Latest news in Hungary - 26 May 2025

Cat Rescued from Tree Amidst Aggressive Magpies: A cat in Újpest found itself stranded atop a tree, being harassed by aggressive magpies, leading to a dramatic rescue by the Pest County Rescue Service. The feline was then taken to the Animal Rescue League for further care. Read more here

Tisza Party Open to Dialogue with RMDSZ: Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, expressed openness to meetings with RMDSZ leaders, emphasizing the need for the latter to reassess its policies for the Hungarian community in Transylvania amid criticism of its ties to Fidesz. Magyar also noted that young voters are showing increased interest in Hungarian elections and advocated for the expansion of voting rights, including mail-in and online options. Read more here

Online Voting Enabled for Ukraine's EU Membership: As of May 26, Hungarians can vote online about Ukraine's EU membership until June 20 at voks2025.hu, with over 1.2 million votes cast so far according to government sources. However, there are complaints of lost ballots, and officials claim attempts are being made to undermine the voting process, alongside concerns regarding press freedom. Read more here

Péter Magyar Delivers Gifts to Children's Homes: Péter Magyar, alongside the 'Be the Change' Association, is distributing 10 million forints worth of toys and sports equipment to 36 state-run children's homes, starting his visits in Fót and Kecskemét. Despite previous challenges with donations, Magyar aims for the gifts to bring joy to children, asserting accountability for any prior obstructions. Read more here

Karácsony Denies Knowledge of BKV Overbilling: Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony asserted at a press conference that he was unaware of any overbilling related to the BKV's IT contracts, which are now under investigation for potential corruption. He emphasized that a new city leadership since 2019 has zero tolerance for corruption, and claims that every payment has been scrutinized by authorities. Read more here

The Wild Flavors of Vietnamese Goulash in Budapest: Krisztián Huszár's unique restaurant on Frankel Leó Street offers a culinary adventure with dishes like Vietnamese goulash, showcasing a playful fusion of Asian techniques and local ingredients. Prices for the signature soup range from 3,500 to 8,500 HUF, while main courses and desserts are priced between 5,500 to 7,500 HUF and 1,500 to 3,500 HUF, respectively. Reservations are recommended! Read more here

Government Allocates Food Vouchers for Pensioners: The Hungarian government will distribute 30,000 forint food vouchers to pensioners as a response to rising food prices, with deliveries expected by autumn. Additionally, pensioners will receive partial VAT refunds on certain food items later this year to help ease their financial burden. Read more here

Price Cuts at Lidl: Lidl has implemented six rounds of price reductions this year, making staple items like eggs, dairy, and tomatoes more affordable, with some prices dropping by over 25%. With Hungarian households spending about 30% of their income on food, these reductions come as a relief amidst ongoing food inflation. To maximize savings, customers can also use the Lidl Plus app for additional discounts. Read more here

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