Latest news in Hungary - 28 May 2025

MÁV Faces Potential Two Billion Forint Annual Loss: Hungarian railway company MÁV could incur an annual cost of around two billion forints due to a new policy allowing 50% ticket refunds for train delays exceeding 20 minutes, amounting to approximately 3% of its operations. CEO Zsolt Hegyi highlighted that while many trains experience delays, they are typically not significant, amid discussions of increasing efficiency and a 30-40% rise in passenger traffic. Read more here

Gyurcsány Busy with New Book: Former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány is reportedly working on his second crime novel, revealed by Democratic Coalition MP László Sebián-Petrovszky. This follows his earlier resignation and aims to enhance the party's prospects ahead of the 2026 elections, though details about the new book remain undisclosed. Read more here

Fidesz Votes on Controversial Tax Amendment: Fidesz members have approved an amendment in the justice committee allowing the government to revoke 1% income tax donations to certain organizations, sparking claims of retroactive legality issues. Despite opposition criticisms, Fidesz MPs insist their actions are aimed at combating foreign influence and enhancing transparency. Read more here

Shoe Company Pays Fine with Shoeboxes: A shoe trading company in Budapest settled a 65 million HUF tax fine in an unconventional manner by paying the amount in cash from two shoeboxes, following a NAV inspection that revealed over 150,000 unregistered pairs of shoes. The fine stemmed from tax violations, including failure to declare high-risk product shipments. Read more here

NAV Remains Silent on Disenfranchisement Law: The National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) is not commenting on the proposed law aimed at increasing transparency in public life, which would redirect personal income tax 1% donations from certain organizations to a state foundation. If passed, the law could significantly hinder foreign-funded organizations and retroactively impact donations already made this year. Read more here

Hungarians' Views on the EU Shift: The latest Eurobarometer survey shows that while negative perceptions of the EU have slightly decreased in Hungary, trust has dipped below the EU average. Concerns about the war in Ukraine are prevalent, with a growing opposition to Ukrainian EU membership and a notable divergence from EU sentiments on various support measures. Read more here\

Fidesz Proposes Change to 1% Tax Donation System: A recent amendment by Fidesz aims to retroactively redirect 1% of taxpayers' donations to state-designated organizations, overriding individual choices. This controversial move targets certain civil groups, particularly those critical of the government, and may raise constitutional concerns regarding retroactive legislation and freedom of expression. Read more here

Karácsony Warns of Budapest's Critical Financial Situation: Mayor Gergely Karácsony has voiced concerns about Budapest's precarious financial state, emphasizing that if judicial protection isn’t granted soon, the city could face severe consequences. He highlighted that the costs of essential services have surged by 80%, and budget cuts could lead to closures of theaters, street lighting, and social services, making it unsustainable for the municipality to operate as it currently does. Read more here

Flooding Concerns at Parajd Salt Mine: The Parajd salt mine, a well-known tourist attraction, is facing a potential flooding crisis as 50 cubic meters of water per second is entering the site through a breach, risking submersion of all seven levels within a day. The mine has been closed to visitors since early May, and local residents have been working on temporary protective measures to mitigate the water influx. Read more here

BKK Ticket Prices Set to Rise in June: Starting June 1, 2025, prices for BKK tickets will increase, with a single ticket rising from 450 HUF to 500 HUF and a 90-minute ticket going up from 750 HUF to 850 HUF, while fees for transport passes will remain unchanged. Current ticket prices will still be valid for one more year after the adjustment. Read more here

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