Latest news in Hungary - 13 Jun 2025

Train Safety Incident between Budapest and Székesfehérvár: A Vízipók fast train traveled with an open door for over an hour at speeds reaching 120 km/h due to an emergency release being pulled. MÁV addressed the issue, stating a ticket inspector was present to prevent passengers from accessing the area, and the door was repaired upon arrival in Székesfehérvár. Read more here

Pharmaceutical Price Reductions Announced: Pharmaceutical wholesalers in Hungary are set to voluntarily reduce prices on certain products to levels from late 2024, effective July 1, following discussions with National Economy Minister Márton Nagy. This move aims to alleviate some economic pressures resulting from high inflation. Read more here

Police Seek Heroes in Pécs: The police in Pécs are looking for two anonymous drivers who saved a little boy from potential danger after he rode his toy motorcycle onto a busy road. They expressed their gratitude in an open letter, highlighting the importance of responsible adult supervision and calling for those who aided in the rescue to come forward for recognition. Read more here

EU Penalty Costs Hungary 226 Billion Forints: Hungary faces a penalty of over 226 billion forints (approximately 565 million euros) for non-compliance with EU asylum laws, with the European Commission already collecting 167 billion forints. The government, having incurred daily fines since June 2024, plans to challenge the EU Court's ruling by filing a lawsuit, marking an unprecedented move. Read more here

Director of Budapest Children's Home Suspended: The director of the Hársfa Special Children's Home in Budapest has been suspended amid an internal investigation and a police procedure linked to a drug-related issue, specifically the discovery of a significant amount of drugs at the facility. The director reportedly did not notify the police about the incident, which prompted the investigation. Read more here

Police Ban Rainbow Parade Again: For the third time, Budapest Police have prohibited the rainbow parade, originally scheduled for June 28, citing concerns over child protection and potential unruliness. Despite previous court rulings supporting the event, the police have not justified their stance effectively, claiming it could become associated with the Pride parade despite opposition from human rights organizations. Read more here

Controversy at the Hungarian State Opera: The Hungarian State Opera plans to lay off 29 employees due to reorganization, avoiding the mass layoff classification which would trigger union involvement. Union leaders have expressed strong opposition to the cuts, questioning management's strategy amid a reported 1 billion forint deficit, and have signaled potential strike action if negotiations fail. Read more here

Uber Expands to Miskolc: Uber has launched its taxi service in Miskolc, marking its second city presence in Hungary after Budapest. Since its reintroduction to Budapest, Uber reported over 23 million kilometers traveled by passengers and nearly half a million users. Additionally, Uber has begun offering 15-minute boat tours on the Danube in Budapest, available for free until June 14 and priced at 30,000 forints afterward. Read more here

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