Latest news in Hungary - 5 Jun 2025

Former Iranian President Lectures in Budapest: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned to Budapest to speak at the National University of Public Service during a sustainability conference, following a similar visit in May 2024. Despite being labeled a "self-proclaimed Holocaust denier" by the Israeli embassy, the Hungarian government stated he was there for academic purposes without official hosting. Read more here

BKV Bankruptcy Risk Looms: Vitézy Dávid warns that the Budapest public transport company BKV may face bankruptcy as early as summer due to a dire financial situation, exacerbated by the Treasury withdrawing 10.2 billion forints from the city's account. He calls for an extraordinary municipal assembly to address this crisis and proposes delaying payments to state-owned companies if the government does not step back from its solidarity tax stance. Read more here

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Hungarian Man Fakes Death for Life Insurance Payout: A Hungarian man, previously convicted of money laundering, declared himself dead using a fake Austrian birth certificate to evade prison and collect nearly 30 million forints in life insurance. He faces charges of fraud, money laundering, and forgery, while his partner has also been implicated. Read more here

Public Transportation Halt in Budapest: This Friday, Budapest's public transportation will pause for ten minutes from 11:50 AM to noon as a protest against ongoing financial disputes with the government. The city faces severe financial strain after a significant deduction from its account, raising concerns over basic service provisions and possibly leading to further escalations if no resolution is found. Read more here

Hungarian Parliament Delays Vote on Controversial Transparency Law: The Hungarian Parliament has postponed the vote on a controversial transparency law aimed at restricting organizations receiving foreign funding until after the summer recess, allowing for further discussion on the proposals received from various expert organizations. The law, which critics argue could silence independent media and NGOs, defines threats to national sovereignty broadly, including any negative portrayal of Hungary's constitutional identity and values. Read more here

MÁV Delay Insurance Launches Successfully: Since its launch three days ago, MÁV's new delay insurance has refunded half of the ticket prices to 9,600 delayed passengers, mostly automatically for app purchases. A minor technical issue has been resolved, and the service aims to improve punctuality across bus and train services, with a total refund obligation of 10 million forints identified for recent delays. Read more here

Orbán Ráhel Joins Celebrity Feud on Instagram: Orbán Ráhel, the daughter of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has entered a heated social media exchange, criticizing actor Molnár Áron for "presenting each other" in conflicts. This follows a dispute involving Vasvári Vivien and Áron regarding Ukraine's EU membership, highlighting tensions in public and celebrity discourse. Read more here

Karácsony Advocates for Magyar as Prime Minister: Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony emphasized his support for Péter Magyar to become Prime Minister, stating it aligns with the city's interests amid financial troubles caused by government cuts. He expressed concerns over potential austerity measures and the pressure on the capital, highlighting the recent withdrawal of 10.2 billion forints from Budapest's accounts and the looming possibility of strikes if negotiations with the government falter. Read more here

Ukrainian Citizen Arrested for Espionage: The Budapest Regional Court has ordered Ukrainian national Holló István's arrest for thirty days on espionage charges, as he allegedly gathered intelligence on Hungary's military and energy systems in collaboration with Ukrainian military intelligence. This follows a series of political accusations involving former officials and connections to the ruling Fidesz party. Read more here

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