Hungarian Conservative

The Hungarian economy grew by 1.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, remaining above the EU average. The countries of the eurozone are expected to continue weakening, especially the German economy, which is not a good sign for Hungary. Considering the data, there is a more urgent need than ever to boost the EU’s competitiveness, which is a key priority of the Hungarian EU Presidency.

President of the European People’s Party Manfred Weber is urging EU Member States to respond to the Hungarian worker visa changes with the strictest possible measures. Starting 8 July, Belarusian and Russian workers, along with nationals of six other countries, will be able to enter and work in Hungary under relaxed conditions. This move has infuriated the famously anti-Hungarian Weber, who claims it threatens the entire Schengen area. The European Commission has the power to suspend a state’s Schengen membership, although this has never happened before.

Thanks to the Mexican award, the Hungarian animation Shoes and Hooves has become eligible for submission in the Best Short Film category at the Oscars.

The adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s The Royal Game, starring Gergely Váradi and Károly Hajduk, was a great success at the 29th edition of the American festival showcasing independent short and feature films.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has nominated Olivér Várhelyi, the current Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, as the next Commissioner for Hungary in the new European Commission. Várhelyi’s task will not be easy, as he has experienced numerous conflicts with the European Parliament over the past five years. Additionally, pro-war factions will likely do everything in their power to derail the Hungarian candidate’s nomination process.

The number of foreign guests increased by 19 per cent, and the number of guest nights by 9.4 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year. Tourist accommodations welcomed 825,000 foreign guests, who spent 2.0 million guest nights in the country.

The munitions manufacturing facility at the Várpalota Defence Industrial Complex, operated in partnership with German Rheinmetall, will contribute to reducing Hungarian dependence on supply chains, Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated at the inauguration ceremony on Monday.

In a short Facebook video, Csaba Dömötör highlighted that the reacquired Budapest Airport will generate revenue for the Hungarian government, and it is the strategically important ‘gate to our country for millions of people’ as well.

The threat of escalation in the Middle East is growing following Saturday’s deadly strike by Hezbollah on an Israeli-controlled settlement in the Golan Heights. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has even gone so far as to threaten Israel with an invasion.

Banning phones is not the ideal step, but it is necessary. Ideally, children would receive their own devices later, learn when and how to use them, how to verify information found online, and spend their free time during their most formative years on activities that build and develop them, contributing positively to their personal growth and making them better people, Enikő Szakos, Educational Researcher at the MCC Learning Research Institute underscores.

In response to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s speech at the Tusványos festival, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski of Poland has called on the Hungarian leadership to leave the EU and NATO if they believe these organizations treat them so badly. Meanwhile, US Ambassador David Pressman has also come out to criticize the same speech by PM Orbán.

Although the insect farming for feed purposes, which is still unique in Hungary, produces an annual amount of only 6,000 tonnes and therefore cannot yet replace soy, it is already so popular that buyers have pre-ordered the factory’s entire output for five years, the CEO said.

Under the new, more favourable conditions, the programme’s aim remains to increase the productivity and added value of domestic micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through support for technological and organizational renewal.

Balázs Orbán emphasized at a party political roundtable discussion on Thursday at the 33rd Bálványos Summer Open University and Student Camp that peace advocates will eventually become the majority in Europe, stating that ‘time is on their side’.

This year, ten flower floats will be on display in the parade, led by the Holy Crown float. Additionally, the parade will be preceded by an entire week of carnival events, with free concerts for the public every evening on Kossuth Square.

Analysts found that 23.5 per cent of Hungarians now have some money left in their pockets at the end of the month, compared to 19.7 per cent a year earlier. One in three Hungarians managed to save some amount monthly, although the overall proportion has decreased by 0.2 per cent compared to the previous year.

During the mission, the Hungarian research astronaut will spend 14 days aboard the International Space Station, conducting scientific experiments that will not only benefit the domestic space sector but also position Hungary competitively on the international stage in one of the 21st century’s most rapidly developing industries.

During the handover ceremony, Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky highlighted that the war in Ukraine has demonstrated the necessity for every country to have a well-functioning defence industry capable of supplying the nation at all times and in all situations.

As Hungary’s premier higher education institution covering the full spectrum of teacher training, it is particularly important for ELTE that 20 per cent of those admitted will start their studies as teacher trainees. Numerically, this means that ELTE admitted the highest number of applicants (2,500) to teacher training in the last 15 years.

Balázs Orbán, the political director for the Hungarian Prime Minister, participated in a panel discussion at this year’s Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp. He spoke about the current state of the European right, Viktor Orbán’s peace mission, and Hungarian foreign policy strategy. He mentioned that the Patriots for Europe political group, co-founded by Viktor Orbán, will be expanded in the near future, but he did not specify who the new members might be.

The meeting explored the application of artificial intelligence in the legal field. They reviewed best practices on how artificial intelligence can be employed in judicial practices and legal services to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement, citing the anonymization of documents as an example.

‘Eventually, he fired the gun, which made a loud bang, and meanwhile, the special unit of the French gendarmerie arrived, with three burly men carrying submachine guns, and disarmed the man,’ the Hungarian expert detailed the traumatic events.

In the Sportgarden, visitors will be able to follow the events of the Paris Olympics and cheer on Hungarian competitors on a giant screen. In addition, various community sports can be tried in the sports park, such as table tennis, teqball, badminton, or basketball.

The joint global study, conducted between October and December 2023, was based on responses from more than 150,000 employees in 188 countries. According to the survey, the most important factor for employees globally when choosing a job is long-term job security, whereas in Hungary, remuneration is the top priority.

The Hungarian government has taken a decisive step following Kyiv’s decision to halt Lukoil’s oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine. According to Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, Budapest will block payments from the European Peace Facility, amounting to approximately €6.5 billion, until Kyiv restores uninterrupted oil transit.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary is among the featured speakers at the annual Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp, better known by its colloquial name Tusványos, as per tradition. The event is taking place from 23–28 July in Tusnádfürdő (Băile Tușnad), Transylvania, Romania.

Ádám, who became an international meme phenomenon for his unusual appearance during the Euros, has terminated his contract with his old club Ulsan HD in South Korea. He is now joining Asteras Tripolis, a club in the top division in Greece.

This Sunday, more than 11,000 people took part in the 42nd Lidl Balaton Cross-Swim between Révfülöp and Balatonboglár, surpassing last year’s attendance.

The poll results concerning the perceived suitability of political leaders for the prime ministerial position are revealing: among potential candidates for a parliamentary election, Viktor Orbán is considered the most suitable to lead Hungary by 49 per cent of Hungarians.

Hungary and Slovakia are taking joint action against Ukraine over its halting of Russian oil shipments to the two EU member states. This move seriously threatens the long-term energy security of both countries, and is considered a violation of the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement by Budapest and Bratislava.