Six months ago, many questioned whether Hungary could fulfil the role of ‘honest broker’ required for the EU Presidency. Now, as the semester concludes, it is evident that Budapest has delivered one of the most successful and memorable presidencies in the history of the European Union.
‘No, Mr Pressman, you never truly believed that Hungary matters. What you and President Biden thought was that ousting Viktor Orbán’s government mattered—to impose a progressive globalist agenda on one of the few European countries that prioritizes its own interests and sovereignty. And ultimately, you failed.’
After rejecting his Christmas ceasefire proposal, Volodymyr Zelenskyy harshly criticized Viktor Orbán for his mediation efforts between Kyiv and Moscow. The Hungarian prime minister responded firmly: ‘We won’t respond to any provocation.’
The European Commission remains dissatisfied with Hungary’s legal amendments and continues to exclude Hungarian students and researchers from Erasmus+ and Horizon programmes. Hungary’s Minister for Culture and Innovation condemned the decision, while six universities have filed legal action against Brussels, alleging discrimination.
‘Because this process will be so difficult, the sad but unavoidable truth may be that if Ukraine takes part in the talks from the start, progress towards a settlement will become completely impossible,’ British journalist and author Anatol Lieven writes in his recent opinion piece published on Foreign Policy.
In the span of just two weeks, both the German and French parliaments have withdrawn their confidence in their respective governments. These developments signal a profound crisis among the mainstream liberal-progressive forces in the West, which are striving to prevent anti-establishment parties from gaining power. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that they cannot hold off this shift for much longer.
Donald Trump’s pick for national security advisor, Mike Waltz, stated in a recent interview that the President-elect’s team will take a hard look at Viktor Orbán’s Christmas ceasefire proposal. Last week the Hungarian prime minister concluded his second peace mission in six months, presenting a truce initiative and a large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.
‘We knew that if Donald Trump won the US presidential election, the most influential man in Europe—the politician whose phone calls would be answered by Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping—would be Viktor Orbán,’ Ciprian Rus, senator of the progressive Save Romania Union highlighted in a recent interview.
Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė was disqualified from the Super Worlds 2024 – Functional Fitness Championships in Budapest for wearing a shirt mocking Russia. Her case has reignited the debate over whether politics should have a place in the world of sports.
A bomb threat was received by the Hungarian Embassy in Paris via email, Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó reported on his social media page on Saturday. While few details about the incident have been disclosed, initial indications suggest it may have been motivated by attempts to obstruct Hungary’s peace efforts in Ukraine.
The Hungarian–Turkish Cultural Season has concluded with a prestigious gala concert held in Ankara, Türkiye, on 12 December. The season commemorated the 100th anniversary of Hungarian–Turkish diplomatic relations and featured more than 150 cultural, culinary, and scientific programmes.
Vladimir Putin has reportedly endorsed the Christmas ceasefire proposal by Viktor Orbán. Reflecting on the peace mission and Hungary’s EU Presidency, the Hungarian prime minister stated: ‘We have opened the door, and meaningful negotiations can now begin.’
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia as a conclusion to Hungary’s EU Presidency. However, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the proposal outright, stating: ‘There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine.’
After meeting President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss prospects for peace in Ukraine. Orbán also travelled to Türkiye to engage in talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with peace efforts as a central topic of discussion.
‘In the world of Salis and her associates, you can go to Hungary, and commit any crime you want, if you later pretend to be an anti-fascist in order to ask for immunity,’ Italian newspaper Il Giornale writes in a recent piece. Ilaria Salis and her comrades attacked and seriously injured innocent people in Budapest in 2023, yet they have not been held accountable for their crimes.
The meeting between President-elect Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán holds significant importance for strengthening Hungarian-American relations. Yet, a key aspect of the talks has been largely overlooked by much of the press: the future of Hungarian–American space technology cooperation.
The Hungarian Constitution Protection Office has initiated a national security investigation into the opposition news portal Magyar Hang and opposition leader Péter Magyar over their dissemination of a false news story alleging that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was staying in Hungary after he fled Syria.
‘When a candidate disfavoured by the progressive mainstream achieves electoral success within the Western sphere of influence—be it in the EU or the South Caucasus—the media empire and NGO networks closely tied to this elite immediately cry electoral fraud. However, it is unprecedented for a democratic election to be annulled on such grounds. This makes the developments in Romania particularly significant, as they could establish a troubling precedent.’
Syrian insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus, ending Bashar al-Assad’s rule. As the Syrian president fled the country, Hungarian opposition media outlet Magyar Hang claimed his plane landed in Budapest. The outlandish allegation was swiftly denied by Budapest Airport and the government, with even the news website later admitting that the claim was baseless.
‘It is evident that the international network—of which Direkt36 and De Tijd are integral part of—consistently criticizing the Hungarian government, is essentially accusing the Intelligence Office (IO) of doing its job, however absurd it seems. The true aim of the Brussels-led agencies has long been not to uncover the truth, but to weaken the Hungarian government and ultimately bring it down.’
In his regular Friday morning radio interview, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed Hungary’s foreign policy and economic priorities. Orbán underscored that without the involvement of the Biden administration, there would be no war in the EU’s neighborhood. He also praised the peace-promoting efforts of Pope Francis, whom he met this week during a visit to Vatican City.
On Wednesday, after barely three months in power, the French National Assembly voted no confidence in the government of Michel Barnier, toppling it—a scenario not seen since 1962. What is certain is that the largest EU member state will face months of political paralysis, but it remains unclear who will ultimately benefit. If an early presidential election were to occur, Marine Le Pen would likely emerge as the fortunate beneficiary.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó met with Donald Trump’s pick for National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday (PST). The discussion centred on promoting peace in Ukraine, on which Hungary and the incoming Trump administration share a common stance.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on an official visit on 4 December, Wednesday. The two leaders discussed the achievements of Hungary’s EU Presidency, bilateral relations, and the challenges currently facing the European Union.
Former European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders is under investigation by Belgian police for money laundering. Over the past five years, Reynders has been a leading figure in the EU’s efforts to uphold the rule of law and combat corruption. He also played a key role in the decision to withhold EU funds due to Hungary.
Despite pervasive attacks from progressive networks and opposition media Balázs Orbán has successfully defended his doctoral thesis. The events surrounding the Hungarian prime minister’s political director highlight a networked effort aimed at marginalizing those who challenge progressive leftist ideologies in academia.
Alex Consani, 21, has made history by winning this year’s Model of the Year Award, becoming the first transgender individual to do so. While her victory is celebrated as a milestone for inclusivity by progressives, many regard it as yet another instance of men stealing opportunities from women.
Following their historic success in Sunday’s Romanian parliamentary elections, Hunor Kelemen, President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, expressed optimism about the party’s chances of joining the next Romanian government. This marks a significant step in ensuring strong representation for Hungarians in Romania.
The Advent Basilica, located in front of St Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, has achieved unprecedented international acclaim, being named the ‘Best European Christmas Market of All Time’ by the European Best Destinations travel portal. This marks the first and only time in the competition’s 15-year history that an event has received this prestigious title.
Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas: if all hostages are not released by 20 January, they will face consequences unprecedented in American history. During his first term, Trump’s peace through strength diplomacy proved highly effective, and there is every indication that he will continue to achieve significant foreign policy successes as President.