Latest news in Hungary - 5 May 2025

Hungarian High School Graduation Exam Concludes: The Hungarian language and literature graduation exam wrapped up today, with 77,972 students at the intermediate level and 2,278 at the advanced level participating. Live solutions to some exam tasks, including reading comprehension and literary analysis, are being presented by teacher Péter Kovács from Fazekas Mihály School. Read more here\

Duck Injured by Arrow at Lake Balaton: A mandarin duck has been spotted swimming with an arrow lodged in its head near Zamárdi, and wildlife rescuers are struggling to capture it for treatment. A similar case occurred in 2014, raising concerns about the potential risks of removing the arrow. Read more here\

One-Hour Protest Planned in Budapest: Independent MP Ákos Hadházy has announced a one-hour protest at Ferenciek tere set for May 6 at 5 PM, aiming for significant turnout despite a lack of speeches or a stage. This demonstration comes after the police previously disallowed protests at this location, with Hadházy encouraging participants to invite friends to increase numbers and potentially close the road to nearby bridges. Read more here\

Weather Alert for Monday: Expect mostly cloudy skies across Hungary on Monday, with rain and thunderstorms likely, particularly in the northwest and southern regions. Daytime temperatures will range from 11 to 25 degrees Celsius, cooling down to 7-15 degrees by evening, so don't forget your umbrella! Read more here\

Matolcsy Family Wealth Under Scrutiny: A report from the State Audit Office reveals significant financial losses during György Matolcsy's leadership at Hungary's central bank, with evidence suggesting that billions of forints ended up benefiting his son Ádám Matolcsy, who has since expanded his business dealings in Dubai, including luxury real estate transactions and a company linked to visa services. Read more here\

Tariff Threatens Hungarian Film Industry: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 100 percent tariff on films produced outside the U.S., citing concerns over the American film industry's competitiveness, which could have significant implications for Hungary's growing film production sector, especially with its largest virtual studio located in Fót. Read more here\

Rising Apartment Prices and Home Loan Rates: Apartment prices in Hungary have increased by over 15% in 2024, prompting buyers to raise their loan amounts, with the average home loan approaching 20 million forints. Interest rates remain stagnant or rising, influenced by factors such as income and property energy efficiency, while the share of subsidized loans is expected to decrease due to stricter eligibility. Read more here\

Charges Filed Against Futsal Coach: A coach has been charged with disorderly conduct and grievous bodily harm after breaking a rival player's nose during a U-17 futsal match in January. The incident occurred when he intervened in a minor scuffle, and he has been banned from sports activities pending a decision from the Szeged District Court. Read more here\

The Alchemist to Perform Solo Concert in Budapest: American producer and DJ The Alchemist will take the stage for his first solo concert in Budapest on July 27 at Budapest Park, featuring opening acts from the Wavy collective and Jazzbois. Ticket sales start on May 8 at 10 AM, so get ready to catch this Grammy-nominated artist known for collaborations with legends like Nas, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar! Read more here\

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