The Budapest Ballet Grand Prix, an international ballet competition organized by the Hungarian Dance Academy, kicks off today. Hosted at the National Dance Theatre and Müpa Budapest, the event brings together young talents from across the globe for a week of artistic excellence.
‘A new chapter is unfolding—the patriots have emerged on the horizon, and the era of sovereignty has begun,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared at the first general assembly of the Patriots for Europe in Paris. The event, attended by the most prominent figures of the European right, saw Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s VOX party, elected as the new chairman of the political group.
European countries purchase significant amounts of American weapon systems and military equipment, making US companies the main beneficiaries of the increased defence budgets within NATO. This situation creates tensions and a fragmented will within the EU in processes aimed at strengthening the independence and competitiveness of the European defence industry. It also raises the question of whether Washington’s primary goal is the collective defence of the allies or the profit maximization of American arms manufacturers.
‘Hungarian Jews were generally known for their assimilated and law-abiding nature. By and large, they saw themselves as loyal Hungarian citizens and followed the law of the land to the letter. This was part of a well-rehearsed strategy on the part of their leaders. Between the emancipation of Hungarian Jewry and its nearly complete annihilation, Hungarian Jewish leaders experienced various levels of antisemitism. For most of their history, they could and did turn to the state authorities to ease their suffering. This strategy, useful during the previous decades, turned self-destructive in 1944–45.’
‘The importance of the Orthodox rite of St Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of the 2,300-metre Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa, also known as Horeb) in the Sinai Peninsula grew only after the loss of Jerusalem in 1187 and the fall of the Latin states in the Holy Land in 1291…It is the oldest monastery in the world to have survived in this way, where, among other things, the oldest 4th-century Greek-language manuscript of the Bible, the Codex Siniaticus, has also been preserved.’
Policies such as pro-family tax cuts, housing programmes, child benefits etc., all resulting in a kind of family income system that aims to reduce the harm inflicted on families by a Ricardian conception of the economy (which, obviously, cannot be completely overthrown, since we cannot go back to the lifestyle of preindustrial societies), should become a vital part of conservative policies, and should be seen as such in the modern conservative movement, as Allan Carlson pointed out in his Third ways.
‘We’ve been approached much more often by local American organizations to present Hungarian culture to various schools or other groups as part of a larger, multicultural performance. These collaborations have been so invigorating for our whole team that we’ve come to the conclusion that this could be the path for us. This was one of our missions in the first place: to open up to others.’
Hungary’s National Tree-Planting Day, scheduled for 1 March 2025, aims to see over 100,000 trees planted nationwide. The 10 Million Trees NGO, launched in 2019, is calling on citizens, organizations, and institutions to unite in this significant reforestation effort.
‘I have never been to a summit where such a sharp and intense political discourse was generated,’ Hungarian EU Affairs Minister Jánós Bóka said in an interview with Magyar Nemzet. Bóka also revealed that the long-term goal for the future of the European Political Community is for it to become a platform for the European security system.
The German paper Passauer Neuer Presse conducted an interview with EPP President Manfred Weber on the occasion of the informal European Council meeting in Budapest, using the opportunity to prod him on the supposed ‘isolation’ of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán within the EU. Weber was also asked about the impact of the results of the US presidential elections on Europe.
A new court ruling this week has prevented Italy from transferring migrants to reception centres in Albania under an agreement with the Balkan country. Similar cases highlight that the position of national and European courts on migration is one of the biggest obstacles to addressing this pressing issue.
What drives creativity? A thought-provoking roundtable brought together experts from diverse fields to explore the meaning of creation, the challenges of collaboration, and the personal and collective forces that shape innovative work.
A riveting roundtable discussion brought together champions of sports, science, and mentorship to explore the multifaceted nature of perseverance. From athletic triumphs to breakthroughs in behavioural research and youth development, the panellists shared lessons on resilience and success.
This year’s Highlights of Hungary Awards celebrated three outstanding Hungarian achievements: the preservation efforts of Levente and Tímea Gáll, the compassionate work of the Hungarian Hospice Foundation, and the artisanal excellence of Szabi the Baker. The winners each received 2 million forints and national acclaim for their dedication to community, tradition, and humanity.
The Netflix series Mary, set to be released on 6 December, has come under fire following antisemitic attacks on social media after the unveiling of its first trailer this week. Users have expressed outrage because Mary, who was Jewish, is portrayed by an Israeli actress, and several cast members are Israeli.
Political director to Hungary’s Prime Minister Balázs Orbán highlighted the potential economic benefits of a Trump-led US administration, emphasized EU reforms, and detailed Hungary’s vision for boosting competitiveness and fostering global partnerships.
Prosecutors have initiated proceedings against another leader of the right-wing political group Patriots for Europe; this time Herbert Kickl, leader of the Austrian Freedom Party, who is facing the potential waiver of his immunity. The news comes just one day after the prosecutors requested prison sentence for RN’s Marine Le Pen.
‘This is not a West–East conflict, but a West–West conflict. It is the traditional West versus the liberal, and even increasingly left-wing, self-eliminating West. The conflict is strong because we want the West that they want to abolish. They think it was hell worth to be eliminated, but we think it was a pretty good little world, and we want to remain an extended part of it.’
Prosecutors have demanded prison and a ban from public office for Marine Le Pen, a key figure in the French National Rally party. Viktor Orbán responded to the accusations against his ally, stating: ‘Marine, please remember we are with you in this battle!’
On 28 October, despite international opposition, Israeli lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to approve two bills that essentially ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East from operating in Israel and severely restrict its activities in Gaza and the West Bank, due to certain staff members’ direct ties to Hamas and other terrorist groups.
Hungarian Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy visited Shenzhen for the China Hi-Tech Fair, spotlighting Hungary’s AI and supercomputing advancements and emphasizing AI regulation. In his keynote address he reiterated Hungary’s commitment to international tech cooperation and regulation.
Reflecting the way the mainstream in the EU confronts the ongoing Gaza crisis, its outgoing foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has once again taken a hard line on Israel, proposing a suspension of EU–Israel political dialogue over humanitarian concerns. Known for his blunt criticisms of Israel, Borrell’s latest move aligns with his stance that the EU must hold Israel accountable, yet it may also be his last major act on the issue as he prepares to step down, making way for Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
A recent content analysis by the Center for Fundamental Rights reveals that in the year leading up to the US presidential election, Donald Trump cited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán 109 times, which far surpasses mentions of other European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On 20–23 November Budapest will once again host the World Science Forum (WSF), organized by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. This year’s theme centres on the connection between science and policy during global transformations, gathering leaders from around the world.
‘On our part, we doubt that “history of ideas” as a methodologically coherent discipline existed in Hungary between the two world wars…Nevertheless, their work is undoubtedly a prime example of an attempt at the creation of a conservative-oriented social science. The history of ideas is, in fact, a philosophy of history that takes into account factors that transcend matter, and through a specific research methodology is able to grasp and evaluate the processes that take place “behind” the surface of purely material social phenomena.’
Protesting antifa crowds attempted to block the entrance to the Hungarian House in Brussels to stop the event launching Jordan Bardella’s new book. According to Balázs Orbán’s post on X, the mob threw bottles and fireworks at the police, marking another attempt to silence right-wing voices in the capital of Europe.
‘Progress towards the 2030 and 2025 targets shows steady improvement in most areas at the Community level, with a benchmark already achieved by Member States. Most work remains to be done in the area of primary education, where the gap between results and intentions is still widening.’
With Donald Trump’s victory, it is highly likely that David Pressman’s career as US ambassador in Budapest, during which he has consistently attacked the Hungarian government, will come to an end soon. In this article we have compiled a list of his potential successors.
According to a new Real-PR 93 survey, 74 per cent of Hungarians support the government’s target to raise the average salary to one million forints, reflecting broad approval among all demographics and age groups from across the political spectrum.
‘The House of the Nation is a symbol of our independence, sovereignty, and solidarity,’ Kinga Gál, Chair of the Fidesz–KDNP delegation to the EP, emphasized at the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition that presents the Hungarian Parliament building at the European Parliament in Brussels. The exhibition opened as part of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.