Hungary's Foreign Minister attacks Joe Biden, accusing him of corruption
Foreign Minister Szijjártó demanded Biden respond to corruption allegations involving his son's business dealings in Ukraine. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
2020. október 22.
2020. október 15.
Former military colonel shuts down internet at arts university campus amid ongoing student occupation
Government-appointed leadership is taking increasingly aggressive measures to bring an end to the occupation and strike at the university. Also: Fidesz retains its two-thirds majority with by-election, coronavirus deaths surpass 1,000, and a Budapest district prohibits construction of permanent housing for the homeless.
2020. október 8.
39-year-old teacher dies of coronavirus, but does not appear on government's list of deceased
Five days after the man's death, the Chief Medical Officer said she would request his medical report from the hospital. This week's InsightHungary newsletter.
2020. október 4.
Orbán turns attention from pandemic defense to the "great battle" of 2022 elections
Fears of an economic downturn and its electoral consequences are driving the Hungarian government's Covid policy as scientists go unheard.
2020. szeptember 17.
Orbán: no broad restrictions planned, "the country must function"
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.
2020. szeptember 3.
Students occupy top arts university after leadership resigns over autonomy fears
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.
2020. augusztus 27.
Foreign Minister Szijjártó threatens public employees with dismissal if they work from home during pandemic
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.
2020. július 16.
Orbán accused of "blackmail" over threats to veto EU budget and coronavirus relief package
The Hungarian government says it will only approve the desperately needed measures if rule of law conditions are removed and Article 7 proceedings closed.
2020. július 2.
Hungarian ambassador receives one year suspended sentence for possession of child pornography
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.
2020. június 25.
Fearing for its autonomy, university holds protest against privatization plan
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.
2020. május 28.
New bill would "allow rule by decree indefinitely" after end of state of emergency, NGOs say
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.
2020. május 22.
Asylum seekers released from transit zones after ruling by European court
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.
2020. május 12.
He criticized the government on Facebook, and was taken from his home by police at dawn
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.
2020. április 30.
Budapest spars with central government over transparency, protective equipment
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.
2020. április 23.
Orbán predicts pandemic will peak by May 3 as thousands of hospital beds remain empty
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.
2020. április 16.
Thousands of patients relocated or sent home following government order to vacate hospital beds
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.
2020. április 10.
Economic minister predicts recession as government announces stimulus plan
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.
2020. április 7.
In His Element: How Orbán Regained Control of the Crisis
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.
2020. április 3.
The Politics of Crisis: emergency powers law ignites international firestorm
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.
2020. március 26.
Rule by decree: emergency bill could grant government extraordinary powers
The law, which is expected to pass on Tuesday, would subvert parliamentary democracy and could have serious consequences for independent media.
2020. március 19.
"The pandemic has entered its second phase" - Gov't implements economic relief measures, military task force as coronavirus spreads
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.
2020. március 16.
Hungary seals its borders and instructs bars, restaurants to close their doors
Only pharmacies and grocery stores may keep normal opening hours as Hungary takes further steps to limit the spread of coronavirus.
2020. március 12.
State of Emergency declared as coronavirus cases reach 16
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.
2020. március 5.
Two students test positive for coronavirus in Hungary's first cases
State media censors stories on Greta Thunberg, stricter rules come to the Party District, and more important stories from this week.
2020. február 27.
"We want peace" - Roma demonstrators lead protest for judicial independence
The coronavirus spreads, police investigate a TikTok video, Budapest takes over financing of four theatres, and other stories from this week.