen concluded that peace is not synonymous with surrender, nor is sovereignty synonymous with occupation. Therefore, politicians who argue “to stop support for Ukraine do not argue for peace. They argue for appeasement and the subjugation of Ukraine.”

Peace, she continued, is not simply the absence of war, but rather*“a settlement that makes war impossible and unnecessary.” Such a peace effort, she argued, should focus on the integration of Ukraine into the EU and a rethinking of Europe’s security architecture, particularly concerning Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and its means of self-defence.

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Hungary to build new Danube bridge with a budget of EUR 1 billion

new danube bridge with huge budget

The Hungarian government has issued a decree to allocate funding for the construction of a new Danube bridge near Mohács and the accompanying road network. According to the decree, the total budget for the project is set at HUF 389.3 billion (approximately EUR 1 billion).

A new Danube bridge with a huge budget

new danube bridge with huge budget
PrtSc: Facebook/Pávkovics Gábor

Most of this huge sum will be spent between 2025 and 2029, while HUF 2 billion (EUR 5.1 million) will be allocated this year, Telex reports. In 2030 and 2031, HUF 100 million (EUR 255 thousand) will be earmarked each year to finalise the project. Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár has been authorised to begin spending the initial HUF 2 billion in 2023. Lázár discussed the bridge during a guest appearance at the Semmelweis Summer University, and a video of his remarks is available online.

Talks about building the Mohács Danube bridge have been ongoing for decades, but only recently has the project reached a stage where it is close to realisation. The project involves three main components:

  1. A new bridge over the Danube River,
  2. A 2×2 lane road connecting the bridge to the M6 motorway to the west,
  3. A 2×1 lane road linking the bridge eastward to Route 51, which will require the construction of a 19-kilometer stretch of new road.

The bridge will include two floodplain viaducts and a river bridge, with a total length of 756 meters. A 2×2 lane road will run across the bridge, with an adjacent bicycle path.

László Szíjj, the 6th richest Hungarian, behind the project

In April, it was announced that business tycoon László Szíjj, linked to the government, would oversee the construction of the bridge. At the time, the net cost was projected to be HUF 294 billion (EUR 749 million), which aligns with the current gross figure of HUF 389 billion. Out of this amount, the state will recover around HUF 100 billion through VAT.

Other construction firms like Strabag and Swietelsky submitted bids for the bridge, offering net proposals of HUF 309.96 billion (EUR 790 million) and HUF 316.03 billion (EUR 805 million), respectively. Last December, Minister Lázár estimated the bridge would cost between HUF 300 and 320 billion (EUR 764 and 815 million).

The plans for the new bridge, its connection to the M6 motorway, and the road network with Route 51 were developed by Speciálterv Építőmérnöki Ltd., under the direction of the National Infrastructure Development Plc. (NIF). According to the company’s website, the steel bridge will cover a total area of 18,000 square meters.

Once completed, the Mohács bridge will be the 21st bridge over the Danube within Hungary’s borders, following the Kalocsa Danube bridge, which is nearing completion and is expected to be inaugurated later this summer.

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Master plan leaked? New electoral law may make PM Orbán invincible in Hungary and the EU

Voting Viktor Orbán 2010 electoral law

The Hungarian government denies all news concerning a fundamental change in Hungary’s electoral law, resulting in 7-10 seats in the Hungarian Parliament for PM Viktor Orbán’s co-ruling Fidesz-KDNP alliance. Meanwhile, some news outlets argue the government is measuring the pros and cons of a relevant modification and regard France’s electoral system as an example. However, they would only take out elements favouring them.

Millions of Hungarians live abroad

The Hungarian electoral system struggles with multiple challenges. First, the constituencies did not follow population changes. The 2011 law allows a maximum of 15% difference in plus or minus from the average. For example, in Pest County, the constituencies are very populous thanks to the migration of the Budapest locals due to the high property prices. Meanwhile, Tolna County has three constituencies, but its number of residents is only enough for two.

As a result, the Hungarian electoral system could be reformed to create a better, more democratic framework. According to Válasz Online, the Hungarian government led by PM Viktor Orbán is up to something more.

There are millions of Hungarians living abroad. Some have Hungarian addresses because they were born in the country but left it, surveys tell prominently due to the low wages to work in the West. They can cast their ballots, but only if they do so at a Hungarian embassy or consulate. In some countries, that is challenging. Thus, many local Hungarians living and working in West Europe or the USA do not vote.

election voting hungarians abroad fidesz electoral law
Photo: depositphotos.com

The case of Hungarians living in the Carpathian basin beyond the borders of Hungary is different. They live in regions formerly part of Hungary. They were born there, retained their national identity, and after a 2010 modification, acquired Hungarian citizenship easier.

They can vote via mail, so the voting process is much easier. For example, a Hungarian born in Szombathely and sharing a Liverpool flat with his mate born in Sepsiszentgyörgy (Transylvania) can vote, provided he travels to one of the Hungarian consulates or embassies in the UK, while his Transylvanian friend can vote via mail. In the 2024 European Parliamentary elections, Péter Magyar’s opposition party beat Fidesz at the embassies and consulates with 50.8%. Meanwhile, Fidesz received less than 20%. The national outcome was 44.8% for Fidesz and 29.6% for Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party.

New electoral law could mean 7-10 mandates for Fidesz

Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians living in the Carpathian basin participated in the 2022 general elections. More than 93% of them chose Orbán and Fidesz. And Hungary’s strongman would rely on them to secure his seat in 2026, Válasz Online argues.

The Hungarian news outlet wrote that based on their informants, Orbán cabinet experts were measuring a modification following the French example. That would mean the creation of at least seven new constituencies beyond the borders because around 70 thousand people elect one MP in Hungary’s 199-seat Parliament, and there are half a million eligible people in the Carpathian basin. Based on Válasz Online, the new system would not mean that Hungarians living or working in Western Europe or the USA could elect MPs to the Hungarian Parliament. The new constituencies would be in the Carpathian basin.

Voting by mail in Kolozsvár
Woman voting in Kolozsvár, Romania. Photo: FB

Péter Magyar, the new leader of the anti-Orbán opposition (previously a high-ranked member of Fidesz and the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga), broke the news about the possible electoral law modification. Since Fidesz has more than 90% abroad and the extra votes not needed for the victory strengthen the party lists, we can say that such a new system could give more than seven more parliamentary seats to Orbán’s Fidesz. If the number of parliament members did not change, such a modification would make a victory over Fidesz more difficult in 2026. Ákos Hadházy, a prominent member and an MP of the Hungarian opposition, talked about a plan of 7+2 constituencies in Transylvania and Serbia.

The government denies

Mátyás Bódi, an expert of Választási Földrajz (Electoral geography), told RTL Klub that the co-ruling Fidesz-KDNP could secure even ten mandates for the next parliamentary period and even a weaker result could gain a supermajority for Orbán.

The Justice Ministry denied that they were mulling over the creation of new constituencies abroad. They called it a gossip.

Válasz Online added that all changes in the Hungarian electoral law concerning parliamentary or municipal elections favoured Fidesz between 2010 and 2024.

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Featured image: Viktor Orbán casting his ballot in 2010.

Spain blocks Hungarian Talgo train factory deal over Orbán’s Russia ties

talgo train spain railway company

Hungary’s Ganz-MaVag consortium made a generous offer to acquire 100% of the shares of the Spanish train manufacturer Talgo. However, from the start, the Spanish government opposed the deal, citing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s pro-Russian policies. Eventually, Spain successfully prevented the transaction, leaving Hungary reliant on outdated, 20–30-year-old Western European train carriages.

Generous offer derailed by political concerns

Months ago, Ganz-MaVag submitted an official bid for Talgo’s shares, but even before the formal offer, rumours circulated that Spain would block the purchase due to concerns over Orbán’s close ties to Russia. Spanish authorities had made it clear that such a deal was not on the table.

talgo train spain railway company
Photo: depositphotos.com

The decision-making process was drawn out. The Foreign Investment Council, part of Spain’s Ministry of Economy, delayed the anticipated July decision until 27 August, when it was finally confirmed that the sale would not go through, as reported by Portfolio.

Spain’s economic ministry issued a statement explaining that the cabinet agreed to reject the foreign direct investment from Ganz-MaVag in Talgo due to national security and public order risks identified during the investigation. Talgo holds access to sensitive information, which heightened the concerns.

National security fears lead to final rejection

Back in March, Ganz-MaVag had placed a bid of EUR 619 million for Talgo, which was valued at EUR 590 million at the time—a notably generous offer. Despite this, Spanish Prime Minister Óscar Puente strongly opposed the sale, citing Hungary’s close ties with Russia, and vowed to block the deal.

Spain followed through on this promise, consistently extending deadlines to give other potential buyers time to make offers. Companies such as Switzerland’s Stadler Rail and the Czech Republic’s Škoda were considered. Meanwhile, the Spanish government also repeatedly requested additional documents from the Hungarian consortium, further stalling the process.

Hungary’s railway situation remains precarious. According to János Lázár, Hungary’s Minister of Transport and Construction, acquiring Talgo would have provided valuable knowledge for producing new, domestically-made train carriages. Instead, Hungary now faces a 4-year wait for new carriages and, as an interim solution, plans to purchase decommissioned 20–30-year-old Western European train cars.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Budapest Marriott Hotel up for sale, Orbán’s son-in-law’s company among potential buyers

budapest marriott hotel

The Budapest Marriott Hotel, owned by a Czech group, has recently been put on the market. It has also been revealed that one of the leading contenders for its purchase is the BDPST Group, a company tied to István Tiborcz, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s son-in-law.

Budapest Marriott Hotel up for sale

budapest marriott hotel
Budapest Marriott Hotel. Photo: MTVA/Bizományosi: Róka László

According to a report from Telex, the Marriott hotel, which is owned by the Czech CPI Group, is now for sale. The media outlet also identified a potential buyer: BDPST Group, the firm associated with Tiborcz.

Both parties were contacted for comments, but neither provided substantial responses. However, the sales process is said to be ongoing, with prospective buyers expected to submit their offers in September.

Experts have noted that the current real estate market is not particularly favourable, meaning there may be fewer interested buyers. Despite this, BDPST Group could still see the acquisition of the luxury hotel as a strategic move. The group already purchased another iconic hotel in the capital, the Gellért Hotel, at the end of last year. After extensive renovations to enhance its value, the Gellért is expected to reopen in 2027.

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BREAKING – Drunken Orbán’s Fidesz MEP hits a woman

Orbán's Fidesz MEP hit a woman

In a shocking turn of events, Balázs Győrffy, a high-profile MEP from Orbán’s Fidesz party and member of the Patriots for Europe, has abruptly resigned after admitting to an outrageous act of violence. In a bombshell Facebook post at 10:24 am, Győrffy confessed to assaulting a woman while heavily intoxicated.

Drunken Fidesz MEP assaults a woman

Mr Győrffy’s late-night brawl has sent shockwaves through the country. In his admission, Győrffy revealed he was involved in a heated altercation that spiralled into physical violence. Astonishingly, he claimed he was so drunk that he could barely recall the incident.

However, he owned up to his appalling behaviour, branding it “unacceptable” and begged for forgiveness from the victim, his family, and his Fidesz party colleagues.

“What I did is unacceptable and I am beyond sorry… I am stepping down from all my roles in public life, including my seat in the European Parliament and as President of the National Chamber of Agriculture,” Győrffy announced. In a final blow, he also declared his exit from Fidesz altogether.

Fidesz MEP Balázs Győrffy
Photo: FB/Balázs Győrffy

Surprisingly, comments on Győrffy’s post remain active, fuelling a frenzy of reactions. Some users have pointed fingers at similar scandals involving opposition figures, while others are hailing Győrffy’s resignation as an “honourable” move, despite the horror of his actions.

But the real drama kicked off when Fidesz swiftly fired back, releasing a heated statement just two minutes after Győrffy’s confession went live.

Fidesz-close influencers ditch Győrffy, slams Péter Magyar

Fidesz’s statement read: “The party has clear principles and values; those who breach them can no longer remain part of our community.” The post continued: “There is no excuse for Győrffy’s conduct. Anyone behaving in such an unacceptable manner must leave immediately. We will not tolerate violence, especially against women.”

Fidesz MEP Balázs Győrffy and the Hungarians' Bread
Balázs Győrffy (l) and the Bread of the Hungarians. Photo: FB/Balázs Győrffy

Leading Fidesz supporters, including Dániel Bohár, Bence Apáti, and Kristóf Trombitás, also criticised Győrffy, but they didn’t stop there. In an explosive twist, they turned their ire towards Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party in a series of attacks, reported index.hu.

This controversy comes in the wake of the bitter campaign before the 9 June European Parliamentary and municipal elections. During the lead-up, Fidesz and its media allies bombarded Péter Magyar with serious allegations of physical and emotional abuse against his ex-wife, Judit Varga, Hungary’s former Justice Minister. Despite his denials, Magyar’s Tisza Party stunned the political establishment by emerging as Hungary’s top opposition force, securing nearly 30% of the vote.

Wild party near Chain Bridge ends in brawl involving drunken former MEP

A raucous night in Budapest, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Chain Bridge, turned ugly when a former Fidesz MEP allegedly sparked a brawl, according to reports from the Hungarian tabloid Blikk. The Central Chief Prosecution Office of Investigation (KNYF) launched an investigation against the former Fidesz MEP for vandalism and aggravated assault.

The former MEP, identified as Győrffy, was reportedly heavily intoxicated when the altercation broke out. According to Blikk, the politician made a rude remark towards a young woman at the party, which prompted a furious reaction from her friends, followed by a physical confrontation, forcing the police to intervene. One of the partying youngsters was left with severe injuries, necessitating the arrival of an ambulance at the chaotic scene.

When approached for comment, the KNYF declined to answer Blikk’s questions regarding the incident.

Read also:

  • Romanian predator brutally battered 20-year-old Hungarian girl to death – read more HERE
  • Former wife and justice minister accuses Péter Magyar of ‘blackmail, terrorising – details in THIS article