Latest news in Hungary - 20 Aug 2025

Vacation Dispute Turns Violent at Lake Balaton: A 57-year-old foreign man faces legal action for disorderly conduct after assaulting another tourist in Balatonfüred over a disagreement regarding extending their vacation. The man was quickly apprehended by police following the incident on August 17. Read more here

Hungarian State Opera to Lay Off 29 Employees: Following unsuccessful negotiations, the Hungarian State Opera is set to lay off 29 employees as part of a restructuring plan. The unions are contesting the layoffs, which they argue target union members and active participants in past protests, claiming the move violates equal treatment laws. Read more here

Vandalism Incident on MÁV Train: A 35-year-old man from Abony has been arrested for vandalizing a MÁV train in Újszász, causing over 50 million forints in damage by smashing windows and a monitor while intoxicated, without knowing why he did it. The affected train, part of the Fonyód-Szolnok route, will be out of service for an extended period due to the extensive damage. Read more here

Fradi Falls to Qarabağ in Champions League Playoff: Ferencváros suffered a 3-1 defeat against Azerbaijani Qarabağ in the first leg of the Champions League playoff held at the Groupama Arena, despite leading at halftime. The return leg will take place next Wednesday in Baku, where Ferencváros needs to make up a two-goal deficit to qualify for the group stage for the first time in five years. Read more here

Harasser of Renner Erika Arrested: R. László, a 60-year-old man, was arrested for threatening Renner Erika via intercom at her Budapest apartment, promising to kill her next visit. Despite a prior restraining order against him that had expired, the police are now pursuing further action following repeated harassment allegations against both Renner and her legal representatives. Read more here

Péter Magyar Launches Saint Stephen Program to Combat Population Decline: In a recent speech, Péter Magyar announced the ambitious Saint Stephen Program, aiming to stop Hungary's population decline and enhance living standards with initiatives like building super hospitals and revitalizing municipalities. The plan outlines ten key goals, including increasing the population to over 10 million by 2050 and achieving a life expectancy of 80 years by 2035, all to be tracked by the Tisza Party upon taking power. Read more here

Mi Hazánk Announces Candidates for 2026 Elections: The Mi Hazánk Movement has unveiled its candidates for all 106 electoral districts in the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections, emphasizing that they will not withdraw in favor of other parties. Party president László Toroczkai and other prominent members are included in the nominations, with key goals focused on national identity, fair wages, and self-sufficiency. Read more here

Lake Palatinus Water Levels Drop: Currently, Lake Palatinus is about one meter below optimal levels due to a lack of precipitation, but water quality remains satisfactory, with no immediate concerns for bathers despite growing pollution signs. Locals continue to enjoy the lake, with some appreciating the shallow conditions for children, although illegal swimming persists in restricted areas. Read more here

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