HATC SAMPLE EDITION:
|
|
16th July, 2026
Constitutional Court tacitly accepts that Polt might leave
The Constitutional Court told Nepszava that it has a plan for the period after chief justice Peter Polt leaves his position, implying that the court has accepted that the 17th amendment to the constitution will become law.
Among other important measures, the modification compels Constitutional Court judges over the age of 70 – such as Polt and three others – to retire.
The court told Nepszava that a vice-president will be elected to the presidential post to be vacated by Polt, or the senior judge will take the position.
The court refused to express an opinion on the bill passed by the Tisza majority in Parliament on Monday with 139 affirmative votes and six dissensions.
The amendment states that Polt must leave his office by September.
Nepszava asked the Court how it evaluates the modification and whether it plans to take a legal action against its entry into force. The court replied that it does not express an opinion either on ongoing bills or approved regulations, but said only “The transition and capability to operate following the departure of the outgoing president Peter Polt will be guaranteed by us through electing a vice-president or the ranking member”.
As to President Tamas Sulyok’s potential departure, the presidential office provided what has become its standard reply to the media: “The purview and possibilities of the president are regulated by the Basic Law and the president – just as until now – will proceed accordingly.” (nepszava.hu; index.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Szijjarto quits MP seat for job at BYD
Peter Szijjarto, the former foreign affairs and trade minister, has given up his seat in Parliament in order to take a position with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, prompting some observers to suggest that Fidesz may be falling apart.
Szijjarto will be responsible for the external relations of the company group and for developing new business sectors, he wrote on his Facebook page.
BYD is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles.
Szijjarto is taking a job at BYD after it was revealed in April that some employees were made to work in extreme conditions during the construction of the factory in Szeged, and a construction worker was killed on the site last month, 444 writes.
An investigation into the investment was ordered due to suspicions of environmental damage after it was discovered that the company may have dumped contaminated soil on the site.
BYD vice-president Stella Li denied that any Hungarian environmental regulations were violated.
Szijjarto entered Parliament in 2002, was Viktor Orban’s personal spokesman from 2010, then served as state secretary for foreign affairs and foreign trade from 2012, before he was promoted to take charge of the ministerial portfolio from 2014 until Fidesz’s election defeat.
He did not run in an individual constituency in the April election, but won a seat in the legislature from the Fidesz national list. (444.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Torok: Fidesz is disintegrating
Fidesz appears to be falling apart, political analyst Gabor Torok wrote in a post on Wednesday after Fidesz member Orsolya Ferencz wrote that a strong political community must be built that transcends party policy frameworks, as Fidesz is unable to renew itself.
In addition, Gergely Gulyas announced on Monday that he is resigning as Fidesz caucus leader and on Wednesday it turned out that former foreign minister Peter Szijjarto is resigning his parliamentary seat to work at BYD.
Torok said he cannot remember the last time that politicians left Fidesz to form another party, adding it is a big question as how many people will follow Ferencz and Tibor Navracsics and whether the disintegration will affect the parliamentary caucus.
Torok may have mentioned Navracsics because the Fidesz politician also shared Ferencz’s post and said she had again phrased her message accurately.
“There are many of us who believe that we must move beyond the current party policy frameworks in order for us to be able to build a strong and authentic ideal home for everybody who believes in our shared values,” she said in a post on social media. “People who advocate civic national values must co-operate and organise their value-oriented community. We cannot wait any longer”.
Ferencz, appointed by Viktor Orban to be his government’s commissioner for space, has repeatedly criticised Fidesz since the elections.
The day after the elections, she said “we must finally cut those responsible out of the body of the nationalist side”. She wrote in early May that not everybody from the party leadership understood the weight of the current political situation and a more honest assessment and changes will be needed.
She also expressed disappointment after the Fidesz congress in June, saying that there had been no opportunity there to engage in a substantial debate.
Later last month Ferencz and Navracsics issued an open letter to right-wing entrepreneurs urging them to save the Fidesz media and finance a right-wing media portfolio, so far without any result, 444 adds. (telex.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Havasi: Fidesz in chaotic state
The Fidesz presidency will deal with personnel decisions affecting the caucus at its next session, Fidesz communications director Bertalan Havasi told MTI on Wednesday in reaction to the news that Peter Szijjarto had resigned his parliamentary mandate.
Havasi said the party’s enlarged national presidency will meet on July 21 and is expected to hold talks with the caucus the same day.
He added that Szijjarto and Viktor Orban held several consultations in recent weeks.
Havasi told HVG that Fidesz’s condition is not good, and is in some respects chaotic, adding, however, that three months after the two-thirds defeat it is not worth expecting anything else. (atv.hu; hvg.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Orban unfazed by Szijjarto news
Former prime minister Viktor Orban is apparently unperturbed by the news that Peter Szijjarto is leaving politics to take a job with BYD, one of the world’s biggest electric car manufacturers.
Referring to the annual transfer period in which Europe’s top football players change teams, he wrote: “The top transfer of the summer. Go Peter!” (index.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Govt to tighten reins on new EV battery recycling plants
The government plans to abolish a special regulatory power that allowed the minister responsible for industry to designate locations for battery recycling plants by decree, according to a bill submitted by Economy and Energy Minister Istvan Kapitany.
The amendment would also apply to ongoing procedures, meaning that pending applications would no longer be decided under the exceptional rules.
The power was granted to the minister by the Fidesz government in autumn 2024 but was never used.
Following the repeal, battery recycling facilities will once again be subject to standard environmental, waste management, public health and construction licensing procedures.
The government said the change would improve transparency, ensure equal treatment of market participants and strengthen environmental safeguards. (portfolio.hu; mfor.hu; magyarhirlap.hu; telex.hu; blikk.hu; 444.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Kapitany to review Ft 800bn in contracts
The Economy and Energy Ministry will conduct a comprehensive review of the former Energy Ministry’s contract portfolio after the previous ministry, under Csaba Lantos, made payments totalling Ft 800 billion in April and May, current minister Istvan Kapitany announced.
He said several transactions require further scrutiny, particularly contracts related to consultancy, studies, event organisation and communications.
The ministry said some of the spending may fall within normal administrative operations, but the scale and rationale of several contracts raise questions.
The contracted partners include companies linked to Lorinc Meszaros and Gyula Balasy, according to available data. (portfolio.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Communications Office terminates contracts with Lounge Group
The National Communications Office (NKOH) has terminated its two framework agreements with the Lounge Group, each with a net value of Ft 75 billion, citing ongoing criminal proceedings, financial risks and the protection of public funds.
The decision follows measures taken against the group linked to Gyula Balasy, including the freezing of bank accounts and enforcement procedures.
The NKOH said concerns over the group’s financial position and ability to fulfil contracts justified ending the agreements.
At the end of June, the state event manager NRU also cancelled its contract with Lounge Event for organising the August 20 state celebrations.
Lounge Group had been a major supplier in the state communications and event management market for years, receiving a significant share of government-related contracts, particularly through the former ministry led by Antal Rogan and the NKOH. (telex.hu; index.hu; nepszava.hu; magyarnemzet.hu; blikk.hu; portfolio.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Karman files changed budget customised to obtain EU funds
The government has submitted amendments to the 2026 budget aimed at meeting the milestones of Hungary’s Recovery and Resilience Plan in order to secure access to EU money.
The bill, tabled by Finance Minister Andras Karman, would increase the capital of state development bank MFB, reduce state guarantee limits for several public financial institutions and reschedule local government contributions under the Competitive Sub-counties Programme.
Under the proposal, MFB’s capital would be increased by euro 688.3 million, financed through a loan from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
At the same time, the bill would reduce the maximum volume of state-guaranteed MFB loans and guarantees from Ft 2 trillion to Ft 1.8 trillion.
The sharpest reductions would affect export finance. The ceiling for state-guaranteed guarantees issued by Exim Hungary would fall from Ft 200 billion to Ft 50 billion, while the limit for state-backed Exim loans and bonds would be cut from Ft 2.2 trillion to Ft 1.95 trillion.
The largest single reduction concerns the Start Garancia, where the maximum portfolio covered by the state counter-guarantee would be lowered from Ft 3 trillion to Ft 2 trillion.
The proposal also revises the timetable for local government contributions to the Regional Development Fund. Instead of earlier deductions, the first payment would be made in November 2026, with final settlement and any reimbursement taking place in March 2027 based on municipalities’ full-year local business tax revenue.
Municipalities with an annual solidarity contribution of less than Ft 50 million would also be brought into the scheme. (portfolio.hu; 24.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Budget Council to lose veto power
The government has proposed a broad reform of the budgetary framework that would significantly reduce the powers of the Budget Council, according to a bill filed by Finance Minister Andras Kalman.
Under the draft legislation, the council would lose its veto over the annual budget and instead be limited to issuing a non-binding opinion.
The timetable for preparing the budget would also change. The finance minister would be required to publish the detailed planning schedule, methodology, macroeconomic assumptions and data requirements by August 31 of each year, while the budget could be submitted to Parliament only between October 1 and 31.
The proposal would strengthen transparency in public finances. Decisions on the use of the extraordinary reserves, the reallocation, blocking or reduction of budget appropriations, as well as certain multi-year fiscal commitments, would require a publicly available government resolution. (portfolio.hu; mfor.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
MPs ease and extend windfall tax on Russian oil
Parliament has approved legislation extending the special tax on the price discount between Brent and Urals crude until the end of 2027.
The bill passed with 136 votes in favour and 53 abstentions.
The government said the amendment was prompted by unusually volatile movements this year in the price gap between Russian and benchmark international crude.
The revised rules will apply to tax liabilities arising from August 2026.
Under the new system, a 50% tax rate will apply to the portion of the Brent–Urals price differential between $2 and $5 per barrel, while the existing 95% rate will remain in force for any difference above $5.
The government expects the measure to generate an additional Ft 6.25 billion in budget revenue this year and a further Ft 15 billion in 2027.
The tax was introduced in 2022. It was initially set at 25% of the Brent-Urals price differential, before rising to 40% in August 2022 and 95% in December of that year.
The regime was subsequently eased by introducing a deductible threshold of $7.50 per barrel in April 2023, which was lowered to $5 from August 2024. (portfolio.hu; index.hu; 444.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Spar Hungary gets another injection
Spar Hungary’s parent company decided in May to boost the Hungarian unit with a Ft 20 billion capital injection, according to company documents.
The contribution, coming just six months after a Ft 30 billion capital increase, will be provided in three instalments and is expected to be completed by July 20.
Spar Hungary has been loss-making for four consecutive years, recording a shortfall of Ft 21.5 billion in 2025.
Hans K. Reich, head of the parent company, said in March that Hungary’s special taxes and the government’s price restrictions had significantly affected the retail chain’s performance. He estimated that the special tax cost Spar euro 85 million last year, while the price cap imposed on certain products resulted in an additional euro 37 million burden. (24.hu; hvg.hu; forbes.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Yettel enters fixed broadband market on 4iG network
Telecom service provider Yettel Hungary has entered Hungary’s fixed broadband market with the launch of its HiperNet fibre internet service.
HiperNet will be offered in two-speed tiers over an optical fibre network, provided by 2Connect, a subsidiary of 4iG.
The combination of mobile and fibre technologies will enable the company to provide broadband internet to more than 90% of households.
According to CEO Igor Prerovsky, the launch marks Yettel’s transition from a mobile network operator to a broader digital services provider.
The arrangement is part of a wider infrastructure partnership under discussion between 4iG and e& PPF Telecom, Yettel’s owner.
Under the proposed transaction, 4iG’s telecom unit would acquire a strategic stake in Cetin Hungary, which operates Yettel’s mobile network, while e& PPF Telecom would take a significant stake in 2Connect. (portfolio.hu; media1.hu; hvg.hu; economx.hu; blikk.hu; mfor.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Alza.hu introduces buy now, pay later service through Klarna
Online retailer alza.hu has partnered with Klarna to offer customers flexible payment options through the company’s “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) service.
Customers can now choose between paying the full amount immediately, splitting the purchase into three instalments, or, for returning customers, paying within 30 days.
Under the instalment option, the purchase price is divided into three equal parts, with the first payment due at checkout and the remaining two instalments payable one month apart.
BNPL services differ from traditional consumer loans, as they generally do not require income verification or rely on conventional credit assessment procedures.
Klarna is one of the world’s largest providers of such deferred payment solutions, offering interest-free payment options. (hvg.hu; forbes.hu)
|
16th July, 2026
Orban watched World Cup semi with family members
Former prime minister Viktor Orban watched the Spain-France semi-final match of football’s World Cup tournament in Dallas Tuesday evening with some members of his family.
He was accompanied by his son Gaspar and daughter Sara along with her husband Tamas Szokira and Janos Jakab, honorary president of the Budafok football club. They were seated below the VIP section.
OTP boss Sandor Csanyi was in the VIP seats, as he is the president of the Hungarian Football Association and a vice-president of the International Football Federation (FIFA). (telex.hu)
|
|
|
|
Contact