Chaos erupted in the Hungarian Parliament on Tuesday after opposition MPs ignited smoke flares in protest against the ban on the Pride march. The events bore a striking resemblance to those that unfolded in Serbia just weeks earlier, raising suspicions of a coordinated effort to destabilize right-wing governments in the region.
At football games in multiple countries across Europe, Palestine-sympathizer football fans have been displaying the banner ‘Show Israel the Red Card’ to protest the Jewish state. Meanwhile, Hungary is hosting the Israeli national team again, lending them the venue in Debrecen to play their World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Norway this month.
As the Trump administration reshapes transatlantic relations, Hungary has a unique opportunity to position itself as a key player in the new order.
Hungarian officials signal potential legal consequences over USAID funding in Hungary. Government commissioner András László, after meeting US State Department officials, said many projects raise suspicions of political interference and legal actions will be examined. Meanwhile, Fidesz parliamentary leader Máté Kocsis proposed a constitutional amendment allowing the expulsion of dual citizens if their activities threaten Hungary’s sovereignty.
‘There is a historic chance for US–Hungary relations to peak, and it depends in no small part on the two leading players. Even though Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, in the last two decades, American Democratic administrations have been explicitly hostile towards it…With the US president behind him, Orbán could be much more effective in strengthening his conservative agenda in Brussels, which until now has been an uphill struggle.’
At a press briefing, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás of Hungary announced that the newly enacted price margin regulation by the Hungarian government, per which profit margins on each product sold by retailers are legally capped at 10 per cent, will come into effect on Monday, 17 March.
‘Hungary’s humanitarian and military aid to Lebanon can contribute to regional stability and it also reflects Hungary’s broader geopolitical interests, that is, a stable Lebanon for the sake of the Middle East—and also for Europe, which faces potential security and migration challenges.’
Speaking before the parliament of Republika Sprksa, President Milorad Dodik announced a new constitution aimed at increasing the entity’s independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s federal institutions and the high representative. In his speech, Dodik also declared a ‘war for the future’ of Republika Srpska.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó pointed out that the sudden shift of EU leaders on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine is ‘politically ridiculous’ and highlights their lack of credibility. However, it also raises the question of responsibility for Brussels’ failed strategy over the past three years.
‘This move makes a lot of sense to me. Germany has embraced radical leftist policies that weaken Western security and they support the continued war between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Hungary stands for protecting borders, projecting strength, and traditional values,’ Bryan Leib wrote on X in response to reports that President Trump is considering relocating the 35,000 US soldiers stationed in Germany.