The ministries have been handed over to Hungary’s new government, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Thursday, adding that a comprehensive investigation would be launched in all areas. Speaking at a press conference, the prime minister said the government would not pay HUF 1,300 billion under a blanket agreement signed by the defence minister of the previous government. According to news wire MTI, Magyar said all ministers of the Orbán government were present for the handover ceremony, with the exception of the “chief of inventories”. The remark was a sarcastic jab at former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, referencing a recent social media video in which Orbán was seen “taking inventory” of his government’s achievements. He also said that “the atmosphere was not too good” during the procedure. “It was clear that one or two ministers did not like that their previous actions were read out. We did not come here...

The National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology (OKPI) and Roche Magyarország Kft. have formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement, committing the parties to a long-term partnership focusing on professional-scientific, innovative, and educational activities. The primary objective of the agreement is to enhance the treatment of oncological lung diseases in Hungary and to introduce future innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions to the domestic healthcare landscape. The ceremony welcomed Dr. Alan Hippe, member of the executive board and Group CFO at Roche, based in Switzerland. The official documentation was signed by Dr. Krisztina Bogos, the general director of OKPI, Dr. Peter Ahnesorg, managing director of Roche Magyarország, and Dr. Stavros Chisimellis, country manager of Roche Diagnostics. Shared Mission Serving Science and Patients The strategic agreement not only provides a unified framework for existing collaboration but also defines shared goals and long-term cooperative directions. The parties expressed their intent to combine the institute’s extensive...

Hungary emerged as one of the strongest CEE investment performers in Q1 2026, with investment volumes exceeding EUR 325 million, nearly double the level recorded a year earlier. The performance also marks the country’s strongest start since 2018, according to Colliers CEE research. This rebound comes amid a politically significant election year, which has reignited discussions about institutional direction and relations with European partners, says Colliers. “Rather than deterring investment, this environment has encouraged selective risk-taking. Domestic and regional investors, in particular, have taken a more active role, leveraging long-term strategies to re-enter the market, support price discovery and restore liquidity. Early signs suggest that parts of the market are positioning for medium-term opportunities rather than remaining on the sidelines.” Total volume for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia in the first quarter of 2026 was EUR 2.1 billion, compared to EUR 3 bln for the same...

The Hungarian Business Leaders Forum held its general assembly for the election of officers at a time when corporate leaders’ responsibilities increasingly extend beyond economic performance. The business leadership community, which has a history of more than three decades and counts more than 100 members, reelected Andrea Istenesné Solti as president. It also confirmed the mandates of board members András Bácsfalvi, Teodóra Bodó, Beáta Juvancz, while electing two new members to the board, Gabriella Heiszler and Ágnes Kovács. In its next term, HBLF said it will continue to focus on diversity, responsible corporate governance and value-based leadership. One of the organization’s key objectives for the coming period is to further strengthen programs that create measurable social and business impact. These include the International X Mentor Program, the Board-Level Program supporting balanced boards and responsible corporate governance, the Financial Summit conference series, which has been running for more than two decades,...

Wizz Air, Hungary’s market-leading airline, has taken delivery of its 200th Airbus A321neo aircraft, an ultra-long-range A321XLR registered as 9H-XLE, the carrier said. The milestone underlines the airline’s continued expansion and its commitment to reducing the carbon intensity of its operations. Wizz Air received its first Airbus A321neo aircraft in 2019. Since then, the airline has steadily expanded its fleet, increasing capacity while offering passengers greater comfort. Once its current order book is fulfilled, Wizz Air’s neo fleet is expected to comprise six A320neo aircraft, eight A321XLRs and 186 A321neos. All 19 aircraft based at Wizz Air’s Budapest base are A321neos. As the higher-capacity member of the A320 family, the A321neo offers significantly more seats than the previous generation. Thanks to its Pratt & Whitney engines, the aircraft can operate with up to 20% lower fuel consumption and emissions, making the type a central element of Wizz Air’s ultra-low-cost business...

Q1 after-tax profit of OTP Bank fell 6% year-on-year to HUF 177 bln as the lender booked the full-year amount of sectoral taxes during the period, an earnings report shows. If OTP had booked the prorated amount of the bank levy and windfall profit tax, after-tax profit would have been HUF 324.4 bln, HUF 147.4 bln higher than the accounted profit and up 9% from the base period. Net interest income increased 13% to HUF 527.3 bln and net revenue from commissions and fees edged down 1pc to HUF 137.9 bln. Total risk costs came to HUF 15.4 bln, more than halved from HUF 32.9 bln in the base period. Diluted earnings per share came to HUF 692. OTP booked a HUF 14.2 bln loss at its core business in Hungary because of the sectoral taxes accounting measure. Adjusted for that impact, after-tax profit surged 87% to 119.7 bln. Profit...

Hungary’s auto market expanded nearly 10% in the first four months of 2026, driven by stronger corporate purchases and gradually rising household demand according to the latest numbers from Datahouse. Between January and April, 48,291 new passenger cars were registered, including 11,832 in April alone, marking 9.7% growth year‑on‑year and an 11.4% net market increase after withdrawals. SUV models dominated the market, with the C‑SUV segment leading at 14,606 units and 30.25% share, followed by B‑SUVs at 11,516 units and 23.85% share. Electric vehicle registrations surged 101.7% in April to 1,420 units, totaling 4,618 for the year so far, while plug‑in hybrids rose 74.1% in April and reached 3,403 units year‑to‑date. Used car registrations also climbed sharply, up 18.8%, temporarily s urpassing new‑car registrations by April. Industry forecasts suggest continued moderate growth in 2026, with motorcycle registrations expected to rise 2–5% after a strong 48.7% jump this year. Source link

A newly signed franchise agreement between Hilton and Realis Wam Fund Management will bring the Canopy by Hilton brand into the heart of Budapest. The project will see the adaptive reuse of the City Center building into a lifestyle hotel, developed by the Realis 4 Fund, managed by Realis Wam and operated by a subsidiary of the Continental Group. Following a successful EUR 21.8 million capital raise, the Realis 4 Real Estate Investment Fund acquired the City Center office building from CPI Hungary at the end of 2025. The property will be transformed into a 177-room hotel. Under a newly signed franchise agreement, the building will reopen as a Canopy by Hilton property. Operating as the asset management arm of the Realis Group, Realis Wam currently manages HUF 18 billion in assets, split 45/55 between institutional and private investors. A Panoramic View in the Heart of the City Reimagined by...

Consumer confidence in Hungary surged in May to reach a more than five-year high, a recently released monthly gauge by economic research institute GKI shows. GKI’s consumer confidence index climbed 16.1 points in May — a monthly increase unprecedented during the gauge’s more than 30 years — to -0.09 point. The data suggest hopes for the new government’s operation and confidence in an economic policy turnaround have “strongly influenced” public opinion, GKI said. The gauge of consumers’ outlook for the economy over the coming twelve months rose by 33.4 points in May. The measure of the outlook for households’ own financial situations increased by 17.6 points and the sub-index for plans to make big-ticket purchases rose by seven points. Source link

Prime Minister Péter Magyar met with water management experts and farmers in Marispuszta to discuss short-, medium- and long-term solutions to Hungary’s severe drought, he said in a post on Facebook. Magyar, accompanied by several ministers, held the talks ahead of the first cabinet meeting in Ópusztaszer. Zoltan Tanács, the new science and technology minister, said on Facebook that that the talks had revealed that Hungary’s soil was missing the equivalent of five Lake Balatons’ worth of water. “But if we abandon past mistakes, solutions exist, through water retention, controlled release into the landscape and smart, proven techniques,” he said. Tanacs said the Center for Ecological Research at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the wider research community would play a key role in tackling the drought. “I will regularly channel the experts’ input to ensure the government can apply it, whether for immediate fixes or long-term solutions,” he said....