Browsing: Viktor Orban

Péter Magyar, Hungary’s Prime Minister, will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday and French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday. This tour focuses on restoring Hungary’s relations with the EU, following a political agreement to unlock €16.4 billion in blocked EU funds.

Hungary’s President Tamás Sulyok has confirmed he will not resign, insisting on constitutional processes regarding his role. This follows Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s ultimatum for Sulyok’s departure to facilitate access to EU funds, amid ongoing tensions within the government.

A Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania early this morning, injuring two people. Polish Undersecretary Michał Baranowski condemned the incident, asserting it represents intentional provocations amid rising tensions following similar drone incursions in the region over the past year.

Kata Tüttő, former deputy mayor of Budapest, expressed concerns about the impact of Viktor Orbán’s governance, stating the city “suffered a lot.” As President of the European Committee of the Regions, she cautioned against a “wave of centralisation” that poses risks to Europe’s regions.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed Ukraine’s demand for full EU membership, countering German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal for “associate membership” during accession talks. Zelenskyy emphasised Ukraine’s vital role in defending Europe and urged swift progress in its membership negotiations.

Hungary has signalled readiness to engage with Ukraine under new Prime Minister Péter Magyar, aiming to resolve issues concerning the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. Discussions may pave the way for lifting Budapest’s veto on Ukraine’s EU accession, contingent on guarantees for minority rights.

The European Commission is sending a high-level delegation to Budapest next week to assess Hungary’s progress in unlocking €10 billion in EU recovery funds. Following a change in government, Budapest faces a tight deadline to meet conditions related to rule of law and anti-corruption reforms by August.

Marta Kos has urged EU member states to open all accession negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova by July, following Hungary’s recent political shift. The first cluster may launch in June, with Ukraine set to receive a €90 billion loan pending Hungary’s lifted veto.

Péter Magyar has been sworn in as Hungary’s new prime minister, succeeding Viktor Orbán after 16 years. His Tisza party gained 141 seats in the National Assembly, securing an outright majority. Magyar emphasised a mandate for systemic change and called for swift resignations from former officials.

Bulgaria’s parliament approved Rumen Radev as prime minister, aiming to end political instability and boost economic development. The election, which saw a vote of 124-70, follows his party’s significant victory in April and comes amid challenges like inflation and energy crises affecting the EU member state.