Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán dedicated most his traditional annual speech, delivered in front of his followers, to the issue of migrants, blaming EU leaders for not willing to act properly and stop the flow of people to the European continent.
A candidate by the Hungarian Socialist Party (in opposition in parliament), supported by other leftist and liberal parties, won the race for the post of mayor in the town of Salgótarján, north of Budapest, beating that of the nationally ruling Fidesz party.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that his government decided to call a referendum to reject the European Union's mandatory quota system on the settlement of migrants in Hungary. Many say such a referendum is unconstitutional.
Opposition parties in Hungary have accused the governing force Fidesz of hiring hooligan-looking people to prevent an opposition member of parliament from initiating a referendum on canceling a law that orders most supermarkets to be closed on Sundays.
Despite the pouring rain, thousands of people filled Kossuth Square in front of the building of Hungarian Parliament this Saturday to join the teachers's demonstration against the the education policy conducted by the government of Viktor Orbán.
Teachers have demonstrated in several Hungarian cities against the over-centralized school system introduced a couple of years ago by the Orbán government. The main protest was held in Miskolc with support rallies in Budapest and other cities.
A second unit of 52 Hungarian police officers left for Slovenia on Monday morning to assist it in halting illegal migration. Slovenia asked for international contribution to illegal migration control efforts at the end of October this year.
In the future, Budapest will not participate in financing public transport for the commuter belt outside the city proper, Mayor István Tarlós said following an apparently unsuccessful marathon talk he had with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The European Commission sees no systemic threat to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary, although, it has brought several procedures against it for infringing EU laws, said Commissioner Vera Jourová in a debate with MEPs on Wednesday.
The European edition of the American daily paper Politico has put Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on top of a list it compiled of 28 people (from politician to pop star) from 28 countries who are "shaping, shaking and stirring Europe."
Hungary’s parliament on Tuesday voted to abolish NAV, the tax and customs authority, as an independent body and fold it into a state secretariat operating as part of the economy ministry. The related motion was approved with 119 votes against 62.
Speaking before Hungarian Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was of the view that the European Union had been attacked, and Hungary was also in danger and that terrorists are deliberately exploiting mass migration to blend in among migrants.
The Hungarian government is of the view that EU’s enlargement policy is one of the most successful community instruments, with which a predictable development path can be determined, and stability, economic growth and competitiveness can be enhanced.
Projects financed from European Union funds in Hungary are “routinely overpriced”, according to the report “Corruption risks of EU resources in Hungary” by Transparency International Hungary, that monitors and publishes corporate and political corruption.
Hungarian Chief of Defence general Dr. Tibor Benkõ presented the “For the Alliance” medal to outgoing Chairman of the EU Military Committee Gen. Patrick de Rousiers, in recognition of his work done in the interest of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
