Hungarian Conservative

Securing a spot in the 2024 UEFA European Championship marks a historic achievement for the Hungarian national football team, as it is the first time since the memorable 1985 campaign that they have qualified for a major tournament without the need for playoffs.

Katalin Novák reminded that in the last 30 years, the population of Hungary has decreased by more than 700,000, and the ethnic Hungarian population of the neighbouring countries has also significantly diminished. However, she said, that decline is not something that cannot be stopped. ‘Let the Carpathian Basin be the source of passing on life,’ she declared.

On the basis of the ten-point proposal developed by the Ministry of Economic Development, the Hungarian government is launching a 2.9 billion forint Automotive Supplier Development Programme to enhance the role of Hungarian businesses as suppliers of multinationals in Hungary.

The festival’s highlighted theme is the world of historical comics. Enthusiasts can hear from renowned experts and practitioners in a roundtable discussion about the depiction of past events in comic panels. Attendees can get a glimpse into the world of French historical comics, engage in exciting discussions about the symbolism of swords in mythology and comics.

Speaking at the MEDays Forum international conference, the Hungarian foreign minister stressed that as a result of mistaken immigration policies, parallel societies have emerged in Western Europe. He remarked that what Europeans are seeing is ‘loud minorities exerting pressure on those who have lived there for centuries…and the threat of terrorism intensifying’.

The rise in reported incident numbers does not necessarily indicate a real increase in the number of attacks, as more cases come to light partly due to regulatory reporting obligations, it was revealed in the organization’s annual report.

Alongside the distribution of laptops that started last year, more than 4,000 locations have been equipped with wireless internet access, and with a budget of 10 billion forints, the electrical networks of the relevant institutions have been renovated.

One of the star players of the Israeli national team brought with him the boot of a kidnapped football player, which he showed reporters at the press conference in Felcsút.

If the draft law is adopted, guest workers in Hungary will be employable only under the strictest rules, and foreigners will be allowed to work in Hungary only if no Hungarian workers are available for the vacancies they seek to fill.

Hungary’s economy expanded by 0.9 per cent in the third quarter of this year compared with the previous quarter, adjusted data show, and contracted by 0.4 per cent year on year, based on unadjusted data, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Tuesday.

The government aims to have the closest possible ties with the motherlands of Hungary’s ethnic communities, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén said, adding that even when there are disagreements, they must not have any negative consequences for national minority groups.

During a joint press conference with Alexey Likhachev, the head of the Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom, Péter Szijjártó welcomed the start of the construction of new reactors in Paks. He pointed out that the expansion is currently the largest nuclear project on the continent with a construction permit.

The objective of the exercise is to test the military’s readiness for and response to an imagined situation threatening Hungary’s security. Another goal is to test the capabilities of the civilian public administration when it comes to troop movements and logistics, the Hungarian Defence Minister noted.

According to the PM, while ‘lost sovereignty was in the focus of the last century’, Hungary regained its sovereignty at the end of the 20th century, so ‘this decade is about retaining that sovereignty’. The lesson that can be learned from the dissolution of the Socialist bloc and of the Soviet Union, Viktor Orbán suggested, is that ‘it is worth being radical, recalling the activism and courage of the system-changing Fidesz politicians.

Following an accident on Friday, where two actors were injured, the director of the National Theatre officially resigned. However, Minister of Culture János Csák did not accept the resignation, and stated that Vidnyánszky will carry on with his duties as director until the investigation into the accident is closed.

On Saturday, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations Sebastian Coe planted the first sapling for a legacy forest of 2023 trees in Budapest’s Újpest district in the company of Gábor Schmidt, the Deputy State Secretary responsible for sports management and development, and Gábor Reinitz, the CEO of Pilisi Parkerdő forest manager.

The charity event was organized by the Bread of Hungarians Foundation, the National Chamber of Agriculture, and the Hungarian Association of Farmers’ Circles and Agricultural Cooperatives, reaching 19 counties and 15 organizations beyond the borders, with nearly 500 organizations receiving flour donations. Representatives of the beneficiaries also received certificates of support and symbolic sacks of the Bread of the Hungarians flour.

Unlike the existing conditions, CSOK Plus does not distinguish between new and used residential properties. New homes are generally more expensive, which means that the same amount of money will buy a smaller property. However, the good news for buyers is that 80 million forints might be sufficient for purchasing a multi-room new apartment or house. On the other hand, new constructions are often more energy-efficient and have more modern layouts compared to properties that are several decades old.

A trial period for the app will start in April with the involvement of several tens of thousands of users, and will be launched for citizens across the board in September. From that time on, citizens will be able to use the DÁP app for identification if requested by police, submitting applications to authorities for certificates or for any other interactions with the state administration.

In his regular Friday morning interview with public Kossuth radio, Viktor Orbán addressed issues such as migration, the economy and Ukraine’s EU accession.

There will be over a hundred screenings held under the event’s umbrella at 29 locations across the country. On this day, the eight art cinemas in Budapest and the 21 art cinemas in the countryside will offer a unique selection of films, giving the audience the opportunity to see them weeks or even months before their national premieres.

Balázs Orbán presented the French version of his book The Hungarian Way of Strategy at a roundtable discussion organized by the Hungarian consulate in Paris. The second part of the book, focusing on economic issues, is expected to hit the shelves before Christmas.

Turkey is an extremely important regional player in terms of security policy, and its voice is indispensable in international conflicts that risk the security of all of us, the Hungarian defence minister said after meeting his Turkish counterpart in Budapest.

During a scheduled press conference, Gergely Gulyás said the government expects inflation to drop significantly by the end of November. Regarding the frozen EU funds, he noted that Hungary is obviously functioning without them as well.

Ursula von der Leyen, presenting the report on the expected reforms for the EU accession of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, as well as the accession prospects for the Western Balkans and Turkey, announced that the European Commission recommends initiating accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, as soon as they meet final conditions.

At a press conference following her meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Katalin Novák Novák ruled out the possibility of any ties between Hungary and Russia ‘which could undermine ties with its allies and commitments within NATO as well as in the European Union’.

With the Advent period nearing, the traditional series of programmes at the Várkert Bazaar will make sure that visitors, adults and children alike, get into the Christmas spirit while also learning about traditional Hungarian customs and cuisine.

The event, spanning two weekends, will be hosted by the cinemas operated by the municipality located in the two major city neighbourhoods. On 11–12 November, children can watch Hungarian cartoons at the Dacia Cinema, while on 18–19 November, it will be the Marasti Cinema’s turn.

János Csák, the Minister Responsible for Culture and Innovation mentioned as a positive example that the Széchenyi István University has integrated into Győr’s economic life, and the new Scientific and Innovation Park strengthens cooperation in the field of research, development, and innovation.

The report quotes NMHH President András Koltay, who highlighted that transparent regulatory operations, market and societal relationships, and fact-based assessments are essential to prepare and respond most effectively to the challenges.