The Prime Minister said Hungarians don't want the country to shut down as it did during the coronavirus' first wave. Also this week: EU countries impose restrictions on travelers from Hungary, US Ambassador David Cornstein resigns, and Foreign Minister Szijjártó says Trump deserves the Nobel Prize.
Students and leadership at SzFE argue a new board of directors stacked with government appointees threatens to place the university under political control. Also this week: V4 citizens permitted to travel to Hungary, media organizations call on the EU to act on Hungary undermining media freedom, and public workers stage a three-day strike.
Requests by public employee trade unions to be allowed to work from home were denied, and now they are planning a three-day strike in September. This and other stories in this week's InsightHungary newsletter.
The Hungarian government says it will only approve the desperately needed measures if rule of law conditions are removed and Article 7 proceedings closed.
19,000 pornographic images of minors were found by an international investigation on computers owned by the former ambassador to Peru. This and other stories from the week.
Students, teachers and sympathizers opposed plans to bring the University of Theatre and Film Arts under the control of a foundation led by government appointees. This and more stories from the week.
New extraordinary powers could be granted to the government after it suspends the Authorization Act on June 20. This and other important stories from the week.
Some 280 asylum seekers were taken from the southern border to reception centers after the European Court of Justice ruled their detention was illegal. This and other important stories from this week.
The 64-year-old man made a post criticizing the government's decision to lift curfew restrictions the day after the peak of the pandemic. Then the police showed up.
Budapest has created its own emergency task force, and claims the government refuses to coordinate pandemic response and has not provided adequate tests or protective equipment. This and other important stories from this week.
Government officials expect new coronavirus cases to flatten out within two weeks, raising questions about the need for radical steps to vacate hospital beds. This and more important stories from this week.
Hospitals were given eight days to vacate 36,000 beds countrywide, forcing them to disrupt treatment of chronically ill patients. This and other important stories from the week.
A new coronavirus defense fund will strip parties and municipalities of funding, and a stimulus package will leave self-employed and unemployed people without relief.
Viktor Orbán was at first reluctant to allow the coronavirus to interrupt his political plans, until he learned how to use the crisis to his advantage.
The passage of the emergency powers law, and the introduction of an omnibus draft bill that would give the government even more control over public life, caused chaos as Fidesz opponents in Hungary and abroad scambled to find a response.
The law, which is expected to pass on Tuesday, would subvert parliamentary democracy and could have serious consequences for independent media.
The Minister of Defence announced military task forces will monitor and coordinate the operations of 140 companies, and said soldiers would be on the streets beginning Friday morning.
Only pharmacies and grocery stores may keep normal opening hours as Hungary takes further steps to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Universities close, events are cancelled, and tourists stay home as Covid-19 fears ramp up in Hungary. This and other important stories from this week.
State media censors stories on Greta Thunberg, stricter rules come to the Party District, and more important stories from this week.
The coronavirus spreads, police investigate a TikTok video, Budapest takes over financing of four theatres, and other stories from this week.