Latest news in Hungary - 10 Mar 2025

Hungarian Device Lands on the Moon: A Hungarian water detection unit developed by Puli Space Technologies has successfully landed on the Moon, although it toppled over during the landing, operating briefly for about 40 minutes in extreme cold. The device managed to send telemetry data before its fall, showcasing the challenges faced in space exploration. Read more here

Gender Wage Gap Persists in Hungary: Amnesty International Hungary reports that women in the labor market suffer an average monthly loss of 130,000 HUF, with a concerning wage gap of 17.8%, one of the highest in the EU. The recent income tax exemptions for mothers of two or more children are criticized for reinforcing traditional gender roles without addressing systemic pay inequalities. Read more here

Tax Exemption for Mothers Under 30: Starting January 2026, all mothers under 30 in Hungary will be exempt from personal income tax on their total income, doubling the tax exemption from 55,000 forints to over 100,000 forints. This decision extends benefits beyond those with children born in the last two years, affecting approximately 25,000 women who previously received an average benefit of 55,000 forints. Read more here

Healthcare Protests in Hungary: Thousands gathered in Kossuth Square to protest the dire state of healthcare, with the Hungarian Medical Chamber asserting that tens of thousands of preventable deaths occur annually without reform. Deputy Secretary Péter Takács, while highlighting recent salary increases for doctors, suggested the protesting chamber is aligned with opposition efforts. Read more here

Danube Water Levels Hit Record Lows: The Danube's water level in Budapest has dropped so low that the Famine Rock has reemerged, marking the lowest recorded level for early March. The National Directorate of Water Management warns of continued decline due to a milder winter with only 60% of average precipitation, affecting both the Danube and Tisza watersheds. Read more here

St. Vincent to Perform in Budapest: Grammy-winning artist St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, will hold an intimate concert alongside pianist Rachele Eckroth on June 26 at the House of Hungarian Music as part of her European tour, An Intimate Performance. The concert will feature rearranged versions of her most popular songs. Read more here

Erasmus Confusion Hits Budapest's Rental Market: The Pannonia Scholarship, launched amid stalled negotiations over Hungary's universities' eligibility for the Erasmus program, is causing confusion as applicants report rejections from Spanish institutions. This uncertainty is reflected in Budapest’s rental market, with a notable decrease in demand from foreign university students, particularly those participating in Erasmus, indicating a decline of 5.3% in Hungary compared to the previous year. Read more here

Borsod Man Charged with Aggravated Murder: A man from Borsod is facing charges for the beating death of his partner following a series of assaults stemming from jealousy and suspicion of infidelity. The prosecutor's office has proposed a prison sentence without the possibility of parole, highlighting a troubling rise in domestic violence-related murders in Hungary. Read more here

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