Latest news in Hungary - 29 Jul 2025

Peter Magyar Proposes Early Retirement for Men: During his nationwide tour, Peter Magyar of the Tisza Party announced plans to allow men to retire after 40 years of service, a benefit currently exclusive to women, aiming to tackle the high mortality rate before retirement age. He also intends to reform family support rules to alleviate financial burdens upon divorce. Read more here

Controversy Over Lidl Construction in Gazdagrét: A community forum in Gazdagrét erupted in tension as residents protested the planned construction of a Lidl store on a green space managed by the parish, fearing loss of greenery and increased traffic. Local officials aim to hold a consultative vote amidst backlash, with many residents expressing skepticism over the project's approval process. Read more here

MVM Acquires Serbian Companies with Controversial Ties: Hungary's state-owned energy company, MVM Zrt, has gained majority ownership of two subsidiaries of the Serbian Maneks Group, raising concerns due to their owner's connections with Serbia's ruling party and organized crime. This deal is seen as a move to strengthen economic ties between Hungary and Serbia, amidst ongoing scrutiny of the involved parties' activities. Read more here

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Six Lotto Expands to Two Draws Per Week: Starting September 4, the Six Lotto will have draws every Thursday at 8:45 PM and Sunday, doubling the potential winning opportunities while maintaining the ticket price at 400 forints. Note that the option to submit five-week tickets will be discontinued, with new auxiliary tickets allowing entries for multiple occasions. Read more here

Michael Kiwanuka Cancels Sziget Performance: Soul musician Michael Kiwanuka has canceled his remaining summer performances, including his appearance at Sziget Festival, citing health reasons. Additionally, the Irish band Kneecap has been banned from Hungary due to controversy surrounding their political stance, causing further changes to the lineup. Read more here

Food Vouchers for Retirees Coming Soon: By mid-October, Hungarian retirees will receive food vouchers worth between 1,000 and 5,000 forints, totaling up to 30,000 forints for cold food purchases until December 31. If vouchers are not received initially, a delivery will be repeated upon request until November 14. These vouchers can be redeemed at food-selling locations and banks until February 28, 2026. Read more here

Tourism on the Rise in Hungary: In June 2025, Hungary saw a 4.4% increase in tourists and a 5.1% rise in guest nights compared to last year, totaling about 1.9 million visitors. Notably, foreign guest numbers surged by 13% in the first half of the year, with the Tokaj and Nyíregyháza region experiencing the highest growth, despite some declines in other areas. Read more here

Hungarian GDP Growth Forecast Slashed: Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy announced that the government's GDP growth projection for 2025 has been drastically reduced from 3.4% to just 1% due to underwhelming economic performance in areas like industry and household consumption. This adjustment reflects a significant downturn from earlier optimistic forecasts. Read more here\

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