Hungary’s minimum wage and guaranteed skilled labour wage have increased, directly impacting around one million workers and influencing wages across multiple sectors. The government has outlined a long-term plan for continued wage growth, ensuring a cumulative increase of over 40 per cent in three years.
‘Yesterday, we were the heretics. Today, we are the mainstream. Once, we were dismissed as the past; today, we are the future,’ Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán declared in his speech at the Patriots for Europe (PfE) EP group’s summit in Madrid. Over the weekend the most prominent figures of the European right gathered in the Spanish capital under the banner ‘Make Europe Great Again’ (MEGA) to deliver a clear message to the Western mainstream: they are more than ready to take over Brussels.
The Budapest-based Committee of National Remembrance (NEB) and the Krakow-based Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) held a joint event in Budapest, Hungary on 7 February to commemorate and recant the brutal atrocities committed by the Red Soviet Army during World War II in the two Eastern European countries.
Hungarian public media is actively participating in this year’s Marriage Week, aiming to reach audiences of all ages. Under the slogan ‘Talk for Your Marriage!’, television and radio channels will feature discussions, expert insights, and personal stories to emphasize the value of commitment and communication in relationships.
A fatal shooting in Brussels’ Anderlecht district on Friday morning, likely linked to a territorial dispute between rival drug gangs, has left one person dead, Belgian prosecutors reported. The incident follows a series of violent clashes in the city, raising concerns over escalating gang-related crime.
The violent far-left group Antifa attacked the perceived attendees of the commemoration of the siege of Buda two years ago on 10 February 2023. In order to prevent another incident like that from taking place, there will be an increased police presence in Budapest between 6 February and 12 February.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán predicts a strong and prosperous year, promising new opportunities for families and pensioners. Speaking on public radio, he discussed economic support measures, the significance of sovereignty, and his government’s stance on migration and international political influences.
Poland’s Constitutional Court has initiated legal proceedings against PM Donald Tusk and his associates, accusing them of attempting a coup d’état by using executive power to undermine the judiciary, dismantle opposition media, and suppress political opponents. The announcement comes amid the presidential campaign, ahead of one of the most pivotal elections in May—one that will not only determine Poland’s future but also have far-reaching consequences for Europe.
Hungary has been invited to participate in the US development policy review, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations. The US has pledged to end funding for Hungarian opposition groups and revive cooperation on aid for persecuted Christians.
In an interview with Fox News, Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó cautioned against underestimating US President Donald Trump’s dealmaking skills concerning the recently announced Gaza plan. Szijjártó drew a parallel to the skepticism that initially surrounded the Abraham Accords, which nonetheless succeeded in bringing a new dimension to life in the Middle East.
The Hungarian government has announced new measures to support pensioners and rural communities, including the expansion of a home renovation programme and the continuation of the 13th-month pension. These initiatives aim to improve living standards and boost economic activity in smaller towns.
Elon Musk asked his 216 million followers on X if his new DOGE agency should ‘audit the IRS’, the US government agency tasked with collecting tax revenue from US residents. Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority voted yes, and Musk seems to take ‘the voice of the people’ seriously, as he demonstrated with the unbanning of Donald Trump on his platform back in November 2022.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has called for urgent reforms to ensure the survival and efficiency of the United Nations. During his visit to New York, he emphasized the need for decentralization, cost-cutting, and a focus on global challenges.
László Varju was convicted of trying to bribe an independent candidate into dropping out to boost his own electoral chances in 2018. He resigned from the Hungarian parliament after his conviction. However, he is also running to fill his own vacant seat in the by-election in March.
US Ambassador to Hungary hopeful Bryan Leib has vowed to hold accountable those who collaborated with David Pressman in his mission to discredit Hungary. ‘Mark my words—actions like this will have serious consequences for all who were involved in this,’ he wrote in a post on X.
‘Efficient cooperation in taking down international crime is essential to the cohesion of EU Member States. This incident illustrates how the free movement of capital, goods, labour and services can be abused for nefarious purposes—and the results expected of all national police forces in countering the criminals…’
Hungary’s chief security advisor György Bakondi has warned of a tenfold increase in migration pressure on the Serbia–Hungary border, with 1,841 illegal migrants apprehended this year compared to 191 in the same period last year. He highlighted the potential for a mass migration wave from conflict zones like Syria and Congo.
The 2025 Tour de Hongrie, Hungary’s premier cycling race, will begin at Budapest’s Szent Gellért Square and conclude at the Esztergom Basilica. With 885 kilometres of challenging routes, including the iconic Kékestető climb, this year’s edition features record Hungarian participation and promises thrilling competition.
At least eleven people were killed in a mass shooting at an adult education centre in Sweden, in what Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described as the worst shooting in the country’s history. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán extended his condolences to the Swedish people.
Hungary is strengthening its defence cooperation with Türkiye through the acquisition of 56 new Gidrán armoured combat vehicles. The agreement builds on an existing partnership with Turkish defence company Nurol Makina and aligns with Hungary’s broader military modernization efforts started in 2016.
According to Hungarian intelligence reports, Ukrainian secret services have launched an operation against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, involving disinformation and fake news reports from both Hungarian and foreign media outlets. The operation aims to discredit Orbán on the international stage.
After two consecutive quarters of contraction, Hungary’s gross domestic product grew by 0.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2024. Compared to the data from a year ago, the growth was 0.4 per cent, better than originally expected by analysts.
Hungary has established a new 150-member anti-narcotics unit to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime, with Parliamentary State Secretary Bence Rétvári declaring that ‘drug dealers belong in prison.’ The unit, part of the National Bureau of Investigation, aims to dismantle trafficking networks.
As Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pointed out, the ‘Trump tornado’ arrived in Brussels on Monday, turning everything upside down during the informal meeting of the European Council, which was also attended by NATO chief Mark Rutte.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has warned that the European Union faces tough months ahead following Donald Trump’s return to power, urging Brussels to prepare for a ‘Trump tornado’. In a Facebook post, Orbán criticized EU leaders for underestimating Trump’s impact, while emphasizing the need for a strong deal to preserve economic ties with the US.
Hungary and Türkiye expand defence cooperation by establishing a Defence Innovation Working Group, aiming to accelerate joint research and development projects, as well as educational and training programmes between the two countries.
‘I represent today the 6 million Holocaust victims who were murdered just because they were Jewish. I demand the world remember what happened only 80 years ago.’
A recent poll by Quinnipiac has found that only 31 per cent of Americans have a favourable view of the Democratic Party, while 56 per cent have an unfavourable view, giving the party an abysmal net favourability rating of negative 26 points. Quinnipiac is a polling firm that has been overestimating liberals in the past.
Viktor Orbán has invited Alice Weidel, co-chair of the German right-wing party Alternative für Deutschland, to Hungary—an invitation she accepted almost immediately. Despite their shared views on key issues, the Hungarian government has previously been cautious in its relations with AfD, fearing economic retaliation from the German mainstream.
The Hungarian government remains steadfast in resisting pressure from both Brussels and the domestic opposition on key issues such as energy security, migration, and pension policies, said Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s political director. He criticized EU policies and highlighted Hungary’s commitment to national sovereignty.