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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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