Central Europe / News

Romania’s president pitches to be CEE's candidate for Nato top seat

bne IntelliNews February 23, 2024

The alliance's CEE countries had hoped to be strong contenders to helm the alliance this time around, but the Netherlands' Mark Rutte appears to have it in the bag already.

Hungarian State Audit Office fines opposition parties for alleged foreign campaign financing

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 21, 2024

The Orban government aims to cut off all kinds of funding to its political opponents, while it has an unlimited pool of state funding for campaigns.

Farmer protests grip Poland

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw February 21, 2024

The Polish government is under mounting pressure to deal with the protests and not let domestic politics compromise its support for Ukraine.

Hungary’s parliament finally sets date to ratify Sweden’s Nato membership

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 21, 2024

Hungary’s defiance over the issue has led to further souring of relations with the United States.

Hungary spent whopping €3.5bn on propaganda between 2015-2023

bne IntelliNews February 20, 2024

State advertisement contracts roughly equal half of the entire spending in Hungary’s communication market.

Hungarian influencers organise huge rally to support victims of child abuse

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 19, 2024

Biggest rally against Viktor Orban's regime since he took office in 2010.

Hungarian government officials, Fidesz cold shoulder US bipartisan delegation visiting Budapest

bne IntelliNews February 19, 2024

Senior Hungarian government officials and Fidesz parliamentary representatives declined to meet with the bipartisan US Congressional delegation on a mission focused on strategic issues confronting Nato and Hungary.

Polish farmers to step up protests by “complete blockade” of Ukrainian border

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw. February 14, 2024

Protests put Poland’s government in a precarious position ahead of local elections in April.

Tusk says PiS government “100% purchased and used” Pegasus spyware

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw February 13, 2024

Ruling party claims its onetime election chief was spied on, as well as former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

EU may sanction Chinese companies for the first time for facilitating Russia’s flourishing trade with friendly countries

bne IntelliNews February 13, 2024

The EU is contemplating the unprecedented step of imposing sanctions on three Chinese companies alleged to be aiding Russia's military actions against Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.

New details emerge on presidential pardon in paedophile cover-up case rocking Hungarian politics

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 13, 2024

Zoltan Balog, former head of Reformed Church, alleged to be prime mover behind controversial pardon.

Tusk visits Berlin to fix ties as risks of Trump’s return looms larger

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw February 12, 2024

Polish premier’s meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron will enable Tusk to announce Warsaw’s return to the centre of EU politics.

Magyar Suzuki reaches 4 millionth vehicle milestone

bne IntelliNews February 11, 2024

Japanese carmaker Suzuki marked the production of its 4 millionth vehicle, a Vitara GLX, at its plant in Esztergom, northern Hungary.

Orban sacrifices president and former justice minister in paedophile cover-up case

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 11, 2024

Hungarian premier loses his top female henchmen to quell one of his regime's biggest crises.

Fico’s coalition pushes judicial overhaul through Slovak parliament

Albin Sybera in Prague February 9, 2024

Legislative changes now likely to go to Constitutional Court and be reviewed by Brussels.

Orban tries to calm outcry over president’s pardon in paedophile case

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 9, 2024

The scandal has wrecked the ruling Fidesz party's carefully burnished image as a defender of the family and children against Western Europen "gender ideologies".

Czech central bank cuts key rate by 50 bps

Robert Anderson in Prague February 8, 2024

Policymakers react to macro-economic figures showing that growth is still struggling to accelerate, while inflation is falling fast.

Hungary’s oil giant buys Viktor Orban favourite childhood football club

bne IntelliNews February 8, 2024

Hungary's MOL Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Budapest-based Ujpest football club from Belgian businessman Roderick Duchatelet.

European Commission launches infringement procedure against Hungary over sovereignty law

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 7, 2024

Fidesz is using the legislation to cut off opposition from foreign financing sources, be it micro-donations from private individuals or other larger funding from foreign donors ahead of the 2024 local government and EP elections.

Czechia and Hungary block EU sanctions against Israeli settlers

Robert Anderson in Prague February 7, 2024

Leading Czech figures sign open letter to the government to change its pro-Israel stance and stop ignoring the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

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