MAGA’s battle for Europe isn’t over Donald Trump has turned toxic and Viktor Orbán is toast. But the authoritarian threat isn't going away Salon · Apr 19
EU and Magyar agreed to work together for release of EU cash after weekend talks Ursula von der Leyen's right-hand man sent to Budapest to begin work for the release of €10 billion as Magyar races to unfreeze the cash in exchange of reforms. According to sources involved in the negotiations, the release of funds is not connected to Ukraine. Euronews · Apr 19
Europe's far right seeks to regroup at anti-immigration rally in Milan Far-right figures from across Europe gathered in northern Italy on Saturday for a rally aimed at building momentum as key elections approach in several EU countries, including France, after the defeat of long-time leader Viktor Orban in Hungary last weekend. Radio France Internationale · Apr 19
Hungary’s incoming PM seeks Polish help to renew EU relations Péter Magyar hopes building stronger relations with Poland will help restore ties with bloc after Orbán’s rule The Guardian - UK · Apr 18
‘A defeat for Putin’: Ukrainians hope Magyar’s victory will mark new era with Hungary As Orbán is rejected, there is cautious optimism new leader can restore ties – but issues such as EU accession loom large The Guardian - UK · Apr 18
Digested week: Hungary’s election result is rare good news in a depressing and surreal world Not least because JD Vance’s show of support for Viktor Orbán appears to have had opposite of desired effect The Guardian - UK · Apr 17
Oil flows from Russia via Druzhba pipeline to Hungary could resume next week, Magyar says The pipeline, which delivers Russian oil to Hungary via Ukraine, has been a source of contention between Budapest and Kyiv after flows were stopped when it sustained damage in a drone strike. Euronews · Apr 17
Why many of Hungary’s religious groups will be celebrating Viktor Orbán’s election loss Hungary’s long-serving leader, Viktor Orbán, was dismissed on April 12 by an electorate fed up with his authoritarian rule. Péter Magyar led his Tisza party to a landslide victory, securing a two-thirds majority in parliament. This is enough for Tisza to elect members of Hungary’s highest court and even amend… The Conversation · Apr 17
EU officials arrive in Hungary for high-stakes talks with Magyar’s government Departing PM Viktor Orbán admits ‘political era has ended’ as EU says ‘clock is ticking’ to resolve important issues The Guardian - UK · Apr 17
EU rushes to unlock billions for Hungary as Magyar prepares for power European Union officials are meeting Hungarian prime minister-elect Peter Magyar's team in Budapest on Friday, hoping to fast-track cooperation and work towards unblocking billions in funding before he takes office next month. Radio France Internationale · Apr 17
European far-right faces uncertainty after Orbán’s setback ahead of Milan rally The European far-right Patriots for Europe are facing uncertainty after Viktor Orbán’s electoral setback in Hungary raised questions about his future role in the party he helped create. A rally in Milan on Saturday will serve as an early test of the party's cohesion and political momentum. Euronews · Apr 17
After Hungary, will the Budapest effect spread to Bulgaria as the country prepares to vote Sunday? Polling suggests former President Rumen Radev’s new outfit Progressive Bulgaria could secure first place. His rise has fueled comparisons to Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Yet the parallel cuts both ways. Euronews · Apr 17
Podcast| Will Péter Magyar be able to break with Orbán’s legacy? Péter Magyar’s conservative Tisza party secured a two-thirds majority in Hungary’s parliamentary elections last Sunday. What does his victory mean for Hungary and the European Union? Euronews · Apr 17
US raises the stakes in the Strait of Hormuz This is the text from The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email. Sign up here to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox. The Conversation · Apr 17
The Guardian - UK · Apr 16 Orbán’s defeat threatens to halt Hungarian support of populist right Individuals such as Matt Goodwin and Lord Frost benefited from largesse of self-styled ‘illiberal democracy’
The Independent UK · Apr 16 Hungary’s new PM tells state broadcaster ‘we are shutting down your lying service’ in extraordinary first interview Peter Magyar slammed the channels as bring part of outgoing prime minister Viktor Orban’s ’propaganda machine’
Radio France Internationale · Apr 16 Will Hungary's new leader restore media freedom after years of Orban propaganda? As Peter Magyar prepares to take over as Hungary's new prime minister, one of his first priorities is to dismantle a media system established by his predecessor, Viktor Orban, that served to limit scrutiny and amplify the ruling party's narrative. But experts question whether the new government wants a truly…
Euronews · Apr 16 EU rushes to Budapest talks with Magyar team to unlock frozen funds amid Ukraine tensions European Commission officials are due to meet the team of Hungary’s prime minister-designate, Péter Magyar, in Budapest on Friday, just five days after his election victory, to begin the process of unfreezing €17 billion in EU funds, with Ukraine-related disputes also on the agenda.
The Conversation · Apr 16 Who is Hungary’s Péter Magyar and how he overturned Viktor Orbán’s illiberal democracy The day after Péter Magyar ousted Victor Orbán as prime minister of Hungary, he gave a combative press conference. He spoke in Hungarian, but was talking to the world – and particularly to Europe.
The Conversation · Apr 16 Orbán’s downfall is a positive for EU-Hungary relations – but the reset will not be smooth Hungary’s Tisza party won parliamentary elections on April 12, bringing an end to the 16-year tenure of Viktor Orbán as prime minister. The result is a seismic one for Hungarian domestic politics. But it is also a major development in the trajectory of Hungary’s relations with the EU.
Newslaundry · Apr 16 ‘Factory of lies’: What Hungary’s state media reckoning should make us think about Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar has used a landmark appearance on the country’s state-controlled M1 television network to deliver a scathing critique of the broadcaster. The live interview, conducted in their studios in Budapest, marked the first time in 18 months that Magyar was permitted on the network.
The Independent UK · Apr 15 Hungary’s new prime minister urges president to resign immediately IN FULL
Reason · Apr 15 Hungary Breaks Free: How Voters Ended 16 Years of Orbán's Iron Rule Everyone could see who, and what, was responsible for Hungary’s economic malaise.
Euronews · Apr 15 Péter Magyar's landslide victory in Hungary - what's the impact on Brussels? In this new edition of The Ring, broadcast from the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs Daniel Freund (Greens) and Sander Smit (ECR) debate the outcome of the Hungarian election and what it means for Europe.
The Independent UK · Apr 15 New Hungarian PM tells president to ‘leave office now’ in scathing attack – minutes after posing with him for a picture Peter Magyar ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule in Hungary in a boon for the European Union and Ukraine and turned on the country’s president Tamas Sulyok, saying he was ‘unworthy of representing the unity of the Hungarian nation’