Latest news in Hungary - 20 Mar 2025

Former Óbuda Deputy Mayor Released from Detention: The Capital Court has terminated the detention of former Óbuda Deputy Mayor Gergő Czeglédy, placing him under judicial supervision similar to house arrest. Czeglédy, a suspected figure in a corruption case involving hundreds of millions of forints, had been in custody since June 2022, with his case highlighting a broader corruption network, including the recent arrest of district mayor László Kiss. Read more here

Potential EU Fund Freezes for Hungary: The European Commission is investigating Hungary's sovereignty protection law, which may lead to further freezing of EU funds if deemed in violation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Currently, €6.3 billion in funds has already been suspended pending compliance, with about €1 billion permanently lost as of last year. Read more here

Kazinczy Street Car-Free Proposal: Dávid Vitézy from the Podmaniczky Movement is advocating for a trial to turn Kazinczy Street in Erzsébetváros into a car-free zone for six months, citing successful examples from other pedestrian areas in Budapest. He believes this could alleviate ongoing traffic chaos and enhance public spaces in one of the city's densely built regions. Read more here

Partial Solar Eclipse in Hungary: A partial solar eclipse will occur on March 29, peaking at 12:21 PM, when the Moon will cover 8.4% of the Sun's diameter. Observers in Hungary can enjoy this event with proper eye protection, but must be cautious, as looking directly at the Sun can cause blindness. The next solar eclipse visible in Hungary will be on August 12, 2026. Read more here

Zelensky Criticizes Orbán at EU Summit: During a video call at the EU summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that it's "anti-European" for a single individual to block significant decisions regarding Ukraine's EU accession, referencing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's previous objections. Zelensky emphasized the need for unity in European decision-making to overcome obstacles in Ukraine's path to joining the EU. Read more here

Decline in Seatbelt Usage in Hungary: During a recent week-long police initiative, over 16,000 drivers and motorcyclists in Hungary were found not using seatbelts, despite their proven life-saving benefits. The campaign, which ran from March 10-16 and focused on seatbelt and helmet compliance, revealed that 11,354 of those violations were by drivers, indicating a concerning trend in road safety awareness. Read more here

Spar Faces Major Financial Setback: Spar could face losses of up to 1.5 billion forints monthly due to Hungary's newly implemented price margin stop, affecting its already unprofitable operations for three consecutive years. The company plans to adjust its commercial practices in response to these challenges, as the margin cut makes it difficult to manage costs like wages and utilities. Read more here

Corruption Investigation at Győr Hospital: Several healthcare workers at the Petz Aladár University Hospital in Győr are under investigation for accepting bribes from cancer patients, following a similar scandal that saw four professionals arrested last December. The oncology department, crucial for thousands of patients, is now facing staff shortages as investigations continue into the bribery practices despite laws prohibiting such actions since 2021. Read more here

Police Crack Down on Balkan Drug Cartel: Hungarian police have arrested the last members of a Balkan drug cartel, linked to hundreds of millions in drug sales, while the gang's leader, Nikolic Andrija, remains at large with an arrest warrant issued in December 2023. The operation unveiled extensive drug trafficking and money laundering activities, including the seizure of 6 million forints from a mobile store used for laundering operations. Read more here

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