Hungary’s relations with the European Union took a turn for the worse after the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán passed a law that was heavily criticized for discriminating against LGBTQ people. EU lawmakers are urging the decision-making bodies in Brussels to punish Hungary by blocking funds from the EU stimulus package. Hungary came under […]
The European Union condemned a recently passed Hungarian law that bans the portrayal and the promotion of gender identity different from sex at birth, the change of sex and homosexuality to minors. Several thousand demonstrators took to the streets of Budapest to protest the law passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party and […]
Szombathely, in the Western part of the country, is the happiest city in Hungary, followed by Nyíregyháza, according to research conducted on the occasion of World Happiness Day by the Jobb Veled a Világ (The World is Better with You) foundation. According to an announcement carried by the state news agency MTI, the Positive Psychology […]
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), the oldest political foundation in Germany, has been represented in Budapest since 1990. Its goal in Hungary is to promote political dialogue between Hungary and Germany as well as member states, the exchange of analysis, views and concepts. As the leadership of the Foundation tells Diplomacy&Trade, when the Friedrich Ebert […]
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation that has over 110 offices worldwide, has been in Hungary for more than three decades. The Foundation was established some 60 years ago to promote democratic development in Germany. It stands close to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and is governed by Christian values. Its guiding principles […]
Speaking at the weekly government info event, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that all shops must close between March 8 and 22, with primary schools and nurseries remaining shut until April 7. The government information website's English version quotes Minister Gulyás as saying that “while Hungary is currently the third […]
Hungary and the EU are locked in a number of legal disputes over several laws passed by the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Brussels is resorting to various measures as it seeks to pressure Hungary to abide by the rulings of the European Court of Justice and the stipulations of EU law. Hungary and […]
The two-thirds governing majority in Hungarian parliament voted for a further extension of the state of emergency and emergency regulations – with no opposition MPs backing the proposal. After the expiration of the state of emergency in early February, the government first extended it for fifteen days under its own authority, and then it was […]
This Tuesday, the governing majority in Hungarian Parliament passed the 9th modification to the Fundamental Law (that is, the country's consitution) since that was adopted in 2011, redefining public money and the concept of family, among others. The amendment defines the concept of public money "in order to develop a uniform practice for constitutional bodies." […]
As of January 1, 2021, tourist accommodation places in Hungary will be required to send digitally read data from their guests' personal identification documents to the Hungarian state. A Hungarian firm has now come up with a device of affordable price to meet this requirements. The essence of the GoodID Scanner is that one can […]
The current curfew and strict measures will remain in place until January 11, which means that there will still be a curfew between 8 pm and 5 am, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán announced this Monday. The prime minister added that it will only be decided on December 21 whether Christmas Eve can be an exception […]
In a letter, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán informed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, President of the European Council that the Hungarian government was vetoing legislation on the EU's seven-year budget and the recovery fund. The Hungarian government's website quotes the head of the PM's […]
Next year will be hard as hell for Budapest. The crisis and government cuts will dramatically reduce the capital's revenues by HUF 88 billion, according to Mayor Gergely Karácsony. In a social media message, the Mayor is of the view that the one for 2021 is the most frugal capital budget in decades. He writes […]
In addition to maintaining the measures taken so far, additional protection measures are needed to reduce the incidence of coronavirus diseases and the burden on hospitals - according to a Hungarian government statement. A curfew takes effect on Wednesday from zero o'clock – everyone needs to be home between 8 pm and 5 am. One […]
In a social media video, PM Viktor Orbán announced that the government proposes a set of new restrictions, including a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., the closing of restaurants and bars, a comprehensive ban on events, and a requirement for high schools and universities to switch to e-learning. According to the government website, […]
