Hungary

A collection of 353 posts

Anti-gov't protests turn up heat on Orban

Anti-gov't protests turn up heat on Orban

2 min read Hungary, European Union

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied against the presidential pardon scandal in Budapest on Friday evening. The catalyst for the protests is what the BBC described as “the biggest threat to (Hungarian) Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s rule since he returned to power in 2010”. Papal visit prompted controversial pardon

Hungary rocked by presidential resignation

Hungary rocked by presidential resignation

3 min read Hungary, Gulyas, Kocsis, Novak, Varga

Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigned on live TV on Saturday evening, in connection with her controversial pardon issued last year for a man convicted of covering up child sexual abuse. When Pope Francis I visited Hungary last April, Novak gave clemency to the deputy director of a state-run children’s

4iG inks deal for cable linking Egypt, Albania

4iG inks deal for cable linking Egypt, Albania

3 min read Hungary, 4iG, Telecom Egypt

Hungarian-government-linked telco 4iG and Telecom Egypt will jointly construct an express subsea cable between Albania and Egypt. Telecom Egypt is a major subsea cable operator, and last October signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 4iG. The cable will serve as a high-capacity, intercontinental connection linking Africa and Asia to

Hungarians increasingly displaced by guest workers - report

Hungarians increasingly displaced by guest workers - report

2 min read Economy, Hungary

Foreign workers are increasingly replacing Hungarians across various sectors due to structural issues within the country’s economy. Government backing of lower-wage sectors such as auto and battery production, has forced highly skilled Hungarians abroad, and foreign workers are filling the void, local media wrote.  Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’

Hungary inflation to dip, GDP to rise this year - independent think tank

Hungary inflation to dip, GDP to rise this year - independent think tank

4 min read Economy, Hungary

From Hungary’s economic perspective, last year extended the trends observed in 2022, according to independent Hungarian think-tank Policy Solutions’s annual report. In Central and Eastern Europe, and Hungary in particular, inflation emerged as a paramount economic concern. In Hungary, inflation was of a scale unseen since the 1990s.

Orban EU presidency already dividing opinion - Hungary PM wants to 'take over' EU, MEPs sceptical of his ability to lead bloc

Orban EU presidency already dividing opinion - Hungary PM wants to 'take over' EU, MEPs sceptical of his ability to lead bloc

Hungary will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2024, putting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in formal charge of the EU’s policy-making process for six months. While certain EU politicians are confident about the bloc’s future but view Hungary’

Albania tops region for sustainable energy mix

Albania tops region for sustainable energy mix

The share of renewable sources in gross final energy consumption at the EU level reached 23% in 2022, up 1.1 percentage points (pp) year-on-year, the bloc’s statistics office Eurostat reports. The EU’s revised Renewable Energy Directive has upped the bloc’s 2030 renewable energy target from 32%

Bulgaria shelves energy tax on Gazprom after pressure from Hungary

Bulgaria shelves energy tax on Gazprom after pressure from Hungary

The Bulgarian Parliament, with cross-party support, swiftly abolished a special tariff on Russian transit gas this week, after Hungary threatened to veto its Schengen membership bid. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Bulgaria’s decision to impose an additional tax on natural gas transiting through its territory to North Macedonia,

Chinese vehicle maker BYD plans plant in Szeged

Chinese vehicle maker BYD plans plant in Szeged

2 min read Hungary, BYD, Szijjarto, Tesla

After months of speculation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that China’s BYD will build its first electric vehicle (EV) factory in Europe in Szeged, south Hungary. The investment value will reach EUR 5bn, significantly more than the EUR 3bn intended for the construction of China’s CATL’s

Ukraine, Moldova become EU accession candidates as Scholz sends Orban out of room for vote

Ukraine, Moldova become EU accession candidates as Scholz sends Orban out of room for vote

EU leaders voted to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, at a historic summit in Brussels on Thursday 14 December. The EU meanwhile designated Georgia – also a former Soviet republic – as a candidate for membership, a significant shift in the EU’s level of engagement with post-Soviet states. President