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8th January, 2026
2021 report exposed conditions at Szolo utca facility
A 2021 ombudsman report revealed serious abuses and systemic failures at the Szolo utca reformatory, including unjustified handcuffing, humiliating treatment, staff shortages, and unqualified personnel, as some of the guards there were trained as security guards, animal breeders, or painters.
The findings emerged after an unannounced inspection by the National Preventive Mechanism in June 2021.
Anti-Covid measures were adequate, but inspectors documented high staff turnover, widespread overtime, fewer nurses than required by law, and even expired medications, all of which endangered children’s right to health.
The report warned that overworked and underqualified staff increased the risk of burnout, impatience, and inhumane or degrading treatment.
Some children were forced to clean floors on their hands and knees, while others were taken to medical appointments in handcuffs, with police present during examinations, violating human dignity and data protection laws.
Separately, an internal child protection study made public in 2021 found that guardians were aware of more than 3,300 abused children, with one in five children in specialised care affected.
Tisza party president Peter Magyar said yesterday that the findings show that authorities had long-standing knowledge of systemic child abuse. (hvg.hu; 24.hu; mfor.hu)
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8th January, 2026
Dismissed head of Szolo utca centre reinstated at Debrecen
Laszlo Balazs Varga, who led the scandal-hit Szolo utca reformatory for less than a week in December, has been reinstated as deputy director of the Debrecen reformatory, opposition MP Timea Szabo reported on Facebook.
Szabo criticised the move, noting that Varga’s name has previously been linked to professional misconduct.
Varga replaced Karoly Kovacs-Buna at Szolo utca after Kovacs-Buna was caught on video assaulting residents and is now under investigation.
Varga’s appointment as head of Szolo utca was revoked on December 17 by the National Penitentiary Headquarters, which oversees reformatories.
No official reason for his departure was given.
Previous reporting by website Jelen indicated that Varga lacked qualifications in education, mental health, or social work, yet he was appointed deputy director at Debrecen just weeks after joining the institution.
There was a surge in suicide attempts at the reformatory in 2025, with more incidents in six months than in the previous 20 years.
Szabo also noted that Varga failed to report misdeeds by Peter Pal Juhasz, the former director of the Szolo utca institution, despite repeated complaints from residents.
She is now demanding explanations from Interior Minister Sandor Pinter and the government, questioning how Varga can work with children without facing prosecution for failing to fulfil his reporting obligations. (hvg.hu; nepszava.hu; mfor.hu)
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8th January, 2026
Magyar suspends campaign to focus on snow removal
The Tisza Party is pausing its election campaign until Friday, as activists instead help with snow removal and aid efforts, party leader Peter Magyar announced on Wednesday.
He said candidates and supporters will assist with clearing snow, distributing firewood, and providing help in the form of transportation, hot tea, and basic support to those affected by the severe weather.
Posting a video of himself and a crew shovelling snow at a bus stop, Magyar said the team would travel to Nograd to deliver firewood to families in need.
Heavy snowfall across the country caused delays on the M1 motorway, as well as problems with MAV and Volan services. (hvg.hu; nepszava.hu; 24.hu)
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8th January, 2026
Fidesz announces new candidates in Budapest
Fidesz presented its 16 individual parliamentary candidates for Budapest constituencies on Tuesday evening, following live campaign speeches by Viktor Orban and Alexandra Szentkiralyi.
The list includes a mix of returning politicians and newcomers.
Szentkiralyi emphasised that the candidates “do not want to talk about Budapest, but want to work for it”.
Orban declared that Fidesz must win the capital city and not a single street or apartment building should be conceded to its opponent.
“Based on the work done, I can say that we have a chance to win not only in the countryside, but also in Budapest”, the prime minister said, rather optimistically, in Telex’s view.
Only four of the 2022 Budapest candidates are running again. Szilard Nemeth was replaced after three defeats, and Zsolt Nemeth, Balazs Bus and Zsolt Wintermantel will not run individually either.
Noteworthy replacements include Balazs Nemeth, the spokesman for the Fidesz parliamentary caucus, Robert Antal D. Kovacs, the mayor of Budapest’s Tenth District, and Richard Tarnai, president of the Pest county council.
Changes follow the 2024 election law amendment, reducing Budapest’s individual constituencies from 18 to 16, a move that could negatively affect the opposition, which won 17 of 18 constituencies in 2022.
Other noteworthy Fidesz candidates include Csilla Fazekas, deputy mayor of the First District, Akos Hadhazy’s challenger Bela Radics, and state secretary Attila Fulop.
Despite the opposition’s strong position in Budapest, Fidesz remains focused on the capital due to the impact of vote differences on the national list under the winner compensation system, according to Telex. (telex.hu)
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8th January, 2026
MVM extends cut-off moratorium for households
State energy company MVM is extending its voluntary disconnection moratorium for residential customers beyond its original expiry date at the request of the Energy Ministry, due to the extreme cold, deputy minister Gabor Czepek said on Tuesday.
Households will continue to receive electricity and gas supplies until January 31, even if their arrears exceed 60 days.
The moratorium entered into effect on November 29, and was due to end on January 6.
The measure applies exclusively to residential customers and does not cover those who have already been disconnected or clients supplied by business or alternative energy providers. (portfolio.hu; nepszava.hu; hirado.hu; mfor.hu; magyarnemzet.hu; telex.hu)
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8th January, 2026
Truck drivers and ministry begin talks
Representatives of the Ministry of Construction and Transport and protesting truck drivers held talks on Tuesday afternoon, reviewing the drivers’ 12-point proposal and agreeing to continue negotiations next week.
Drivers objected last month to a major reform that would divert trucks from smaller roads onto expressways while sharply increasing tolls.
Although the ministry reached agreements with several sectoral organisations in December, many drivers objected and demonstrated in Budapest on December 22, creating traffic chaos.
Since then, the disgruntled truckers have formed the Hungarian Independent Transporters Association (MFFE).
According to the MFFE, the announced reform could force drivers into lengthy detours that, combined with a 35% toll increase, could triple transport costs and drive up prices, especially food prices.
At Tuesday’s meeting, deputy minister Nandor Csepreghy agreed that the MFFE will be included in sectoral talks, discussions on toll reform will continue until March 1, and efforts will be made to avoid disadvantaging Hungarian carriers.
A proposed moratorium on fines until March was discussed but not agreed.
MFFE organiser Tibor Orosz called the talks constructive and a “huge success”, while noting that they mark only the beginning of the process. (telex.hu; hvg.hu)
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8th January, 2026
Hundreds of thousands fall out of healthcare system
The proportion of Hungarians registered with a family doctor has dropped below 93%, according to G7, citing data from the state health insurance fund NEAK.
Registration fell from 96% to 92.7% between 2014 and 2023, meaning that some 7% of the population has no family doctor.
Reasons include working abroad despite having a Hungarian address, lack of valid health insurance, and growing numbers of districts without permanent family doctors.
Earlier data from the Central Statistics Office show that the proportion of people eligible for healthcare services fell from 97% in 2010 to 94% by 2018, leaving hundreds of thousands outside the system. (hvg.hu; telex.hu)
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