Latest news in Hungary - 18 Mar 2025

"Caustic Doctor" Denied Parole: The Court of the Capital has denied Kristián Bene, known for his brutal caustic attack on ex-girlfriend Erika Renner in 2013, conditional release, citing the serious nature and premeditated aspect of his crimes. Bene, who received an 11-year prison sentence, remains barred from practicing medicine and has been a point of public concern, with a petition against his release gathering over 50,000 signatures. Read more here

Government's Drug Crackdown Intensifies: A recent police raid in Debrecen, part of Hungary's intensified drug enforcement, resulted in 914 checks, 17 arrests, and 14 individuals facing drug possession charges. Government Commissioner László Horváth's controversial approach blurs the line between users and dealers, leading to criticism that this "drug war" targets casual users as well. Read more here

Government Grants Permission for Rákosrendező Purchase: For the first time under Mayor Gergely Karácsony, the government has allowed the Budapest local government to proceed with the purchase of Rákosrendező, requiring a collateral guarantee of approximately 30.5 billion HUF and the payment of 12.7 billion HUF within 10 days. This development follows negotiations with a Dubai investor and raises questions about funding sources for the acquisition. Read more here

Murder Investigation in District XVIII: A 65-year-old man was found dead in his home in District XVIII, leading to a police investigation into foul play. A 19-year-old suspect has been arrested after confessing to the assault, stating the victim did not comply with his demands. Read more here

Alcohol Addiction Crisis in Hungary: Hungary is grappling with a severe alcohol addiction issue, with an estimated 500,000 people struggling with alcoholism, as highlighted by clinical psychologist Máté Kapitány-Fövény. Despite stringent drug laws, only 10% of alcoholics seek treatment due to stigma and cultural acceptance of drinking, affecting millions of families nationwide. Read more here

Hungarian Box Office Milestone: The musical "How Could I Live Without You?" has overtaken "Run I Went" at the Hungarian box office, with over 741,000 viewers, making it the most-watched Hungarian film since 1989, despite its production with state funding of 800 million HUF. "Run I Went" previously held the record for the most viewers since the regime change, achieving over 500,000 in just six weeks. Read more here

Massive Fish Die-Off at Lake Balaton: Over a thousand perch, weighing around 500 kilograms, have washed ashore in Aliga due to low oxygen levels caused by overcrowding as fish tried to escape cormorants. This alarming trend has been observed since February in several harbors, prompting Balaton Fish Management to urge anglers to report any signs of distress. Read more here

MOL Discovers New Oil Field: MOL has uncovered a new oil field near Somogysámson, capable of producing 1,200 barrels per day. This discovery contributes to a five-year production peak for Hungary and enhances the country’s energy security. The oil will be transported to the Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta. Read more here

Momentum Disrupts Parliamentary Vote: On March 18, 2025, Momentum representatives disrupted a parliamentary vote aimed at banning Pride by lighting smoke flares and covering the chamber with a controversial photo before leaving amid promises of sanctions from the session's chairman. Despite the uproar, the ruling party maintained that the vote was handled with integrity. Read more here

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