‘After 20 years of left–liberal rule, Fidesz’s goal was to stimulate the creation of a much more balanced and pluralistic environment in all segments of society and a country less dependent on any form of foreign influence. In the eyes of ordinary Hungarians, none of the experiences described above called into question the benefits of EU and NATO membership or the conviction that Hungary’s place is in the West.’

‘Students have moved from being political change agents to being themselves the object of political change. Rather than imposing their ideas on the world, they are to obey edicts from radical lecturers and diversity officers. To accommodate these developments, objective measures of what students know are replaced by more subjective measures of their own personal and psychological development.’

Viktor Orbán underscored the dual nature of film as both an art form and an industry, emphasizing that while artistic freedom is essential, the state plays a crucial role in developing the film sector. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Film Institute’s new studio complex in Fót, he highlighted Hungary’s deep-rooted cinematic heritage and the government’s commitment to revitalizing the industry.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his condolences to US President Donald Trump and the American people following the tragic collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter on Wednesday night in Washington, D.C. The disaster, which some are calling the deadliest commercial crash in US history, has left dozens feared dead.

CPAC Hungary 2025 will be taking place 29–30 May this year, Director General Miklós Szánthó for the Center for Fundamental Rights has announced at a press conference with American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp.

On Wednesday, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) finally broke through the firewall that German mainstream parties had imposed on them since the party’s foundation, securing a majority alongside the CDU on a motion for stricter migration rules. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán welcomed the development in a post on his X account.

‘Besides all the bad news, there are sometimes good ones, too, even from difficult regions like the Middle East. After a long time, a new president has been elected in Lebanon,’ Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó commented on the election of Michael Aoun.

‘One is constantly reminded of Hallstein’s [Stresa] speech when analysing the turbulences of the recent years in Europe’s fields and countryside towns, occasionally bringing the distinct view of columns of tractors and piles of hay to the polished streets and thoroughfares of European capitals. And, out of the several farmers’ movements that have swept the EU since 2022, few dialogue so much with Hallstein as the Polish one.’

Elon Musk reacted to reports that Hungarian opposition media outlets were outraged over Trump’s decision to halt US foreign assistance, cutting off substantial grants previously provided by USAID and the US Embassy in Budapest. Sharing Balázs Orbán’s post, the US billionaire pointed out that these outlets were never truly independent to begin with.

On what basis did Israel conclude a ceasefire agreement with its enemy, Hamas? What does the Jewish state expect from Trump’s second term? Is a two-state solution possible? And what kind of ally has Hungary proven to be? An interview with Gideon Sa’ar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel.

‘Christianity from its beginnings has presented something new with regard to political life: a certain indifference, if I may put it that way, to the political regime. That is, it enjoins rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s, and hence obeying one’s rulers so long as they do not demand sin, especially idolatry. These injunctions are founded on the faith that the City of God rather than the City of Man is man’s ultimate destiny.’

The Joint Action on REspiratory Diseases (JARED) initiative by the EU was launched in December 2024, with support from 14 Member States. The Korányi Institute of Pulmonology in Budakeszi, Hungary is the leading institution of the project. The initiative’s kick-off event was held in Budapest on 29 January 2025.

On Wednesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán concluded a historic two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, during which he held bilateral talks with UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations in key areas, including investments, trade, energy, and security, as Hungary seeks to establish a strategic partnership with the Gulf nation.

The Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music will celebrate its 150th anniversary with Talent Day on 9 February, offering performances by students, open classes, lectures, and a grand symphonic concert in the evening. The event provides a rare opportunity to explore the academy’s musical excellence.

The 34th National Science and Innovation Olympiad (OTIO) has attracted a record number of participants, with 428 young competitors forming 296 teams, including 17 from beyond Hungary’s borders. Minister for Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó highlighted the crucial role of innovation in boosting Hungary’s competitiveness.

The Austrian Private Universities Conference has protested at the Brussels’ decision to exclude Vienna-based Modul University from the Erasmus+ and Horizon programmes, citing the Hungarian ownership of the institution. The body has called on the European Commission to stop its politically motivated interference in the allocation of academic funding.

Hungarian workers are increasingly optimistic about their ability to weather unemployment, as revealed by a recent study from BNP Paribas Cardif and Medián. The findings show rising confidence in finding new jobs and improved financial preparedness among respondents.

Despite desperate efforts to capture the attention of the new US administration, Donald Trump’s foreign policy team does not appear interested in engaging with the European Union as a bloc. Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has prioritized bilateral discussions with individual member states. This approach offers European nations an opportunity to reclaim their sovereign foreign policy, which has increasingly been overshadowed and taken over by Brussels in recent years, often against their will.

The Political Director of the Hungarian Prime Minister spoke at the 35th anniversary event for the Hungarian history periodical Rubicon. He discussed the end of the unipolar world order dominated by the United States, the EU in the new world oder and the new Trump administration’s novel approach to geopolitics.

‘Despite the different—and certainly debatable—approaches and priorities in specific policy areas, the fundamental objectives of conservative parties largely align. Public discourse and media representation in the West sometimes portray the self-determined policymaking of conservative governments in a polarized manner, focusing more on potentially divisive issues than on constructive dialogue.’

‘Across various European nations conservative and right-wing parties have capitalized on issues like immigration, national identity, and dissatisfaction with traditional political establishments to gain substantial electoral support…without the epochal change on 6 November 2016 in the United States, these shifts in Europe would have taken much longer.’

After months of demonstrations following the accident at the Novi Sad railway station, Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned on Tuesday, with Novi Sad Mayor Milan Đurić also expected to step down. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is set to decide later today whether to appoint a new prime minister or call snap elections.

A recent study commissioned by Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority reveals that Facebook’s opaque moderation policies may have restricted up to half a million Hungarian users. The research highlights the lack of transparency in tech giants’ content rules.

Along with the Hungarian commander, a Hungarian peacekeeping contingent was deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina with about 400 soldiers. The HDF provided an air search and rescue team, an air evacuation team, an artillery team with dog patrols, medical support (ROLE-1 level), as well as logistical support and supplies with 250 personnel.

Bomb threat emails targeting Hungarian schools last week were traced to Ukrainian IP addresses using a Russian email provider. While this provides clues, determining the actual origin remains complex due to disposable email accounts and VPN technologies, experts say.

The University of Szeged (SZTE) is hosting Physics Day once again this Saturday, offering engaging programmes for science enthusiasts. Attendees will discover the vast applications of a physics degree and witness captivating experiments and presentations.

Donald Trump took an unexpected step on Monday by ordering dozens of senior officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to go on administrative leave. USAID has a long history of foreign interference under the pretext of providing aid, including significant grants to Hungarian anti-government media and government-critical NGOs.

Center for Fundamental Rights Senior Fellow and US Ambassador to Hungary hopeful Bryan Leib has sent an open letter to the CEOs of major American passenger airlines, urging them to start offering non-stop, direct flights between the most populous American cities and Budapest.

Speaking at the Lámfalussy Lectures Conference, organized by the Central Bank of Hungary, Viktor Orbán asserted that, instead of the Washington Consensus, it is now time to speak of the Budapest Consensus—a framework for nation-states to navigate and thrive in the emerging age of sovereignty.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó had a phone conversation with newly confirmed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday. Secretary Rubio assured Minister Szijjártó that the vindictive actions of the Biden administration against Hungary will be reviewed.