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Viktor Orban prepares to cast his ballot during the elections at a polling station in Budapest

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban wins fourth term in office

Nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban won a fourth term in office on Sunday as his Fidesz party emerged triumphant, official figures showed, after a campaign overshadowed by the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

World • 03 Apr 22

An election billboard of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, right, reads 'Save Hungary's peace and safety!' , with a smaller poster of Orban's opponent Peter Marki-Zay in Kisvarda, eastern Hungary

Orbán in tightrope walk as Hungarian election looms

As Hungary's general election approaches tomorrow, its incumbent prime minister Viktor Orbán has been engaged in an impressive tightrope walk between East and West, a performance the polls suggest he could pull off.

Analysis and Comment • 02 Apr 22

Hungarian President Katalin Novak smiles after she took her oath of office

First woman elected as Hungarian president

The Hungarian parliament has elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the the country's first woman president.

World • 10 Mar 22

Polish president Andrzej Duda and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in 2018

EU court dismisses Polish and Hungarian challenge

The European Union's top court has dismissed a Polish and Hungarian challenge to a new law that would allow the EU to cut funds to member countries that violate democratic rights and freedoms.

World • 16 Feb 22

Viktor Orban's government has been engaged in a dispute with the EU over legislation targeting LGBTQ people

Hungarian court rules on challenge to EU law

Hungary's constitutional court has struck down a bid by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government to challenge a ruling by the EU's top court against Budapest's harsh asylum policy.

World • 10 Dec 21

The opinion has been given by the advocate general of the European Court of Justice

EU court told to dismiss Polish, Hungarian challenge

The EU's top court should dismiss a challenge by Poland and Hungary to a new tool aimed at cutting cash payments to member states violating the bloc's rules on democracy, according to a legal opinion released today.

Europe • 02 Dec 21

A participant holds a fan with rainbow colours during the LGBTQ Pride Parade in Budapest today

Thousands support LGBTQ rights at Budapest Pride march

Thousands of Hungarians joined the annual Budapest Pride march today to support LGBTQ people and protest against a law that limits teaching about homosexuality and transgender issues in schools.

World • 24 Jul 21

There have been protests against the controversial law

Hungary calls referendum on controversial LGBTQ law

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that a referendum would be held to gauge domestic support for a controversial LGBTQ law, after the European Commission launched legal action against Budapest over the measure.

Europe • 21 Jul 21

A pitch invader waved a rainbow flag as Hungary and Germany lined out on Wednesday

What's in Hungary's controversial anti-LGBT law?

A new law in Hungary banning the "promotion" of homosexuality among minors has sparked widespread outcry - dominating Euro 2020 with a rainbow row and overshadowing today's EU summit on in Brussels.

World • 24 Jun 21

The European Commission lit in rainbow colours last year

Dutch Prime Minister says 'Hungary has no place in EU'

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said that Hungary should not be part of the European Union because of its new law banning LGBT content in schools.

Europe • 24 Jun 21

There were plenty of rainbow flags on display outside the Allianz Arena in Munich this evening where Germany play Hungary

Irish ministers criticise Hungary over LGBTQ law

Minister for Equality Roderic O'Gorman has said a new law in Hungary banning LGBTQ educational content for children is a "clear attempt to target and erase visibility and self-expression" of this community in Hungarian society.

Europe • 23 Jun 21

A man holds a placard during a demonstration against Hungary's Anti-LGBT Law in Amsterdam

Nations voice 'grave concern' at Hungary anti-LGBTQ law

Thirteen of the EU's 27 member states, including Ireland, voiced their "grave concern" at a new law in Hungary they said discriminates against LGBTQ people while claiming to protect children.

World • 22 Jun 21

It is possible to change the translucent cover of the Allianz Arena

Hungary criticises plan for rainbow-coloured stadium

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has claimed that plans to light the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours in solidarity with the LGBT community for Wednesday's Euro 2020 game between Hungary and Germany are "harmful and dangerous".

World • 21 Jun 21

More than 5,000 people rallied outside parliament on Monday against the legislation, which LGBTQ groups have compared to similar legislation in Russia

Hungarian law criticised as crackdown on LGBTQ rights

Hungary's parliament has passed a law banning the "promotion" of homosexuality to minors in what critics have criticised as a crackdown on LGBTQ rights.

World • 15 Jun 21

The measures would ensure basic reciprocal air and road connectivity between the EU and the UK - and allow for the possibility of reciprocal fishing access

EU Commission publishes back-up plan for no-deal Brexit

The European Commission has set out contingency measures aimed at coping with the disruption if no trade deal can be agreed with the UK.

Brexit • 10 Dec 20

Hungary and Poland blocked approval yesterday of the EU's long-term budget and coronavirus rescue

Poland expects concessions after vetoing EU budget

Poland expects Brussels to offer it new proposals to find a way out of stalemate after the country joined Hungary in vetoing the European Union's €1.8 trillion budget, a government spokesman said.

World • 17 Nov 20

Wizz Air has seen a hit to passenger numbers due to renewed travel restrictions in Europe and Hungary

Wizz Air trims October capacity forecast to half

Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air Holdings said today it expected to operate at half of its capacity in October.

Business • 25 Sep 20

Viktor Orban faces one of the biggest challenges of his rule as the Hungarian economy plunged by an annual 13.6% in the second quarter

Hungary to close borders over rise in Covid infections

Hungary will close its borders to foreigners from 1 September to curb a rise in coronavirus infections and Hungarians returning from abroad will have to go into quarantine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief said today.

World • 28 Aug 20

Viktor Orban has indicated that he will discuss his recent power-grab when the crisis ends

Orban has 'no time' for foreign fears over new powers

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said he has "no time" for scathing criticism from fellow EU members of the sweeping powers he took this week to tackle the coronavirus threat.

Europe • 03 Apr 20

The Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union said the three countries "have failed to fulfil their obligations under European Union law".

EU Court says Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic broke law

The European Union's top court has ruled that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic broke EU law by refusing to host their assigned share of refugees to ease the burden on southern peers like Greece following a spike in arrivals from 2015.

Europe • 02 Apr 20

New law gives Viktor Orban the power to indefinitely rule by decree until the government decides the emergency is over

Von der Leyen concerned as Orban to rule by decree

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned that coronavirus emergency measures taken by EU countries must be "limited", after Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban took on sweeping powers.

Coronavirus • 31 Mar 20

The EU will get its first European Public Prosecutor's Office to go after wrongdoing involving EU funds

'Zero tolerance' after reported farm budget abuse - EU

The European Commission has declared it has "zero tolerance for fraud" after the New York Times alleged the gigantic EU agriculture budget shores up political corruption in eastern member states.

World • 04 Nov 19

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto welcomes Angela Merkel to Sopron

Merkel and Orban mark Iron Curtain fall amid divide

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the city of Sopron to commemorate a pivotal moment in the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.

World • 19 Aug 19

East German citizens break through a gate of the fence separating Hungary and Austria on the border between the two countries near Sopron during the Pan-European Picnic on 19 August 1989

The Iron Curtain: Five things to know

It has been 30 years since the first cracks in the Iron Curtain began to show, as Hungary began to start opening its border with Austria, eventually leading to the fall of the Berlin wall three months later.

World • 19 Aug 19

Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock (left) and his Hungarian counterpart Gyula Horn cut the barbed wire in Sopron, a Hungarian border town near Austria

30 years since first chink in Hungary's Iron Curtain

The first chink that appeared in the Iron Curtain happened in Hungary 30 years ago today when an Austrian and a Hungarian minister tore through the barbed wire with bolt cutters.

Europe • 27 Jun 19