The public prosecution service has not brought charges and has terminated its procedure against Ferenc Gyurcsány in the Sukoró land-swap case. This means the “accountability” process announced by Fidesz has failed in the most important symbolic case. The former prime minister was suspected of having abused his office by promising support  to a foreign investment… Continue »

Police are investigating on suspicion of incitement after far-right website kuruc.info published personal data on Jewish protesters who had called for the arrest of war crimes suspect László Csatáry. The website had offered a cash reward for information on participants in the protest in Budapest. The European Union of Jewish Students, which organised the protest,… Continue »

The hind legs of sculpture Little Girl with Foal, a 1965 work by József Somogyi that stands in parkland on Gellért-hegy (hill), were sawn off over the weekend. It is thought the culprits were metal thieves who intend to sell the stolen bronze for scrap. In 2007 three life-size bronze statues – St. Francis of… Continue »

The decree specifying when a food product can be labelled “Hungarian” is now fit to pass the European Union test and will be unleashed on the market, the Ministry of Rural Development has announced. Minister Sándor Fazekas said the terms “Hungarian”, “Domestic” and “Domestically Processed” may be included on labels as of 1 September “on… Continue »

The budget deficit stood at HUF 517.7 billion (EUR 1.81 billion) at the end of June, 89.8 per cent of the full-year target, the National Economy Ministry has announced. The cashflow-based government deficit figures, excluding local council finances, confirm preliminary data released on 5 July. Both revenue and spending were lower than expected in the… Continue »

With a free trade deal between Canada and the EU within reach of being signed this year, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (CCCH) is organising a trade mission to Canada between 9 and 19 October, where participants can meet 600 companies and seven chambers of commerce ready to partner with Europe. The trip… Continue »

Higher education is still “open, attractive and widely accessible”, a government official said on Wednesday after admissions data showed a sharp drop in the number of applicants amid cuts to student funding. “It also appears that there will be no problem replacing professionals even in fields where the government has significantly cut state support,” deputy… Continue »

Left-leaning radio station Klubrádió was one of ten media providers to be given a permit to conclude a provisional contract, the Media Council said Wednesday. Klubrádió has been surviving on temporary 60-day licence handouts – the tenth so far – since the National Broadcasting Authority (NMHH) awarded its frequency to recently established Autórádió when its… Continue »

Things have already got off to a promising start for McLaren Vienna, which is owned by Denzel Sportscars Vienna GmbH, as the company makes its market entry in Hungary. Managing director Michael Röck reports, naturally without naming names, that it already has its first Hungarian customer, a footballer. Denzel Sportscars is a subsidiary of Wolfgang… Continue »

The number of applications and places granted at universities and colleges plummeted this year, according to data released this week by the central admissions system. The number of applicants fell from over 140,000 last year to a little over 110,000. Of these, 79,861 applicants were admitted and will begin their studies in September – this… Continue »