The leaders of the EU Member States will convene in Budapest on Friday for an informal European Council meeting. While not much is known about the agenda, Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election is likely to significantly influence the mood and the priorities of the discussion.

The campaign leading up to the 2024 US presidential election is one of the most memorable, intense, and bizarre ones in modern history. In this article, we have compiled the most significant moments from the past few months.

‘Weber wields extreme power, and despite his preaching about EU values and lecturing others at every opportunity, he manages the group like a dictator,’ an anonymous source told European Conservative. The corruption scandal surrounding EPP President Manfred Weber is intensifying, with an increasing number of loyalists to the German politician becoming involved.

This week, the largest diplomatic event in Hungary’s history, the European Political Community (EPC) Summit, takes place in Budapest. The meeting will be unusual in several respects: the leaders of the states are convening just two days after the US presidential election, which could significantly influence the focus of the issues discussed.

‘The Hungarian government is open to both the East and the West. They do not adopt a political stance, which is commendable; it allows them to maintain open and honest relations with everyone and even forge friendships with all,’ Dubai billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor highlighted in a recent interview with ATV. He also discussed potential investments in Hungary.

‘The significance of All Saints’ Day extends beyond the flickering candle flames in cemeteries; it is a time for reflection—reflecting on our lives and remembering not only our departed loved ones but also the saints whom we may overlook at other times. It is an opportunity to seek their guidance during periods of trial and challenge, which is extremely important in our times.’

The atmosphere surrounding Viktor Orbán’s visit to Georgia remains charged, with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson accusing the Hungarian Prime Minister of being pro-Russian. In response to this statement, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has summoned Sweden’s ambassador in Budapest.

While the European People’s Party, led by Manfred Weber and Ursula von der Leyen, is conducting an unprecedented smear campaign against Hungary—centred around allegations of corruption—the number of corruption cases linked to the political group continues to grow. Most recently, Weber’s chief of staff has been placed under investigation by Belgian and EU authorities.

Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Monday. The two leaders praised the improving relations between their countries in recent years, which encompass not only infrastructure and energy projects but also people-to-people exchanges.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Georgia has sparked criticism from European Union leaders, who do not recognize the results of the weekend’s elections in the South Caucasus state. During his visit Orbán underlined his support for Georgia’s European integration and the deepening of bilateral relations.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday evening in Paris, where the two leaders will discuss important issues concerning the future of the EU. The meeting serves as another rebuttal to EPP Leader Manfred Weber’s false claim regarding Hungary’s isolation in the European political arena.

‘The EU’s entire cooperation is being undermined by its flawed migration policy, and the migration pact must be scrapped,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized after meeting with Slovak PM Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Tuesday. The leaders’ discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation to address the challenge of illegal migration.

‘We want to learn how Hungary changed its values system, making people realize that having children is not only good but a fulfilling and joyful part of life. We’re ready and willing to learn from you,’ founding Chairman of the Korean–Hungarian Friendship Association Jae Hun Ro stressed in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.

The Israeli Defense Forces have killed the last surviving senior Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, in a firefight. While this is a significant step forward for Israel in its war against the terrorist organization, it is far from the end of the conflict, as both Israeli and Palestinian reactions have indicated.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the European Council for nothing less than nuclear weapons or a NATO membership. The Ukrainian president presented his five-point ‘victory plan’ to EU leaders on Thursday, which is more of a wish list than an actual plan. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called it a ‘lose-lose situation’ and firmly stated that Hungary will not participate in it.

‘When it comes to family policy, I know that many Canadian conservatives view Hungary as a leader, particularly in its various incentive programmes and structures that place families at the centre of government policy,’ senior Canadian conservative advisor Samuel Duncan highlighted in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.

The Patriots for Europe EP group held their first summit on Thursday in Brussels. The meeting was attended by all the leaders of the PfE parties and took place ahead of the European Council summit scheduled to discuss the war in Ukraine, migration, as well as key economic policies, all of which Hungary differs on with most member states.

‘Scholz’s statement is the first ray of light piercing the fog of war that has shrouded Europe for the past two years. It could be downplayed, but Germany remains one of the EU’s most influential member states, and Berlin’s wright is undeniable, despite its current economic challenges. The experience of recent years shows that what Germany pushes for in the EU often becomes reality sooner or later.’

Deputy General-Director of the World Trade Organization Zhang Xiangchen praised the Hungarian strategy of economic neutrality, stating that it is the way forward. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó highlighted that the Hungarian government is fully committed to the implementation of the strategy.

‘In this temple of political spectacle and exaggerated posturing, he [Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary] demonstrated, over the course of three hours, that among the spoiled children, there was only one adult in the room,’ Rodrigo Ballester writes in an opinion piece published by Brussels Signal on Viktor Orbán’s ‘debate’ at the European Parliament last week.

The Council of the EU adopted a declaration on promoting Jewish life and combating antisemitism during Hungary’s EU Presidency while the country being one of the safest in the EU for Jewish community.

Beside the boosting of the European Union’s competitiveness, fighting climate change is also a key priority of the Hungarian EU Presidency. According to State Secretary Miklós Dukai water management plays a central role in building a sustainable future, where every small step and piece of knowledge gained are of crucial importance.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has claimed that an assassination attempt is being planned against Viktor Orbán due to his pro-peace stance regarding Ukraine. If true, it would not be surprising, as it would align with the pattern of assassination attempts targeting pro-peace leaders, beginning with Robert Fico in May and continuing with Donald Trump.

The Russian news agency RIA Novosti distorted Péter Szijjártó’s remarks about NATO’s role in the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, making it appear as though the Hungarian foreign minister blamed NATO for the conflict. The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly rejects these misrepresentations.

in a Friday radio interview Viktor Orbán announced a new economic stimulus programme, centred around three key measures: providing affordable housing, increasing wages, and supporting small businesses. The Hungarian prime minister underlined that Hungary cannot rely on Brussels to help the EU overcome the competitiveness trap; thus, the country must concentrate on its own priorities.

Hungarian universities have improved their positions in this year’s Times Higher Education World University Rankings. According to State Secretary Veronika Varga-Bajusz, the model change has enhanced the competitiveness of Hungarian institutions, enabling them to achieve better international results.

‘How many times has the US ambassador intervened in Hungary’s internal affairs through statements, social media posts, or other means? The figure is likely well over eleven. And how many times has the US President or Vice President labelled Hungary’s democratically elected prime minister a dictator? The answer is twice—which is two times more than it should ever be.’

Unfortunately, Wednesday’s debate in the European Parliament devolved into a political mud-slinging session, driven by Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of the EP political groups, rather than a reasoned discussion. In response, Viktor Orbán countered the propagandistic fake news and slander from the mainstream left with facts, effectively putting Hungary’s critics in their place.

Kamala Harris, known for struggling in unscripted appearances, recently labelled Viktor Orbán, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping as dictators and murderers on a late-night show. This extreme rhetoric is unfortunately common among Democrats, with Joe Biden previously making similar remarks about the Hungarian Prime Minister.

The number of antisemitic incidents perpetrated by pro-Palestinian mobs in Western countries did not decrease on the anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack—in fact, the hatred only intensified. A video showing a pro-Israel demonstrator being assaulted by an enraged pro-Hamas mob is rapidly spreading across the internet. In contrast, Hungary remains an island of peace and security for the Jewish community, as evidenced by Monday’s commemorations.