Hungary
10 briefs
After Orban
Peter Magyar just became Hungary's prime minister. His hardest problem isn't Orban's loyalists. It's the system Orban built to survive anyone who tried to replace him.
Hungary's Veto Ended the Moment Its Oil Came Back On
The EU unlocked a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine this week after months of deadlock. Hungary and Slovakia dropped their objections the same day the Druzhba pipeline was repaired. That is not a coincidence. That is a transaction.
Russia's Oil Unlocks Europe's Money for Ukraine
The Druzhba pipeline resumed flowing Russian crude through Ukraine, which unblocked Hungary's veto on a $105 billion EU loan to Kyiv. The pipeline is the lever that connects everything.
The EU's Toughest Russia Sanctions Required Letting Russian Oil Flow First
Package 20 is the harshest restrictions on Russia in two years. Hungary and Slovakia unlocked it only after Ukraine reopened the Druzhba pipeline. The oil is the price of the loan.
The EU Unlocked $106 Billion for Ukraine. The Price Was Letting Russian Oil Flow Again.
Hungary lifted its veto on the EU's largest-ever Ukraine loan package only after Kyiv agreed to resume pumping Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline. European solidarity now runs on Russian energy.
Hungary's New Government Drops the Veto. Now the EU Finds Out Whether Orbán Was the Problem or the Excuse.
Peter Magyar's election win on April 12 unblocked two EU sanctions packages and a EUR 90 billion Ukraine loan. But Magyar is already conditioning the loan on a pipeline restart, and Slovakia has not moved.
Hungary After Orban Is Harder Than Hungary Without Orban
Peter Magyar won the election. Now he has to dismantle a state that was built to be impossible to dismantle from within.
Orban Lost His Election. His Israel Policy Did Not.
Hungary's incoming leader Peter Magyar says he will keep the veto on EU sanctions against Israel. Five countries want to punish Israel for Gaza. One country can stop all of them. And the EU is starting to ask whether the unanimity rule should survive this.
Orban Falls
Hungary's Peter Magyar wins a two-thirds supermajority. The man JD Vance flew to Budapest to help is out after 16 years.
Orban's Last Election
Hungary is voting today in the first election in 16 years where Fidesz could actually lose. The outcome will determine whether illiberal democracy is a permanent political model or an accident of incumbency advantage.