Latest news in Hungary - 22 Mar 2025

Fire at MTVA Headquarters: A small fire broke out at the MTVA headquarters on Kunigunda Road in Óbuda, but employees managed to extinguish it before firefighters arrived. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and broadcasting disruptions were minimal as damage control is underway. Read more here

Police Ban Marijuana Legalization Protest: The Budapest Police have preemptively banned a protest organized by the Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party advocating for marijuana legalization, labeling it as drug promotion. The decision comes ahead of a potential amendment to the Fundamental Law that would explicitly prohibit drug-related activities starting April 15, effectively making the protest illegal. Read more here

Hungarian-Polish Friendship Celebrated: At a gala event in Kaposvár, President Sulyok Tamás reaffirmed the resilience of Hungarian-Polish friendship, emphasizing it as a deep-rooted reality beyond political influences. Polish President Andrzej Duda echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of solidarity amid security challenges, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Read more here

Meta AI Chat Assistant Now in Hungary: Meta has launched its AI chat assistant in Hungary, allowing some users to interact with it via Messenger. This new service, built on the open-source Llama 2 model, is designed to draw from both Bing and Google search results, with further enhancements expected when the Llama 3 model debuts in April 2024. Read more here

Classical Music Events this Week: Celebrate Bach's 340th birthday at the Bach for Everyone Festival with over a hundred free concerts, including the Debrecen choir’s St. John's Passion on March 25. Don’t miss Dániel Villányi's unique piano concert at the Óbuda Synagogue on March 30, or experience the Budapest Festival Orchestra's dynamic performance featuring Lalo's Spanish Symphony and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Also, enjoy the annual concert by Japanese students at the Music Academy on March 27. Read more here

Hand Grenade Accident at Military Training: A government official suffered severe injuries, including the loss of both hands, after a hand grenade exploded during a military training exercise in Újdörögd on March 22, 2025. The official is in critical condition and undergoing surgery, while a training soldier sustained less severe injuries. The event has been suspended pending investigation, and officials urge respect for the victims and their families. Read more here\

EU Rule of Law Commissioner Visits Budapest: Michael McGrath, the EU's Rule of Law Commissioner, will meet with Hungarian government officials, judiciary leaders, and civil society representatives next week to discuss the status of rule of law reforms and the implications of withheld EU funds, amounting to €5.3 billion due to ongoing concerns about judicial independence and corruption. This visit coincides with Hungary's efforts to meet specific 'super milestones' related to judicial reforms amidst scrutiny from the European Commission. Read more here

Protests Against Battery Recycling Plant in Sóskút: Hundreds marched in Sóskút, urging officials to relocate a planned battery recycling plant to Felcsút, amid rising local opposition after permits were granted without consultation. The controversial project, backed by the Slovenian Andrada group, promises 200 jobs but has faced backlash from residents who have contested the decision in court. Read more here

Budapest's Rákosrendező Purchase Moves Forward: Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced that Budapest Public Utilities Nonprofit Ltd. will transfer the first installment for the purchase of Rákosrendező properties on Monday, following successful negotiations with the Hungarian National Asset Management. The next steps include finalizing agreements with MÁV and addressing waste disposal and remediation plans. Read more here

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