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☆ EU moves high-level meetings out of Budapest to protest Orbán’s Ukraine war stance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Caitlin Danaher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“I can say that all member states, with one single exception, were very much critical about this behavior,” he added. “European Union policy is not a pro-war policy. Borrell’s decision comes after European Council President Charles Michel firmly hit back at Orbán’s claim that the EU has led a “pro-war policy” in a letter published last week. “Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim exercising its legitimate right to self-defense. Russia is leading a war of aggression in blatant violation of international law, Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter,” Michel wrote.

Persons: Viktor Orbán, ” Borrell, “, ’, ” Borrel, Putin, Borrell’s, Charles Michel, ” Michel, Orbán, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, ” Orban, Niamh Kennedy, James Frater, Amy Cassidy, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: London CNN, European Union, Union, European, EU, UN, Ukraine “, CNN Locations: Budapest, Brussels, Hungary, Ukraine, Hungary’s, Hungarian, Russia, Moscow, Beijing, Florida

☆ Trump ready to be ‘peace broker’ on Ukraine, Orban tells skeptical European leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told European leaders leaders that Donald Trump is “ready to act as a peace broker” between Russia and Ukraine if elected president, according to a letter seen by Reuters, amid concerns across the continent that Trump would attempt to force Kyiv into ceding territory to Moscow. Orban’s letter, addressed to European Council President Charles Michel and sent to all European Union leaders, was written in the wake of his controversial meetings with former President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I can […] surely state that shortly after his election victory, he will not wait until his inauguration, [Trump] will be ready to act as a peace broker immediately. But his visits with Putin, Xi and Trump have gone down poorly with EU lawmakers, who have accused Orban of vitally “misrepresenting” and “undermining” the EU’s stance on foreign policy. A letter signed by 63 European lawmakers, addressed to the three EU chiefs, said Orban had “caused significant damage” through his meetings.

Persons: CNN —, Viktor Orban, Donald Trump, Trump, Charles Michel, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, “, ” Orban, Orban, pare, ” Trump, Joe Biden, Russia –, Orban –, ”, Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump’s, Xi, Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola Organizations: CNN, CNN — Hungary’s, Reuters, European, European Union, Ukraine “, EU, Ukrainian, ”, European Council Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Hungarian, Beijing, Florida, Kyiv, Hungary

Mr. Trump has been a vocal supporter of Mr. Orban’s, and the meeting comes after a series of others by the Hungarian leader this month, including one with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, that caught many by surprise. Hungary took over the European Union’s rotating presidency at the start of July with the promise to “make Europe great again” — echoing the “Make America Great Again” slogan of Mr. Trump, whom Mr. Orban has endorsed for the U.S. presidency. Mr. Trump, who has a history of praising authoritarian leaders, often cites Mr. Orban’s support on the campaign trail. The two men met in March at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s private club and residence in Florida, where Mr. Trump lauded Mr. Orban as a “boss” because he did not brook political dissent. presidency is largely a clerical position, Mr. Orban has engaged in a flurry of meetings with world leaders since taking over the position.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Donald J, Trump, Orban’s, Vladimir V, Putin, ”, Mr, Orban Organizations: Trump, NATO, U.S, Mr Locations: Hungary, Florida, Washington, Hungarian, Russia, Europe, Mar

☆ Hungary’s Orban holds talks with Xi during surprise Beijing visit, days after meeting Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The two leaders began their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse Monday morning, Chinese state media reported. China is a “key power in creating the conditions for peace” in the war, Orban wrote in an X post Monday. “This is why I came to meet with President Xi in Beijing, just two months after his official visit to Budapest,” he added. Orban and Xi last met in May, when the Chinese leader was welcomed with fanfare for a state visit to Hungary. “Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” she added.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Xi Jinping, ” Orban, Xi, Orban, ”, Orban’s, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, –, Ursula von der Leyen, ” Putin, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, West, NATO, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, of, European Union, Putin, ”, Ukrainian Locations: Hong Kong, Hungarian, Beijing, Moscow, Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, Diaoyutai, Washington, Hungary, China, Russian, Kazakhstan, Europe, Budapest, ”

☆ Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Leader, Meets With Xi in China After Talks With Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Chris Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary met with China’s leader, Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, courting another authoritarian partner after talks with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Moscow last week. In announcing Mr. Orban’s visit to Beijing, China’s official Xinhua news agency said only that Mr. Xi would hold an “in-depth discussion with him on issues of mutual interest.” The leaders last met two months ago, when Mr. Xi visited Budapest as part of a drive to restore Chinese influence in Europe. Chinese state television said that Mr. Xi and Mr. Orban were holding talks in the Diaooyutai State Guesthouse, but gave no other details. This meeting will give Mr. Xi and Mr. Orban, an outlier in the European Union on support for Ukraine and other issues, a chance to urge the bloc to distance itself from Washington. Hungary began its six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union this month, giving Mr. Orban a higher profile, though not much more influence, in wider European affairs.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Xi, Vladimir V, Putin, Mr, Orban’s, Orban Organizations: Xinhua, European Union, of Locations: Hungary, Beijing, Russia, Moscow, Budapest, Europe, Diaooyutai State, Ukraine, Washington, European Union

☆ Who is Jordan Bardella and what might his far-right party do in power?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Handpicked as leader by National Rally (RN) doyenne Marine Le Pen in an effort to purge the far-right party of its racist and antisemitic roots, Bardella has taken it closer to the gates of power than ever before. Whether the RN forms a government and Bardella becomes prime minister after the July 7 runoff is not clear. So, who is Bardella, and what might his party do in power? Le Pen and Bardella address a crowd of RN supporters in Paris, after Macron called a snap election, June 9, 2024. When the prime minister and president belong to different parties – in a rare arrangement known as “cohabitation” – things can grind to a halt.

Persons: CNN — Jordan, –, Bardella, Emmanuel Macron’s, France’s, Denis, Le Pen, Le Pen’s, Louis Aliot, Le, Macron, Julien De Rosa, Freed, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Franco, Paris Anne Hidalgo, Luc Mélenchon, ” Bardella, Julien de Rosa, Gabriel Attal, ” Mujtaba Rahman, Mario Draghi, Giorgia Meloni, Benito Mussolini, Matteo Salvini, Vladimir Putin, Antonio Masiello, Hungary’s Viktor Orban –, Macron – Organizations: CNN, National Rally, National Assembly, Front, Sorbonne university, Getty, Macron’s Ensemble, Immigrants, Ministry of, Armed Forces, New Popular Front, EU, Eurasia Group, European Union Locations: Paris, France, Europe, Seine, Macron, AFP, Vichy, Spanish, Brussels, Italy, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

☆ Hungary’s Prime Minister Orban — a key Putin ally — makes first wartime visit to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L) talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) in the Europa building prior the start of the meeting on June 27, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday for his first wartime visit to the battle-torn country. Orban, meanwhile, communicated Hungary's intentions to improve ties with Ukraine and sign a broad bilateral cooperation agreement, while urging Zelenskyy to consider a quick cease-fire to accelerate peace talks, Reuters reported. Orban absented from last month's Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland, where Hungary was instead represented by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. The Hungarian prime minister has also been one of the few Western leaders to meet the increasingly isolated Kremlin leader Putin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Orban, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Orban's, " Orban, Orban absented, Peter Szijjarto, Putin, Donald Trump, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: European Union, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Reuters, nonmember Kyiv, Ukraine Peace Summit, Foreign, Associated Press, NATO Locations: Europa, Brussels, Belgium, Hungarian, Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Switzerland

☆ France’s far right may be on the brink of power after Macron’s gamble backfired. Here’s what comes next
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Saskya Vandoorne | Camille Knight | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance was crushed on Sunday after the far-right National Rally (RN) party surged in the first round of the country’s parliamentary elections. It would then become the first far-right party to enter the French government since World War II – although nothing is certain ahead of Sunday’s second round. “Tonight is not a night like any other,” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said solemnly in an address to the French. The left-wing New Popular Front has announced that it will withdraw all candidates who came in third to help prevent far-right candidates from getting elected. A loss would force Macron to nominate a prime minister from whichever party wins – putting a political opponent in charge of running the government.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron’s, Gabriel Attal, It’s, “, Italy’s Giorgia, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Vladmir Putin, Le Pen, Vladimir Putin, Macron, Jordan Bardella, Bardella Organizations: Paris CNN, New, Ensemble, ”, European Union, Russian, NATO, National Assembly Locations: Sunday’s, Europe, Ukraine, Russian, France

☆ Hungary’s populist Orbán to take over EU presidency as many issues hang in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, arrives on day one of the European Union (EU) leaders summit at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, May 30, 2022. Hungary's motto for its presidency — Make Europe Great Again — raised eyebrows for its resemblance to the famous tagline of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The EU presidency rotates among its member countries, and while the post holds little real power, it does allow countries to put their priorities high on Europe's agenda. As Hungary's takeover approached, leaders in Brussels rushed to push through important policy decisions while Belgium was still at the helm. "(A Hungarian) delay, according to most European leaders, is already calculated and being taken into consideration as if it's something which is most likely going to happen."

Persons: Viktor Orban, Hungary's, Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump, Dorka Takácsy, —, Takácsy, Orbán Organizations: European Union, EU, —, Centre, Integration, Budapest Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, China, Moldova

☆ Euro 2024: Our ranking of all the games in Germany this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Ahmed Walid | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +35 min

AdvertisementThis was Belgium at their finest, and Romania raised the level of their game in the second half to try to equalise. If Austria wanted to have any chance of qualifying to the round of 16 they had to beat Poland in their second group game. The wide areas were where Ukraine focused their attacks, and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s square pass to Mykola Shaparenko made it 1-1 in the second half. However, Samet Akaydin and Altay Bayindir’s mishap on the second goal decreased Turkey’s probability of a comeback. More off-ball runs in the second half led to the third, and by then the match was done and dusted.

Persons: Muldur, Arda Guler, Georges Mikautadze, Khvicha, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Kerem Akturkoglu, Ronald Koeman’s, Romano Schmid, Austria, Cody Gakpo’s, Memphis Depay, Marcel Sabitzer, Merih Demiral, Ralf Rangnick’s, Vincenzo Montella’s, Michael Gregoritsch, Alexander Prass, Christoph Baumgartner, Mert Gunok, Kvaratskhelia, Jasir Asani’s, Zlatko Dalic’s, Mario Pasalic, Luka Sucic, Marcelo Brozovic, Majer, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Ante Budimir, Andrej Kramaric, Klaus Gjasula’s, Albania’s, Dan Mullan, Gianluigi, Italy weren’t, Nico Williams, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kevin C, Cox, Jeremy Doku, Ivan Schranz, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, Stanislav Lobotka, Juraj Kucka, Ondrej Duda, Martin Dubravka’s, David Hancko’s, Stu Forster, Zan Karnicnik’s, Jan Oblak’s, Luka, Patrik Schick, Ondrej Lingr’s, Ivan Hasek’s, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Saba Lobjanidze, Julian Nagelsmann, Germany didn’t, —, Murat Yakin’s, Dan Ndoye, Manuel Akanji, Fabian Schar, David Raum, Christina Pahnke –, Romania Domenico Tedesco’s, Youri Tielemans, Timothy Castagne, De Bruyne, Luciano Spalletti’s, Mattia Zaccagni, Kasper Schmeichel, Rasmus Hojlund, Manuel Neuer, Joachim Andersen, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Ricardo Rodriguez, Schar, Akanji, Gianluca Scamacca, Remo Freuler’s, Ruben Vargas, RONNY HARTMANN, Gareth Southgate’s, Milan Skriniar, Denis Vavro, Lobotka, Francesco Calzona’s, David Strelec, Jude, Harry Kane, Peter Pekarik, Michel Aebischer, Aebischer, Kwadwo Duah, Hungary’s, Dominik Szoboszlai, Roland Sallai, Willi, Adam Buksa, Nathan Ake’s, Alex Livesey, Bull, Rangnick’s, Baumgartner, Marko Arnautovic, Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin, Denis Dragus, Shaun Botterill, Neuer, Robert Andrich, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rudiger, Ilkay, Steven Bergwijn, Xavi Simons, Netherlands ’, Stefan de Vrij, Virgil van Dijk, Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, Fabian, Lukas Haraslin, Hancko, Andriy Yarmolenko, Mykhailo Mudryk —, Oleksandr, Mykola Shaparenko, Shaparenko, Denmark Christian Eriksen, Jonas Wind, Eriksen, Benjamin Sesko’s, Kasper Hjulmand’s, Erik Janza’s, Carl Recine, Antonin Barak’s, Tomas Soucek —, Hungary’s Barnabas Varga, Kevin Csoboth, De Bruyne’s, N’Golo, Aurelien Tchouameni, Didier Deschamps ’, — Theo Hernandez, Jules Kounde —, Francisco Conceicao’s, Ruben Dias, Gabriel Bouys, Croatia hadn’t, Unai Simon, Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, Rey Manaj, Havertz, Florian Wirtz, Musiala, Ryan Porteous, Scott McTominay, Tony Ralston’s, Xherdan, Kose, Bernardo Silva’s, Samet, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sesko, Diogo Costa’s, Torsten Silz, Alexander Bah, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Kylian, Ousmane Dembele, Deschamps ’, England’s, Pierre, Emile Hojbjerg, Morten Hjulmand, Marc Guehi’s, Alex Grimm, Maximilian Wober, Spain Luis de la, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Marvin, Let’s, Mark Carey, Michael Cox, Michael Regan – Organizations: Golden, Memphis, UEFA Nations League, Albania, Spain, Italy, Getty, Georgia, Hungary, Croatia, Real Madrid, Denmark, Milan, Bologna, Poland, olimpico, Dumfries, Georgia openign, Valencia, Ukraine, Manchester United, Portugal, …, Turkey, B, Slovenia AET, Danish, England, Calzona, Serbia, Michael Regan – UEFA, UEFA Locations: Turkey, Georgia, Kerem, Netherlands, Austria, France, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Italy, Albania, Pasalic, Gjasula, Spain, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Belgium, Slovakia, Doku, Slovenia, Serbia, Republic, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Romania, Youri, Modric, Denmark, England, Hungary, Dumfries, Ukraine, Ilkay Gundogan, Gakpo, AFP, Scotland, Samet Akaydin, Altay, Romanian

CNN —Hungarian striker Barnabás Varga has been released from hospital following the serious injury he sustained against Scotland at Euro 2024 on Sunday. Following the match, the Hungarian FA confirmed that Varga had suffered a concussion and a broken cheekbone which required surgery. Now comes a few weeks of rest,” the Ferencváros player said in a club statement after being released from hospital on Wednesday. “Barnabás Varga has been released from the hospital in Stuttgart this morning, he is now recovering in his home in Hungary,” the Hungarian FA said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Following the injury to Varga, Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai called for a change to medical protocols postgame.

Persons: Barnabás Varga, Varga, Angus Gunn, “ Barnabás Varga, Dominik Szoboszlai, ” Szoboszlai, “, “ It’s, don’t, it’s, Carl Recine, –, Barnabás Varga of Hungary, ” Organizations: CNN, Scotland, Hungarian FA, FA, Twitter, CNN Sport, UEFA, European Locations: Scotland, Stuttgart, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, Group

☆ Black Shirts and Banned Flags: Ultras Push Politics at Euro 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Rory Smith | Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Those hoping to march to the stadium with Hungary’s fans for their soccer team’s first game of the European Championship were expected to report by 10 a.m. sharp, five hours before kickoff. Some could wear black. Others were to stick with red, white and green, the colors of the country’s flag. The Carpathian Brigade has, in recent years, become perhaps Europe’s most infamous ultra group, its reputation forged by clashing with the police, showering opponents with racist abuse and displaying homophobic banners. In 2021, during the last European Championship, it had to remind members to cover up any Nazi-related tattoos so as not to contravene German law.

Organizations: team’s, European, Carpathian Brigade, Hungarian

☆ Dominik Szoboszlai: Hungary captain calls for medical protocol change after Barnabás Varga sustains serious injury at Euros
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Ben Morse | Boglarka Kosztolanyi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai has called for a change to medical protocols after the team’s striker, Barnabás Varga, sustained a serious injury during its match against Scotland on Sunday at Euro 2024. The 29-year-old’s teammates could be seen signaling for medical attention to be brought onto the pitch to help Varga. Cameras showed Szoboszlai seemingly in tears after the incident and appeared to be concerned at the speed at which the stretcher was being carried onto the pitch to help Varga. “It looked bad, it was bad, he felt bad,” Szoboszlai told reporters as he reflected on Varga’s injury. But seconds can help a lot.”Kevin Csoboth holds up the shirt with Varga's name on it after scoring for Hungary against Scotland.

Persons: Dominik Szoboszlai, Barnabás Varga, Varga, Angus Gunn, Kevin Csoboth, ” Szoboszlai, “, “ It’s, don’t, Marijan Murat, –, ” Csoboth, Marco Rossi, ” Organizations: CNN —, Scotland, Stuttgart, Hungarian FA, Hungary, CNN, UEFA, European, ” Locations: Scotland, Hungary, ” Hungary

☆ Germany gets stoppage-time goal to top Group A at Euro 2024, Hungary boosts qualification hopes with late goal
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

However, Niclas Füllkrug equalized late on to rescue a point for the host nation and see it top the group. The draw means that Germany finishes on seven points after its three games in Group A, two points ahead of Switzerland. Elsewhere, Hungary scored a dramatic 100th-minute winner against Scotland to get its first win of the tournament and boost its qualification hopes. Germany piled on the pressure as the second half went continued, with Kai Havertz hitting the bar. The second half followed much the same pattern until the injury suffered by Varga halted the game.

Persons: Dan Ndoye, Remo Freuler, Niclas Füllkrug, Barnábas Varga, Angus Gunn, Varga, Damien Meyer, Dominik Szoboszlai, Robert Andrich, Jamal Musiala, Daniele Orsato, Ndoye, Jonathan Tah, Angelos Tzortzinis, Murat Yakin’s, Julian Nagelsmann, Yann Sommer, Kai Havertz, Willi Orbán’s, Kevin Csoboth, Lee Smith Organizations: CNN, Switzerland, C, B, Scotland, Getty, Stuttgart, Hungarian, Germany, Frankfurt, Hungary Locations: Germany, Frankfurt, Switzerland, England, Denmark, Slovenia, Serbia, Italy, Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Scotland, Stuttgart, AFP

☆ ‘Make Europe Great Again’: Hungary unveils new motto for EU presidency, and it sounds a lot like Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Mia Alberti | Vasco Cotovio | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —“Make Europe Great Again” is Hungary’s official motto for its upcoming turn at the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. The country announced the motto and a new logo in a video posted on X on Tuesday. The motto is a near-exact copy of the slogan adopted by former US President Donald Trump, who has previously heaped praise on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The cube features the Hungarian flag on one face and the EU flag on another. In May, Orbán held the third annual American-style CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) in Hungary.

Persons: Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, Trump, “, It’s, Orbán, Trump’s, MAGA, Viktor Orban, Marton Monus, Reuters Trump, ” Organizations: CNN, of, European Union, Mar, White House, EU, Reuters Locations: Hungarian, Lago, Florida, Hungary, Budapest, Europe

☆ Emerging From Orban’s Shadow, a Former Ally Tries to Steal His Limelight
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Railing against the right-wing government that until recently counted him as a trusted insider, Hungary’s most popular and improbable opposition leader stood on the back of a flatbed truck surrounded by cheering followers. “Step by step, brick by brick, we will take back our country,” shouted the opposition leader, Peter Magyar, reciting what, during a tour of towns and villages across Hungary, has been the crowd-pleasing mantra of the 43-year-old’s upstart political movement. Making the moment all the more provocative was the location that Mr. Magyar chose for the rally: just down the road from a house that Prime Minister Viktor Orban owns in Felcsut, the village where the leader grew up. Since taking power 14 years ago, Mr. Orban has won four general elections in a row, refashioning Hungary into an “illiberal democracy” often more in tune with China and Russia than with its nominal allies in NATO and the European Union. Now, for the first time in years, the country has been swept by a sense that change, though not imminent, is possible.

Persons: ”, Peter Magyar, Magyar, Viktor Orban, Orban Organizations: NATO, European Union Locations: Hungary, Felcsut, China, Russia

☆ A Hungarian Rapper’s Bandwagon Gets an Unlikely New Rider
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The 22-year-old rapper is so popular — he recently held three sold-out concerts at Hungary’s largest stadium — that even Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a stodgy champion of traditional values not known for being in tune with youth or its culture, claims he is a fan. Mr. Orban has said he particularly likes the song “Rampapapam,” a reggae-flavored ode to the joys of cannabis. It’s a surprising choice given the prime minister’s conservative views and one that raised questions about whether he has actually listened to it or just watched its video showing the musician playing soccer, the leader’s favorite sport. But Attila Bauko, a Hungarian superstar better known as Azahriah, has won so many passionate fans in Hungary that Mr. Orban, who has had 14 years in power, appears to want some of the rapper’s energy and stardust. “Since they see that a lot of people like me, it seems they want to be friendly,” Azahriah said in an interview backstage before a concert last month at the Puskas Arena, a sports stadium in Budapest, that attracted nearly 50,000 people for each of the three nights he performed.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Orban, Attila Bauko, Mr, ” Azahriah Organizations: Puskas Arena Locations: Hungarian, Hungary, Budapest

☆ Here’s what we learned from the European elections as a far-right surge upends national politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Far-right parties across the continent had strong showings, but their momentum did not cause the center ground of European politics to cave in – as many had predicted. Those gains did materialize; far-right groups were expected to secure a record number of seats in the European Parliament, dealing a major blow to the continent’s establishment leaders. Most of the far-right gains were concentrated in countries that elect large numbers of seats: France, Italy and Germany. Several other far-right parties are among the non-aligned (NI) group, predicted to secure 45 seats. The center holdsDespite a far-right surge, the centrist European People’s Party (EPP) was the biggest single winner on Sunday night.

Persons: –, Maximilian Krah, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, Von der Leyen, ” Von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le, ” Macron, Marion Maréchal, Jordan Bardella, Alexander De Croo, ” De Croo, Meloni, Tusk, Giorgia Meloni, Brothers, Benito Mussolini, von der Leyen, Donald Tusk’s, Viktor Orbán, Bas Organizations: CNN, Green, Nazi, European People’s Party, EPP, Progressive Alliance of Socialists, Commission, Ukraine, Marine, Assembly, French, Ministry, Italy’s, Italy, Law and Justice, PiS, European, Fidesz, Greens, Bas Eickhout, EFA, European Green Party, European Commission Locations: –, France, Europe, Italy, Germany, Brussels, France’s, “, Ukraine, Poland

☆ Robert Fico: Slovakia’s PM in life-threatening condition after being shot multiple times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was in a life-threatening condition in hospital Wednesday after he was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a European Council summit in Brussels, on April 18, 2024. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images/FILEFico previously served as Slovakia’s prime minister for more than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2018. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted: “I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. My thoughts are with PM Fico, his family.”And Hungarian Prime Minister Orban added: “I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Persons: CNN —, Robert Fico, Fico, Zuzana Čaputová, “ I’m, Roberto Fico, ” Čaputová, upend, “, ”, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban, Kenzo Tribouillard, Jan Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová, Kuciak, Ursula von der Leyen, Orban Organizations: CNN, CNN — Slovakia’s, Facebook, Ukraine, NATO, Kremlin, Hungary’s, European Union, Slovakia's, Getty Locations: Handlova, Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Slovak, Ukraine, Brussels, AFP, Hungarian

The American right’s growing embrace of Orbán builds upon millions of dollars that his government has spent on lobbying in the US, and new connections between Hungarian and American conservative think tanks. “Make America great again, make Europe great again!” Orbán declared in English, before continuing in Hungarian: “Go Donald Trump! Conservatives from around the US, Europe and beyond traveled to Budapest for the two-day event, which was organized by a Hungarian government-funded think tank. Two American nonprofits that are actively planning policies for a second Trump term have shown an interest in Hungary and Orbán’s model. But some of the American conservatives who flew into the country for CPAC seemed more focused on the optics of Budapest than on democratic rights.

Persons: crackdowns, “, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Donald Trump’s, ” Orbán, Donald Trump !, ” Trump, ”, Trump, Steve Bannon, President Trump, Gladden Pappin, Szilard Koszticsak, White, ” Pappin, “ saviors, Bannon, Kari Lake, Mark Meadows, Andy Harris, Zoltan Mathe, Paul Gosar, Christopher Rufo, István, Ron DeSantis, Trumpists, Kim Lane Scheppele, Orbán’s, Zsuzsanna Szelényi, ” Szelényi, Márton Gulyás, influencers strode, Joey Mannarino, ” Kyung Lah, Anna, Maja Rappard, Casey Tolan, Curt Devine Organizations: Hungary CNN —, Republican, Conservative, Trump, European Union, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, Conservative Political, “ Conservative, White House, ”, Republican Arizona, CNN, Department of Justice, Southern Poverty Law, Heritage Foundation, America, Policy Institute, Institute, Florida Gov, Princeton Locations: Budapest, Hungary, American, Europe, Lago, Dallas, America, Hungarian, Arizona, United States, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Florida, “ Hungary, marveled, New York, Washington

☆ Hungary’s Orban, a long-time Trump ally, rocked by major scandals ahead of European elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives to attend a European Council summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels on March 21, 2024. Sameer Al-doumy | Afp | Getty ImagesHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has run into political trouble ahead of European parliamentary elections in June, with his ruling party shaken by two political scandals within six weeks. Orban is a long-time ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump and widely seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest supporter in the European Union. The right-wing leader has led the central European country since 2010, making him the EU's longest-serving head of state. Yet two major scandals have recently rocked his dominance of Budapest's political landscape at a sensitive time when Hungary is poised to hold both local and European elections in early June.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Sameer Al, Orban, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin's, Peter Magyar, Janos Kummer, Zsuzsanna Vegh, Vegh, Magyar, Judit Varga —, Katalin Novak, Novak, Varga, William Shakespeare Organizations: Hungary's, EU, Afp, Getty, Hungarian, European Union, Eurasia Group, Fidesz, German Marshall Fund of, CNBC, Facebook, YouTube, Reuters, Lawyer Locations: Brussels, doumy, Hungary, Budapest, United States, Hungarian

☆ Orban Endangers Hungary’s Status as an Ally, U.S. Diplomat Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Viktor Orban is jeopardizing Hungary’s position as a trusted NATO ally, the U.S. ambassador to Budapest warned on Thursday, with “its close and expanding relationship with Russia,” and with “dangerously unhinged anti-American messaging” in state-controlled media. The ambassador, David Pressman, has for months criticized Mr. Orban for effectively siding with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russa over the war in Ukraine, but his latest remarks sharply ratcheted up tensions and indicated that trust in Hungary among NATO allies had collapsed. Hungary is “an ally that behaves unlike any other” and is “alone on the defining issue of European security of the last quarter century, Russia’s war in Ukraine,” Mr. Pressman said in a speech in Budapest marking the 25th anniversary of Hungary’s admission to the Western military alliance. “We will have to decide how best to protect our security interests, which, as allies, should be our collective security interests,” he added.

Persons: Viktor Orban, “, David Pressman, Mr, Orban, Vladimir V, Putin, Russa, ” Mr, Pressman Organizations: NATO Locations: NATO, U.S, Budapest, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary

☆ Biden takes on Trump as he brings reelection pitch to Pennsylvania in his first post-SOTU speech
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Donald Trump with the MAGA Republicans are trying to take away our freedoms,” Biden told the crowd on Friday. “He thinks Putin is a strong — basically, he’s a decent guy,” Biden said of Trump. “Orbán of Hungary, who stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works — he’s looking for dictatorship.”“That’s who he’s meeting with,” Biden added. Toward the beginning of his speech, Biden referenced the raucous exchange he had the previous night with GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. “If you’re tired, you probably watched my address last night,” Biden told the crowd.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “ Donald Trump, MAGA, ” Biden, “ That’s, lambasting, Wade, Vladimir Putin, “, Putin, Trump, Viktor Orbán, ” “, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ”, Laken Riley, Greene, flub, Donald Trump, —, Riley, he’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, he’d, GOP Sen, Katie Britt’s, ” CNN’s Donald Judd, MJ Lee Organizations: Washington CNN, Union, MAGA Republicans, NATO, Mar, GOP, Georgia Republican, Chamber, Pennsylvania, Israeli Locations: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Roe, Mar, Hungary, night’s, “, Gaza

☆ Trump to Meet Next Week With Orban, Hungary’s Leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Maggie Haberman | Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Former President Donald J. Trump will meet privately with Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, at Mr. Trump’s club in Florida next week, according to a person briefed on the plans. Mr. Orban is a right-wing nationalist who has waged an aggressive campaign against immigration and has declared that the West “is at war with itself.” He is a longtime ally of Mr. Trump and has close ties to the populist conservative movement in the United States. Mr. Trump has frequently praised Mr. Orban at rallies and in speeches since leaving the White House. Their meeting, which is scheduled to take place at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach next Friday, underscores the degree to which Mr. Trump has tried to establish himself as a sort of president-in-exile. It comes as Mr. Trump is closing in on the Republican presidential nomination and is preparing for the general election campaign against President Biden, who has had a chilly relationship with the Hungarian prime minister.

Persons: Donald J, Viktor Orban, Orban, Trump, Mr, Trump’s, Biden Organizations: Trump, White, Republican Locations: Hungary, Florida, United States, Lago, Palm Beach

☆ Ego, Putin or Jets? Reasons for Orban’s Stance on Sweden Perplex Many.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

It took 19 months of broken promises and belligerent rhetoric for Hungary to finally ratify Sweden’s entry into NATO. Why all the foot-dragging, many observers wondered, when Hungary was going to approve the Nordic country’s membership of the military alliance anyway? That question has perplexed even members of Hungary’s governing party, Fidesz, according to Peter Ungar, an opposition legislator. He said he had been approached by one Fidesz lawmaker, in the run-up to Monday’s vote in Parliament to accept NATO’s expansion, and asked: “‘What the hell is going on with Sweden?’”That a member of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s governing party would seek an explanation from a rival politician is a measure of how puzzled even allies of the Hungarian leader, never mind his opponents, became over their country delaying NATO’s expansion.

Persons: Peter Ungar, Viktor Orban’s Organizations: NATO, Nordic, Fidesz Locations: Hungary, Sweden

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