Latest news in Hungary - 6 Oct 2025

Zoltán Tarr Meets Pope Leo XIII: Zoltán Tarr, MEP from the Tisza Party, recently met with Pope Leo XIII to discuss the future of Europe and common values, sharing that the Holy Father's wisdom made a lasting impression. This meeting comes amid political tensions as Tarr, central to Fidesz's campaign on the Tisza tax, navigates criticism ahead of elections. Read more here

Low Water Levels at Lake Balaton: Lake Balaton is experiencing critically low water levels due to a dry summer, with the average level currently at 66 centimeters—half of the maximum acceptable amount. As a result, parts of the lakebed have become exposed, allowing people to walk in it, while little rainfall is expected in the coming weeks. Read more here

New Bill for Asset Confiscation in Hungary: The Ministry of Justice has proposed a bill to amend laws on confiscating assets of dubious origin, aligning with a 2024 EU directive. This new legislation would allow for the confiscation of assets linked to criminal activities without the need for direct evidence, as long as serious indications of illegality are present. Read more here

Retail Sales Dip Unexpectedly This Summer: While August saw a surprising 0.8% month-on-month increase in retail sales, overall performance remains weak, particularly in Balaton, which reported stagnation and underwhelming numbers. Analysts suggest that if consumer demand doesn’t pick up soon, the challenges for Hungary’s economy could worsen, with potential GDP growth targets at risk. Read more here

Eric Clapton to Perform in Budapest: The iconic guitarist Eric Clapton will return to Budapest for a concert at the MVM Dome on May 2, 2026, marking his first performance in the city in 20 years. This concert is part of his European tour coinciding with the re-release of his 1989 album "Journeyman," featuring unreleased tracks and a new song titled "Forever." Read more here

New Loan Program for SMEs: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced a new fixed 3 percent loan program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during a press conference. SMEs can borrow up to 150 million forints through the Széchenyi card system, starting October 6. Read more here

Banned Pécs Pride March Takes Place: Despite a police ban, the fifth edition of the Pécs Pride event is underway, with organizers expecting it to be the largest in recent years, gathering participants at Kossuth Square instead of the originally planned location. Counter-protests emerged but were managed by police, ensuring the Pride participants can march without major disruptions. Read more here

Semjén Responds to Criticisms from Fidesz Colleague: Deputy Prime Minister Semjén Zsolt connected with Fidesz representative Rajmund Junghausz after Junghausz criticized him for neglecting vulnerable children during a recent interview. Semjén acknowledged the need for improvement and expressed a desire to better understand child protection issues in Hungary. Read more here

New U.S. Ambassador Nominated for Budapest: Benjamin Landa, a New York businessman and founder of a nursing home network, has been nominated by Donald Trump as the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, pending approval from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Landa is recognized for his philanthropic work and ties to New York’s Orthodox Jewish community, with the confirmation process expected to begin later this month. Read more here

Tokaj IC Train Takes Wrong Turn: The Tokaj Intercity train mistakenly headed towards Sátoraljaújhely instead of Nyíregyháza on Friday, resulting in an 80-minute delay. MÁV attributed the mishap to human error, and the railway company has since apologized to passengers. Read more here

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