Latest news in Hungary - 4 Mar 2025

Mother in Custody After Child's Death: A German woman has been taken into custody by police after her ten-year-old son was found dead in their home in Berekfürdő. Initially suspected of endangering a minor, she was hospitalized following a suicide attempt, while the cause of the boy's death remains under investigation pending an autopsy. Read more here

Hungarian Siblings to Represent Germany at Eurovision: Attila and Tünde Bornemisza, performing as Abor and Tynna, will represent Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel on May 17 with their song "Baller," marking the first German-language entry since 2007. The sibling duo, from a musical family, won the German selection with 34.9% of the audience vote, showcasing their unique blend of pop and electronic music. Read more here

Orbán and Fico Challenge EU Unity on Ukraine: At a recent EU summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged against adopting conclusions on Ukraine to avoid showcasing division, while Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared Slovakia would cease financial and military support for Ukraine. This raises concerns about the future of EU solidarity as parallel summits involving other nations, including the UK's coalition with Ukraine, gain traction. Read more here 

Szijjártó to Meet U.S. Secretary of State: Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 4 in Washington, focusing on peace efforts in Ukraine amidst ongoing tensions. Szijjártó emphasized Hungary's support for a U.S.-Russian agreement and highlighted disagreements within the EU regarding the war, stating he will seek clarity on EU sanctions against Russia before the March 10 deadline. Read more here

Hungarian Economy Grows by 0.6% in 2024: The latest data from the Central Statistical Office indicates that Hungary's GDP grew by 0.6% in 2024, despite a disappointing fourth quarter marked by declines in industry (-1.6%) and agriculture (-13.5%). The services sector saw a boost of 2.1%, contributing significantly to the overall growth, while household consumption increased by 1.6%. Read more here

Bosnia and Herzegovina Issues Diplomatic Summons to Hungary: Bosnia and Herzegovina's presidency summoned Hungarian ambassador Krisztián Pósa over accusations of Hungary meddling in internal affairs after Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar publicly backed Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik. Additionally, Dodik's support from Hungary sparks tensions, as his plane was denied landing in Bosnia, with local officials concerned about potential military support. Read more here

Orbán to Meet Macron in Paris: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. This significant dialogue marks the continuing engagement between Hungary and France on international security issues. Read more here

New U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Announced for Budapest: From March 7, Robert Palladino will serve as the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, temporarily leading communications between the U.S. and Hungary until a new ambassador is appointed. A seasoned diplomat, Palladino aims to bolster American-Hungarian relations and focuses on security, sovereignty, and development policies. Read more here

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