Leading the polls for more than a year until just one month before the election, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party ultimately lost Monday’s snap election in Canada. The Liberals, led by Mark Carney, will form a government for the fourth consecutive time after an election largely shaped by US President Donald Trump.
A recently passed law now requires Members of the European Parliament to submit asset declarations in Hungary, in addition to those already required in Brussels. The legislation aims to promote transparency—a mechanism that, as recent corruption scandals have shown, is in poor condition within the European Union.
Donald Trump has now been in office for 100 days—an important milestone in any presidency. As a close ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Hungary had high expectations of the Trump administration. But what has actually materialized? In this article, we take a closer look at the first 100 days of Trump’s second term through the lens of Hungary.
After Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, articles and social media posts about Donald Trump wearing a blue suit flooded the internet, accusing the US president of intentionally breaching protocol and disrespecting the late pope by not wearing black. The wave of outrage was triggered by Fortune, which deliberately misled the audience with a manipulated cover photo and a suspicious headline.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced another temporary ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, this time to mark Victory Day—the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. The truce will last for three days, from 8 May until midnight on 11 May.
Speaking at the Trump Business 2025 Forum, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization Donald Trump Jr praised Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for defending Western civilization and serving the country’s national interests. The eldest son of US President Donald Trump also hinted at possible future US investments and cooperation in key sectors.
The Sarajevo court could bring new charges against Republika Srpska officials following a failed arrest attempt by a federal agency on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Wednesday. Federal authorities attempted to detain the president in the eastern part of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina; however, Bosnian Serb police prevented the operation.
Director General of the Center for Fundamental Rights Miklós Szánthó announced the establishment of the Hungarian–Polish Institute of Freedom on Friday. The institute, led by politically persecuted former Polish Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Romanowski, will focus on drawing attention to and providing transparency on how Donald Tusk’s government is dismantling the rule of law and democracy in Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Orbán had a special relationship with the late pope, having met him on several occasions, most recently last December during his second peace mission to help end the war in Ukraine.
Polish PM Donald Tusk has been caught spreading disinformation on X, misleadingly portraying a recent speech by Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán as evidence that he is contemplating Hungary’s exit from the European Union. In doing so, Tusk appeared to be attempting to discredit the right-wing opposition PiS party—which maintains close ties with Orbán—just weeks ahead of the presidential election in May.
‘We are looking for companies capable of manufacturing humanoid robots,’ Hungarian Government Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence László Palkovics stated in an interview with Index. He recently visited Israel, where he met with many firms in the technology sector—meetings that, he said, could lead to partnerships elevating Hungary into the elite ranks of high-tech production.
The Democratic Party of Korea is reportedly exploring ways to incorporate incentives similar to the Hungarian approach on family policy into its finalized policy package ahead of the presidential elections in June. South Korea is among the countries most severely affected by demographic decline—a crisis already having negative impacts across multiple sectors.
Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, is reportedly travelling to Hungary to kick off a regional business trip. The Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization is scheduled to meet Gellért Jászai of Hungarian telecommunications giant 4iG on Friday.
Penalties related to Hungary’s dispute with the European Commission over migration policy exceeded €500 million by mid-April. Following a verdict by the European Court of Justice, Hungary is obliged to pay €1 million per day—among other fines—until it implements legislation in compliance with EU law.
Interpol has refused to issue a red notice for former Polish Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Romanowski, who is currently residing in Hungary after being granted political asylum in December 2024. The decision signals that the organization may view the prosecution against Romanowski as politically motivated.
The draft family policy framework of US President Donald Trump’s administration has recently circulated in the media, with a $5,000 incentive for mothers—dubbed the ‘baby bonus’—stealing the spotlight. However, behind this lies a far more extensive and multi-layered approach, incorporating initiatives inspired by Hungary’s world-renowned and successful family policy model.
US President Donald Trump was among the first world leaders to announce that he will attend the funeral of the late Pope Francis on Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, will not be present, and despite his close relationship with the pontiff, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will also skip the ceremony.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed the risks posed by Ukraine’s EU membership to Europe with President of the Austrian National Council Walter Rosenkranz during their meeting in Budapest. During his visit, Rosenkranz also met with Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly László Kövér, highlighting the close ties between the two countries’ legislatures.
‘Certain forces, possibly linked to Brussels, might attempt to interfere with the democratic voice of the Polish nation,’ warned Law and Justice (PiS) lawmaker Janusz Kowalski in an interview with Hungarian Conservative. In the conversation, Kowalski discussed the prospects ahead of the upcoming presidential election in Poland and also addressed the current state of Polish–Hungarian relations.
Pope Francis died on 21 April, Easter Monday, following a worsening condition due to serious respiratory illnesses in recent years. As the sede vacante period begins, the College of Cardinals is set to elect his successor, with Cardinal Péter Erdő reportedly among the possible candidates.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a temporary ceasefire in the war in Ukraine on 19 April, halting hostilities from 6 pm on Saturday until midnight on Monday. The move—met with scepticism in Kyiv—came as US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with stalled peace talks and signalled that Washington could walk away from mediating between Kyiv and Moscow.
Just as before the 2022 parliamentary elections, the European Parliament’s rule of law mission visited Hungary this week. However, there are some crucial differences this time: not a single right-wing political group is represented in Tineke Strik’s delegation, and opposition leader Péter Magyar and his party are now openly and admittedly working against the interests of the Hungarian people.
Just two days after calling for the criminalisation of disinformation, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar posted a manipulated video of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, attempting to smear him over his stance on Ukraine’s EU membership. It is yet another example of Magyar’s troubled relationship with the truth—one that has surfaced repeatedly, despite his still-nascent political career.
‘The normalization of the targeting of Israel leads to the normalization of the targeting of Jews,’ State Secretary Péter Sztáray warned during a commemoration held on Holocaust Memorial Day. Between 1941 and 1945, approximately 564,000 Hungarian Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, representing more than two-thirds of the country’s Jewish community at the time.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that he will travel to Moscow to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade, defying a warning from the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. Fico criticized the former Estonian prime minister’s statement, asserting that Slovakia is a sovereign country and will make decisions accordingly.
‘I believe we are entering a period—certainly by this time next year—when the choice between China and the United States will be on the table. And I do think Hungary will ultimately have to choose,’ Director of the American Military Project at The Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life argued in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.
Antal Rogán, Chief of Staff to the Hungarian Prime Minister, has been removed from the US sanctions list, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced. The senior government official had been placed under Magnitsky sanctions in January—a move widely regarded as the revenge of former US Ambassador David Pressman.
‘US policy towards Central Europe is grounded in realism, respect, and renewed engagement,’ US Chargé d’Affaires Robert Palladino emphasized, speaking on US–Central European relations at the Central European Summit, jointly organized by the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation and the Centre for Fundamental Rights in Budapest.
Over the weekend both pro-government and opposition rallies were held across Hungary’s capital, Budapest. The demonstrations sent a clear message: both sides are preparing for next year’s election with full force, lending the 2026 parliamentary contest a level of significance not witnessed in Hungary’s political history for quite some time—and demonstrating that the country’s democracy is very much alive.
After 75 years, Japan is once again hosting the world for six months, as Expo 2025 Osaka opened its gates to visitors over the weekend. The Hungarian Pavilion, inaugurated by Minister for National Economy Márton Nagy on Sunday, offers a deep dive into Hungarian culture and innovation, with the potential to give a significant boost to the country’s growing tourism sector.