Hungary Today

Domestic Politics

DK Sues Public Media for ‘Presenting Elk*rtuk Feature Film’s Conspiracy Theory as Fact’

The opposition party wants "Fidesz propagandists" to understand what they see on the screen and on TV don't necessarily cover reality.

Coronavirus: Gov’t Reintroduces Mandatory Mask-wearing on Public Transport

Experts were trying to convince the Orbán administration for the past two months to reintroduce this measure.

Gov’t Gives Employers Right to Make Vaccination Compulsory for Employees

If a person does not want to be vaccinated, they will be sent on unpaid leave, and after a year they can be dismissed.

Opposition Representatives Demand Urgent Gov’t Measures to Fight Spread of Coronavirus

Vaccinations prevent severe cases of infection but cannot stop the spread of the virus, they said.

Fidesz Makes ‘Stop Gyurcsány, Stop Márki-Zay’ Petition Available in Sign Language

They wanted to give people with hearing difficulties the opportunity to support the party's signature drive.

Budapest to Reintroduce COVID-19 Restrictions

"We strongly recommend covering the nose and mouth during travel," Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony said about using the capital's public transportation.

Opposition Urges Intervention as Petrol Prices Sky-rocket

Never before have petrol prices been higher in Hungary.

Foreign politics

Orbán-Le Pen Meeting: ‘There is a pressing need for the renewal of the European right wing’

Orbán likened the European Commission to Brezhnev-era Soviet Union, adding that ideological pressure within the EU has become unprecedented.

PM Orbán: Central European Unity Precondition for Rural Development

"We want a strong central Europe which can protect itself against unnatural interventions with consequences that we suffer from even today," Orbán said at the opening ceremony of the M30 high-speed road linking Miskolc with Slovakian city Kassa (Kosice).

FreeSZFE’s Emergency Exit Program Awarded European Citizens’ Prize

FreeSZFE’s Emergency Exit program is a solution for those students who decided to leave the University of Theater and Film Arts Budapest (SZFE) following its forced takeover.

Society

Coronavirus: Number of Active Infections Surpasses 30,000

The number of active infections has doubled in a week.

Air Quality Worsens Across Hungary

NNK said air quality has deteriorated to unhealthy levels in Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Kazincbarcika, Sajószentpéter, Tatabánya, and Várpalota.

Hospitals Ban Visitors in Wake of Rising Covid Figures

In some instances patients in serious condition can be visited with permission by the hospital management.

Experts Urge Measures to Avoid Serious Deterioration of Covid in Hungary

"A reduction of 93.5 percent can be achieved by masks alone, without keeping your distance - which is the most realistic way to get around on a bus," said virologist Gábor Kemenesi.

More Flu-Like Illnesses Expected than Usual

As was the case during last year's emergency situation, the flu vaccine will be provided free of charge to everyone this year, the government announced.

Hungary’s Health Experts: Maintain Social Distancing, Wear a Face Mask

Not just individual specialists, but even health institutions are joining in reaffirming that not only vaccination, but masks and social distancing are in fact important for protecting people’s health.

Budapest Assembly Approves Purchase of New Trolley Buses

Under the proposal, Budapest transport authority BKK will buy 36 articulated and 12 solo trolley buses from the Solaris-Skoda consortium.

Economy

Government Reportedly Raises Offer for Budapest Airport with Doubtful Financial Return

The recently-renovated Vienna airport's market value, which is a lot busier than BUD Airport, only amounts to some 55% of this offer bid.

Study: Hungary’s Tourism can Recover by Spring

The recovery of the capital city of Budapest is much slower than in the countryside, as almost 95 percent of the capital's visitors are usually foreigners.

Gov’t: Number of Registered Jobseekers Falls to Below 250,000

This is 130,000 fewer compared with the recent peak during crisis-hit summer of 2020, the innovation ministry said.

Prices Expected to be 20-30 Percent Higher Over the Christmas Season

The reason for the inflation is the negative impact of the coronavirus on the world's economy, reduced production capacities, as well as problems in logistics. In addition, there is the loss of the forint against the euro.

Croatia Top Court Affirms Prison Sentence for MOL Chief Hernádi

Reacting to the decision, MOL noted that Hungarian authorities as well as an international arbitration court earlier established that neither MOL nor its executives had committed any crime.

Head of Hungary’s Central Bank: Continued Centralization Will Ruin the EU

György Matolcsy argues that there are two scenarios for the EU's future until 2030.

Sides Move Closer at Minimum Wage Talks

The government offered to cut the rate on the small business tax (KIVA) from 11 percent to 10 percent.

Culture

Museum of Fine Arts to Host ‘Cezanne to Malevich’ Exhibition

The show presents several drawings and paintings by the French master including Landscape in Provence, Large Bathers, Plaster Cupid and the Card Players with Pipe.

A Very Eastern European Horror Movie – Post Mortem

The movie, set after World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic, tells the story of a post-mortem photographer and an orphaned young girl trying to figure out what the ghosts in a haunted village want. We went to see it to get a better idea of its chances of winning the Oscar.

State Opera House’s Eiffel Workshop Opens

The Eiffel Workshop is "one of the biggest cultural developments in the capital and the country this decade," PMO Head Gergely Gulyás said.

1956 Revolution and Suppression of Uprising Led to Western Intellectuals’ Disappointment in Communist Ideology

Some who had been sympathizing with the communist systems from a distance, as a result of the events in Hungary, started to wonder whether this was really the way to go.

1956: Escape from Oppression in Hungary to Freedom in the West

During and after the period of the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, about 200,000 people left the country for the West.

Sarjú Banda to Tour in the USA

The six-member group was founded in 2016, when the winners of Hungary's folk dance and music competition formed a group

British Literary Translator Len Rix Gets Hungarian State Award

Rix's translations include classic novels like Antal Szerb's Journey by Moonlight and Magda Szabó's The Door, the latter of which was included in The New York Times' top ten list of books in 2015.

Sport

England-Hungary Under FIFA Investigation after Match Violence

According to the Foreign Minister, two fans are in custody.

Football Assoc. Bans Hungary-England’s Rowdy Fans from Future Sports Events

MLSZ will sue all the perpetrators for compensation.

After Sobering Defeats, Hungary Claims Draw in England Against All Odds

As Poland defeated Albania, Hungary's chances to arrive to the 2nd (play-offs qualifying) place of the group have decreased to almost zero.

National Coach Rossi Before England Match: ‘In Hungary, Everyone Can Live Freely Regardless of Skin Color or Sexual Orientation’

As recently as September, UEFA had imposed two suspensions on the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) for "racist expressions and acts" and "throwing objects" on the part of Hungarian fans at the World Cup qualifier against England in Budapest.

Five 8,000m Peaks Conquered by Hungarian Mountaineer

Csaba Varga is the only living Hungarian mountaineer to conquer five peaks higher than 8,000 meters without the help of supplementary oxygen and high-mountain porters.

Nikolett Szabó Wins 14th National Gallop

This year, for the first time in 13 years, the focus was not on legendary male hussars and soldiers, but on a pair of female twins, Antónia and Karolina Zichy, who were the flag mothers of the first regiments of the Hungarian Defense Forces.

‘We Will Only Survive If We Win,’ PM Orbán Decorates Medal-Winning Olympic, Paralympic Athletes

"We greatly value our athletes because we have a country that has been deprived of most of its natural resources, so everything we have is the result of individual performance and work," the prime minister said.

Lifestyle

New Musical Fountain in Nyíregyháza- Photos!

The fountain is capable of displaying a water image considered unique in Europe.

Eight Glowing Bike Paths Planned Around Hungary for December

Not only does the glow provide bike paths with significant aesthetic appeal, but the glowing beads, powered by sunlight, significantly reduce the risks of accidents.

Sopron Wineries Want to Attract More Tourists

The winegrowers have now realized that they can be much more successful if they support, not compete against each other. The goal is to be able to score internationally after the domestic market.

Pumpkin Soup – An Essential October Dish – with Recipe!

On a cool autumn day, a hot dish of pumpkin soup served with its own roasted seeds is just as amazing as it sounds.

Hungarian Passport Among Ten Best in World

The Henley Passport Index has been compiled every year since 2006. They take 227 destinations around the world and check which of them you can travel to with your passport without a visa.

Budapest’s XI District Among World’s Coolest Neighborhoods

The website recommends, among other places, the Kelet Café and Gallery, and says that the Bartók Béla Boulevard Festival in September is also worth a visit.

Best Programs at Lake Balaton in October

The Fish Festival in Siófok, Harvest Festival in Balatonfüred, or the Pumpkin Festival in Balatonalmádi: Lake Balaton has many interesting programs on offer in October as well.

Trending:

A Very Eastern European Horror Movie – Post Mortem

Press Roundup: Prime Minister Orbán Meets Marine Le Pen

Press Roundup: 1956 in 2021

Professor E. Sylvester Vizi: “The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was the most European moment in recent history”

DK Sues Public Media for ‘Presenting Elk*rtuk Feature Film’s Conspiracy Theory as Fact’

Coronavirus: Gov’t Reintroduces Mandatory Mask-wearing on Public Transport

Gov’t Gives Employers Right to Make Vaccination Compulsory for Employees

Opposition Representatives Demand Urgent Gov’t Measures to Fight Spread of Coronavirus

Fidesz Makes ‘Stop Gyurcsány, Stop Márki-Zay’ Petition Available in Sign Language

Budapest to Reintroduce COVID-19 Restrictions

Opposition Urges Intervention as Petrol Prices Sky-rocket

Hungarian Fact-checking Site to Be Set Up with European Commission’s Support

FM Szijjártó: Drug Liberalization ‘Serious Threat to European Societies’

Coronavirus: Hungary Sending Consignment of Health Supplies to Romania

FM Szijjártó: Organized Migration at Borders of Poland and Baltic States

Orbán-Le Pen Meeting: ‘There is a pressing need for the renewal of the European right wing’

PM Orbán: Central European Unity Precondition for Rural Development

FreeSZFE’s Emergency Exit Program Awarded European Citizens’ Prize

Coronavirus: Number of Active Infections Surpasses 30,000

Air Quality Worsens Across Hungary

Hospitals Ban Visitors in Wake of Rising Covid Figures

Experts Urge Measures to Avoid Serious Deterioration of Covid in Hungary

More Flu-Like Illnesses Expected than Usual

Hungary’s Health Experts: Maintain Social Distancing, Wear a Face Mask

Budapest Assembly Approves Purchase of New Trolley Buses

Government Reportedly Raises Offer for Budapest Airport with Doubtful Financial Return

Study: Hungary’s Tourism can Recover by Spring

Gov’t: Number of Registered Jobseekers Falls to Below 250,000

Prices Expected to be 20-30 Percent Higher Over the Christmas Season

Croatia Top Court Affirms Prison Sentence for MOL Chief Hernádi

Head of Hungary’s Central Bank: Continued Centralization Will Ruin the EU

Sides Move Closer at Minimum Wage Talks

Museum of Fine Arts to Host ‘Cezanne to Malevich’ Exhibition

A Very Eastern European Horror Movie – Post Mortem

State Opera House’s Eiffel Workshop Opens

1956 Revolution and Suppression of Uprising Led to Western Intellectuals’ Disappointment in Communist Ideology

1956: Escape from Oppression in Hungary to Freedom in the West

Sarjú Banda to Tour in the USA

British Literary Translator Len Rix Gets Hungarian State Award

England-Hungary Under FIFA Investigation after Match Violence

Football Assoc. Bans Hungary-England’s Rowdy Fans from Future Sports Events

After Sobering Defeats, Hungary Claims Draw in England Against All Odds

National Coach Rossi Before England Match: ‘In Hungary, Everyone Can Live Freely Regardless of Skin Color or Sexual Orientation’

Five 8,000m Peaks Conquered by Hungarian Mountaineer

Nikolett Szabó Wins 14th National Gallop

‘We Will Only Survive If We Win,’ PM Orbán Decorates Medal-Winning Olympic, Paralympic Athletes

New Musical Fountain in Nyíregyháza- Photos!

Eight Glowing Bike Paths Planned Around Hungary for December

Sopron Wineries Want to Attract More Tourists

Pumpkin Soup – An Essential October Dish – with Recipe!

Hungarian Passport Among Ten Best in World

Budapest’s XI District Among World’s Coolest Neighborhoods

Best Programs at Lake Balaton in October