The Hungarian Minister of National Resources, Miklós Réthelyi resigned from his post this week and the State Seretary for Social Inclusion in another ministry, Zoltán Balog was nominated as the new minister by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Hungary‘s new constitution, which took effect on January 1, omits "republic" from Hungary's official name, and includes several controversial paragraphs objected to by Amnesty International, as well as American and EU officials.

Former Hungarian premier Ferenc Gyurcsány - and several Members of Parliament who chained themselves outside parliament in an anti-government protest - were detained Friday among 26 demonstrators, police announced.

Lao and Hungarian government officials discussed cooperation in development projects between the two countries. Laos and Hungary have agreed to boost cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, health, tourism, energy and transport.

Hungary's Economy Ministry has released on its website that the government is planning to consider mergers in the public sector, is determined to achieve significant staff cuts, and keep wage costs at the current level.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech at a conference entitled "Economic Turnaround" in Budapest this Tuesday, evaluating the first year of his present government. He said his cabinet needs to work harder in the future.

A statement by the Hungarian Foreign Ministry accuses Germany of meddling in Hungarian domestic affairs and rejects the statement of the German Foreign Ministry that raises concerns about laws adopted by the Hungarian government.

Hungarian lawmakers have on Monday approved the country’s new constitution that will take effect on 1 January 2012. Passing the bill into law required a two-thirds majority which was provided by the governing force.

In his annual state-of-the-nation address, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Monday that Hungary has embarked on a process of renewal, and each year up to 2014 will be a staging post towards sustained growth.

The Hungarian government has informed the European Commission that the country's new media law is in line with EU norms but the commission expects further and more detailed information on the act.

Hungary's latest media bill poses a danger to press freedom, US-based Freedom House (FH) said on Tuesday. If passed, the bill would be "a major setback for press freedom in Hungary," FH said in a press release.

Several decisions have been made in Hungary over the past six months, which harm the rule of law, said a Monday statement by three civil groups based in Budapest. They also object to the government rusing to adopt a new constitution.

European Union member states are free to decide on which pension system they adopt, so the European Commission will not interfere with Hungary's planned changes, according to Employment Commissioner László Andor.

As Hungary prepares for its presidency of the European Union, the basic message its government wishes to convey echoes one of the pieces of advice our first king, Saint Stephen gave his son some one thousand years ago: unity built from multiplicity.