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Viktor Orban

All articles tagged with #viktor orban

Hungary and Russia exchange diplomatic expulsions as Budapest pivots away from Moscow

Russia has ordered Hungarian diplomats to leave Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan within two weeks, retaliating for Budapest's expulsion of ten Russian staff in September. This marks a decisive break from the pro-Moscow stance of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as the new government under Péter Magyar aligns Hungary more closely with EU positions on the Ukraine war while maintaining pragmatic ties with Russia.

via Euronews.com|

#diplomatic-expulsions #eu-foreign-policy #hungary-russia-relations

politics9 days ago•2 min saved

Hungary's 'Operation Purge' Detains Two Ex-Ministers as PM Magyar Loses Immunity

Hungarian prosecutors detained two former ministers from Viktor Orbán’s government over corruption charges, marking a key step in Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s anti-graft campaign. Simultaneously, parliament lifted Magyar’s immunity regarding a minor theft case, a move he framed as clearing his name. While the new government emphasizes accountability, opposition Fidesz party members label the actions a political purge and a violation of judicial independence.

via Euronews.com|

#corruption #hungary #peter-magyar

politics11 days ago

Hungary strips PM Magyar and two ex-ministers of immunity in historic anti-corruption move

Hungary’s parliament has voted to lift the legal immunity of Prime Minister Peter Magyar and two former ministers from Viktor Orban’s government, enabling criminal probes. Magyar, facing a theft charge from a 2024 nightclub incident, requested the waiver to clear his name. The move marks the first time a sitting Hungarian PM has lost immunity and the first major corruption cases against top Orban-era figures. Fidesz boycotted the vote, calling it a political show trial, while Magyar’s government frames it as a key step in its anti-corruption agenda.

via Al Jazeera|

#corruption #hungary #immunity

politics1 month ago•4 min saved

Brussels Think Tank Chief Resigns Over Unpaid Salaries Amid Hungary's Political Shake-Up

Frank Füredi, executive director of MCC Brussels, resigns citing ongoing failure to pay salaries as funding was withheld after Hungary’s government change; MCC Brussels, funded by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium, faces a rift with the new government led by Péter Magyar, amid scrutiny of state-backed influence and a suspended EU lobbying registration.

via politico.eu|

#frank-furedi #hungarian-politics #mcc-brussels

politics3 months ago•3 min saved

Hungary plans constitutional overhaul to oust Orbán-aligned president

Prime Minister Péter Magyar filed a 12-point constitutional amendment aimed at removing President Tamás Sulyok and weakening the Orbán-era influence, including a three-term limit for MPs, a more independent Constitutional Court, a 70-year age cap for judges, and the creation of an Asset Recovery Office to reclaim funds linked to past misdeeds. Sulyok has vowed not to leave office before his 2029 term ends. The reforms, backed by Magyar’s party’s majority, could be passed, while the EU ties billions in funding to rule of law reforms; a new president is expected to be elected by the National Assembly possibly as soon as this summer.

via politico.eu|

#constitution #hungary #judiciary

world3 months ago•3 min saved

Hungary votes to bar Orbán from returning with an eight-year term cap

Hungary's parliament approved a retroactive constitutional amendment establishing an eight-year limit for prime ministers, effectively preventing Viktor Orbán from returning to power; the measure, pushed by PM Péter Magyar with a two-thirds majority, also aims to dismantle some power structures tied to Orbán's regime, though questions remain about retroactivity and the fate of related state offices and foundations.

via politico.eu|

#constitutional-amendment #fidesz #hungary

world4 months ago•3 min saved

Hungary-Ukraine minority rights deal paves way for EU accession talks

Hungary says it has reached a deal with Ukraine to expand the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, a move it says could clear the way for the EU to begin accession talks with Kyiv. Kyiv has not publicly confirmed the agreement. If translated into Ukrainian law soon, Hungary would back opening the first negotiating cluster in Kyiv’s EU accession talks, though PM Peter Magyar warned that Ukraine would need to complete all 33 negotiation chapters, potentially taking 10–15 years and possibly prompting a Hungarian referendum. Meanwhile, EU ambassadors moved forward with the process to launch accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova, signaling continued momentum on enlargement.

via politico.eu|

#eu-enlargement #hungary-ukraine-minority-rights #ukraine-eu-accession

world4 months ago•3 min saved

Magyar pursues constitutional purge of Orbán-era appointees

Hungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar vows to amend the constitution to remove most of Viktor Orbán’s appointees, including president Tamás Sulyok, in a bid to restore the rule of law and democracy as Hungary seeks to unlock EU funds. Sulyok resists stepping down and may seek input from the Venice Commission, while Magyar uses his party’s supermajority to target other Orbán-era bodies such as the constitutional court, State Audit Office, and media regulator, with the central bank governor Mihály Varga remaining in place to preserve independence.

via Financial Times|

#eu-funds #peter-magyar #rule-of-law

world4 months ago•2 min saved

Hungarian PM seeks constitutional rewrite to oust Orbán-aligned president

Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who leads with a two-thirds parliamentary majority, plans a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok, an Orbán appointee, arguing the largely ceremonial office has eroded under the previous government. Sulyok has refused to resign, prompting Magyar to begin a roughly one-month process to remove him. Orbán allies warn that forcing removal would bypass constitutional norms, while Sulyok’s office has asked the Venice Commission for a legal assessment as part of a broader push to purge Orbán-era officials.

via PBS|

#constitution #hungary #politics

world-news4 months ago•73 min saved

Magyar’s First Foreign Trip Signals Closer Hungary-Poland Ties

Hungary’s prime minister Magyar kicks off his first foreign trip to ally Poland, signaling a push to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two nations on regional affairs, diplomacy, and shared strategic interests.

via AP News|

#donald-tusk #hungary #magyar

world4 months ago•3 min saved

Magyar’s swift start pushes Hungary onto a reformist track toward Europe

Magyar’s decisive win signals a shift away from Orbán’s regime, enabling Brussels to lift sanctions and release Ukrainian funding while pressing Hungary to deliver judicial reform and anti-corruption measures; with a two-thirds majority, constitutional changes are possible, but allies tied to the old system may shield ill-gotten gains, making it crucial to protect liberal voices and sustain momentum for rule-of-law reforms.

via The Guardian|

#anti-corruption #european-union #hungary

world5 months ago•4 min saved

Hungary's new PM vows healing and unity after Orbán era

Péter Magyar, sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister, apologized to civilians, journalists and others harmed under Viktor Orbán, pledging a more free, humane future and a unifying approach as analysts weigh how his leadership will differ from the ruling party's long rule.

via The Guardian|

#democracy #fidesz #hungary

world5 months ago•4 min saved

Hungary starts a new era as Péter Magyar takes office, ending the Orbán era

Pro‑European reformist Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister, marking the end of Viktor Orbán’s 16‑year rule after a landslide victory for Magyar’s Tisza party. He vows to roll back Orbán‑era systems, suspend state media broadcasts, and rebuild Hungary’s ties with the EU to unlock billions in frozen funds, while overseeing a parliament with a historic share of women and new leadership that signals a shift in Hungary’s political landscape.

via The Guardian|

#eu-relations #hungary #peter-magyar

europe5 months ago•208 min saved

Hungary's voters wary of Ukraine aid, split on Kyiv's EU bid, poll shows

A post-election ECFR poll finds Hungarian voters—especially supporters of Peter Magyar’s Tisza party—largely oppose providing military aid (57% oppose) and financially aid to Ukraine (net opposition of 14%), with national support at 12% for military aid and 24% for financial aid. On Kyiv’s EU bid, 41% of Tisza voters back unblocking Ukraine’s accession talks (43% oppose); nationally 27% support resuming formal talks, while 54% oppose. Viktor Orban’s obstruction of EU talks could ease under Magyar, who says he won’t fast-track Ukraine’s accession and will hold a referendum after the full process, though he’s seen as more constructive toward Kyiv. The poll also shows 93% of Tisza voters expect Ukraine-Hungary relations to improve under Magyar. Energy policy remains divided: 38% want to stop Russian energy imports, 39% oppose, with Magyar pledging to end dependence on Russian oil and gas by 2035 and to review the Paks II project.

via The Kyiv Independent|

#eu-accession #europe #hungary

world5 months ago•37 min saved

Torch Carrying Rebound: Kyiv, Rome, and Budapest Lead the Free World

The Bulwark argues that under a Trump presidency the U.S. is no longer the lone leader of the Free World, pointing to a weak approval rating and an ‘America First’ stance, while three unexpected champions—Ukraine’s Zelensky, Pope Leo XIV, and Hungary’s Péter Magyar—have emerged to defend liberal democracy, suggesting the Old World could help revive freedom in the New World rather than merely watch Washington falter.

via The Bulwark|

#liberal-democracy #peter-magyar #trump