Latest news in Hungary - 29 Sep 2025

Museum of Fine Arts Faces Penalties for Art Acquisition Practices: Hungary's Museum of Fine Arts has been fined for bypassing mandatory public procurement procedures in acquiring high-value artworks, including a notable El Greco piece. Director László Baán argues that the pressures of the art market make such regulations impractical, prompting a potential review of the rules governing public art purchases. Read more here

Orbán Shares Surprise Call from Trump: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán recounted an unexpected phone call from former U.S. President Donald Trump while he was dining with his wife, discussing Hungary's reliance on Russian gas. Orbán asserted Hungary's national interests during the call, which took place at a Digital Civic Circle meeting in Debrecen, and humorously noted that the conversation didn’t interrupt his dinner of ratatouille. Read more here

Pécs Pride Under Threat: Civil organizations are calling for the European Court to suspend Hungary's biometric surveillance laws that threaten the rights of Pride event participants, following the police's ban on Pécs Pride. These groups argue that Hungary's actions violate the EU's AI Act and request infringement proceedings amid ongoing EU fund negotiations. Read more here

World Press Photo 2025 Exhibition Opens in Budapest: The renowned World Press Photo exhibition is showcasing impactful images addressing global issues like war, climate change, and human resilience at the Biodome until November 9. The exhibition features 59,320 photos submitted by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries, highlighting the importance of press freedom amidst increasing threats to journalists worldwide. Read more here

Dispute Over Hungarian Drone Incident: The Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport asserts they have received no reports regarding a drone violating Ukraine's airspace, despite Ukrainian claims of such a violation. Ukrainian President Zelensky has indicated that a Hungarian reconnaissance drone may have crossed into Ukraine, with reports of multiple flights on September 26. Read more here

National Consultation Questions Revealed: The Hungarian government's latest national consultation will feature questions regarding potential tax changes, including the introduction of a multi-tier income tax system and cuts to family tax benefits. The consultation aims to gauge public opinion on these controversial topics, amid recent accusations from Fidesz against the Tisza Party over leaked tax increase plans. Read more here

CATL Layoffs Confirmed in Hungary: Battery manufacturer CATL has seen its workforce in Hungary decrease after previously laying off several dozen employees in July, despite claims of growth in staffing numbers. While the company states it remains committed to hiring local workers, data reveals a stagnation and eventual drop in Hungarian employees amid the introduction of personnel from China. Read more here

Tragic Discovery in the Pilis: A 27-year-old woman who went missing on September 7 while hiking in the Danube Bend was found dead on Sunday morning. Despite extensive search efforts involving local authorities and volunteers, she had not been located until now, with her last known communication occurring after her departure. Read more here

K. Endre's Controversial Book Sparks Outrage: K. Endre, convicted for his involvement in a pedophilia case, has released a book expressing gratitude for clemency from President Katalin Novák, igniting fierce backlash from political figures like Kocsis Máté, who criticized the book and questioned its relevance. The controversy stems from Endre's past actions, including coercing a victim to change testimony, leading to a significant public outcry surrounding the clemency decision. Read more here

-