Hungary Democracy

Orban hails Hungary as 'only' place where Trump-Putin talks can be held

Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday celebrated his country's status as the host of upcoming talks between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin, a meeting where the two leaders are expected to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump on Thursday announced his second meeting this year with Putin, a day before he was to sit down with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. A date for the meeting has not been set, but Trump said it would take place in Hungary's capital, Budapest, and suggested it could happen in about two weeks. Speaking to state radio on Friday, Orban, a close Trump ally and considered Putin's closest partner in the European Union, suggested that his long-standing opposition to the West supplying Ukraine with military and financial aid to assist in its defence against Russia's invasion had played a role in making Budapest the site of the talks. Budapest is essentially the only place in Europe today where such a ...

Hungary, following Trump, will designate Antifa terrorist group: PM Orban

Hungary will replicate a policy announced on Thursday by US President Donald Trump and designate Antifa a terrorist organisation, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. Antifa, short for anti-fascist, is an umbrella term for loosely affiliated far-left activists and groups that resist fascism, fascists and neo-Nazis, especially at demonstrations. It resembles more an ideology than an organisation, though some have embraced militant tactics. Orban, a right-wing populist and strong Trump ally, said in comments to state radio on Friday that he was pleased by Trump's announcement that he plans to designate Antifa as a major terrorist organisation in the United States. "Antifa is indeed a terrorist organisation," Orban said. In Hungary, too, the time has come for us to classify organisations such as Antifa as terrorist organisations, following the American model. It was unclear what prompted Orban's decision to make the move. Antifascist groups rarely engage in political actions in

Orbn's anti-Ukraine campaign targets rival before Hungary elections

As Hungary heads toward national elections next spring and the populist government's popularity slumps, Prime Minister Viktor Orbn has zeroed in on a central theme he hopes will sway voters: an alleged threat posed by neighbouring Ukraine. While most European Union countries have offered political, financial, and military support to Kyiv since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Hungary under Orbn has charted a starkly different course refusing to supply Ukraine with weapons or allow their transit through Hungarian territory, demanding sanctions relief and rapprochement with Russia, and adopting a combative stance toward both Kyiv and its EU backers. With his ruling Fidesz party slipping in the polls and a new opposition force gaining momentum, Orbn has escalated a sweeping anti-Ukraine campaign presenting the upcoming election as a referendum on peace or war. Going further, he has accused his leading political opponent of entering into a treasonous pact with Kyiv to overthrow hi

Italy PM Meloni, Hungary's Orban pledge cooperation on migration, Ukraine

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni met her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban on Wednesday in Rome, where the two discussed the situation in the Middle East, their support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and their commitment to the eastern country's reconstruction. Meloni also congratulated Orban on his six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council, the first chapter of accession talks with Albania and the progress made with Bulgaria and Romania in the expansion of the Schengen area, according to a statement from the Italian government. The two far-right leaders also discussed the Middle East conflict, support for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, and their nations' commitment to Ukraine's reconstruction ahead of the next recovery conference, which will be held in Rome in July 2025. During the 1 1/2-hour meeting at the Italian government's headquarters the leaders also emphasised the importance of addressing irregular migration, calling for increased cooperation with countries

Hungary's PM Orbn faces new serious challenger in upcoming EU elections

About three months ago, a scandal rocked five-time nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbn's Fidesz party which prides itself on upholding family values and Christian conservatism. As party leaders attempted damage control after close Orbn allies, President Katalin Novk and Justice Minister Judit Varga, were forced to resign over a presidential pardon for a man convicted of covering up a string of child sexual abuses, Pter Magyar saw a chance and broke ranks with the party in February. In a matter of weeks, Magyar a 43-year-old lawyer built a political movement, now poised to become Hungary's largest opposition force and challenge Orban's party in the June 9 European Parliament and municipal elections. Magyar said in a recent interview with The Associated Press that the upcoming vote was a prelude to his planned run in the 2026 Hungarian national elections. Whether he can score a win remains to be seen. Orbn has delivered his Fidesz party four straight wins in Hungary's parliamen

In a first, EU moves to cut money for Hungary over damaging democracy

EU executive proposes taking 7.5 billion euros from Hungary; 27 EU countries have three months to decide, no veto; Hungary pledges to meet all commitments to unlock EU funds

Hungary amends constitution to extend govt's state of emergency powers

The amendment would enable government to declare a state of emergency in case of an armed conflict, war or humanitarian disaster in a neighbouring country

Viktor Orban takes oath as prime minister of Hungary for fifth time

Orban's party alliance received 54 per cent of the votes in the parliamentary elections of April 3, a feat that gave him 135 seats of the 199 in Parliament

Democratic standards in EU under threat in Poland, Hungary, says commission

Democratic standards in the European Union are eroding in several member countries, particularly in Hungary and Poland where judicial independence is under threat

Democracy is on the brink in Hungary, so why is no one talking about it?

Orbán has long been a nationalist but his rhetoric of late has whipped up xenophobia