Latest news in Hungary - 2 Jul 2025

Heavy Traffic in Budapest Due to Ongoing Renovations: Budapest is experiencing significant traffic congestion as multiple renovations occur simultaneously, prompting the Capital Assembly to discuss new measures to alleviate delays. Changes include potential waivers on weekday closures of key roads and prioritizing public transport along major routes. The assembly will decide on these proposals following increased traffic volumes this summer. Read more here

New Crypto Trading Law Causes Turmoil in Hungary: From July 1, Hungary will criminalize unauthorized crypto trading, potentially affecting around 500,000 individuals who have invested legally in cryptocurrencies. The new law introduces penalties of up to eight years in prison for operating without permission, leaving many professionals and investors in a state of uncertainty as the regulatory framework is not yet defined. Read more here

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Samsung's Plans for a Third Battery Plant in Hungary: Leaked documents reveal that Samsung SDI was in discussions with the Hungarian government about building a third battery plant near Göd between 2022 and 2023, but ultimately decided to put the project on hold. The plans, which included recommendations for sites from the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency, highlighted the significant demand for batteries in the growing electric vehicle market, although Samsung's representatives denied any intentions for further expansion beyond their existing operations. Read more here

Changes in Sports Medical License Requirements: A recent government decree reveals that players in billiards, chess, darts, golf, and several other sports will no longer need a sports medical license to compete, eliminating the requirement for mandatory medical examinations in these fields. Read more here

New Voluntary Price Caps for Medications: Starting July 1, over 40 commonly used medications in Hungary will see voluntary price caps, aiming to combat inflation. This initiative, led by the Ministry of National Economy, affects 34 over-the-counter and 10 prescription drugs, with prices reverting to December 2024 levels until June 2026. Read more here

New Website for Train Delay Tracking in Hungary: A new platform, voln-keses.hu, has been launched to provide detailed statistics on train delays in Hungary, allowing users to filter data by various criteria including train type, station, and time frame. In June, only 29% of MÁV trains were on time, with 53% facing delays of up to 5 minutes; the site aims to offer a clearer picture of railway performance. Read more here

Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriages: Hungary's Constitutional Court has declared that marriages contracted abroad by same-sex couples must be recognized as domestic partnerships, a ruling that the National Assembly must enact by October 31, 2025. However, these partnerships will not be classified as marriages due to constitutional restrictions, with current support for same-sex marriage among the public at 61%. Read more here

Sidewalk Collapse on Gubacsi Bridge: A section of the sidewalk on the Gubacsi Bridge in Budapest collapsed, creating a safety hazard for pedestrians, with reports of a near accident on Tuesday evening. This bridge, crucial for freight traffic and in poor condition for years, is slated to be replaced by a new structure at the cost of 44 billion forints, though construction has yet to begin. Read more here

Last Playersroom Store Closing: Hungary's sneaker culture marks a significant change as the last Playersroom store will close on September 1, after 20 years of operation and a total of 125 stores. The company director, Péter Gém, will now focus on his private brand Dorko. Read more here

CATL Lays Off Hungarian Employees: In a surprising move, battery manufacturer CATL has laid off between 50 and 100 Hungarian employees, including those on indefinite contracts, as part of a shift to replace them with Chinese workers on assignment. This decision follows a recent recruitment drive and raises concerns about the company's future plans, particularly as they have halted preparations for a second plant in Debrecen. Read more here

Tragic Attack in Bácsalmás: A mother was killed and her son critically injured after the mother’s former partner attacked them while they were walking in Bácsalmás. The perpetrator, who had a troubled history with the victim, took his own life immediately after the attack; the couple leaves behind four orphaned children. Read more here\

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