Hungary’s 2027 budget plans and France’s unrest dominate the day
Magyar Péter outlined proposed tax cuts, higher benefits and spending changes for 2027, while the government forecast 2.4% GDP growth for that year. France faced unrest after protests escalated into looting and clashes, prompting calls for local curfews and the cancellation of Emmanuel Macron’s planned Budapest visit. Other major stories included an investigation into large loans by companies linked to Ruszlán Rahimkulov and a deadly Russian drone strike in Ukraine.
- Tax changes, pay rises and a leaner state: Magyar Péter promises a fairer country with a new budget — Magyar Péter said his 2027 plans would reduce the budget deficit to 4.9% of GDP through spending cuts, new taxes and reduced corruption, while raising some benefits, pensions and public-sector wages and ending the sports TAO system and county assemblies.
Original (Hungarian): Adóátalakítás, béremelések, magán spóroló állam – a Fidesz kivételezettjeire szabott ország helyett egy igazságosabb országot ígér Magyar Péter az új költségvetéssel - The government expects GDP growth of 2.4% — The government forecasts 2.4% GDP growth, 3% inflation and public debt of 77.2% for 2027, while the central bank expects faster growth and Magyar Péter says he would aim to raise growth above 3% by 2030 and cut the deficit to 2.8%.
Original (Hungarian): 2,4 százalékos GDP-növekedéssel számol a kormány - The 2026 budget was amended, raising the deficit target to 7.5% — Parliament approved an amendment raising the 2026 deficit target from 3.7% to 7.5%, which the finance minister said was needed because the previous budget overestimated revenue and underestimated spending.
Original (Hungarian): Módosították a 2026-os költségvetést, 7,5 százalékra nőtt a hiánycél - Opposition says pay rises are too small, while Toroczkai turned to a board game during the budget debate — During a debate on next year’s budget, Magyar Péter outlined pay rises, tax cuts and a doubling of family allowance, while opposition leaders questioned the scale and funding of the plans and Toroczkai László brought up a children’s board game.
Original (Hungarian): Az ellenzék a béremelések mértékét kevesli, Toroczkai pedig inkább egy társasjátékról kezdett beszélni a költségvetésről szóló vitában - Tisza’s budget breaks with crony capitalism and would use freed-up trillions for a new social pact — The article says Tisza’s 2027 budget would redirect money from wealthy groups and those enriched by state funds toward low earners, families, pensioners and public services, with proposals including a wealth tax and doubled family allowance.
Original (Hungarian): A Tisza költségvetése szakít a haveri kapitalizmussal, a felszabaduló ezermilliárdokból új társadalmi alkut kötnek - Doubling family allowance and single-digit income tax for minimum-wage earners — Magyar Péter said that from 2027 the income tax rate on the minimum wage would fall from 15% to 9%, family allowance would double, the minimum pension would rise to 120,000 forints, and recipients would receive the first week of a 14th-month pension alongside the 13th-month payment.
Original (Hungarian): Családipótlék-duplázás és egy számjegyű szja a minimálbéreseknek - Average net monthly employment income is 75,000 forints in the poorest settlement and 666,000 in Budapest, GKI says — GKI estimates that average net monthly employment income in 2025 ranged from 75,000 forints in Csenyéte to 666,000 in Budapest, with geography accounting for more than 80% of the differences and the income gap narrowing only slowly.
Original (Hungarian): A legszegényebb településen havi 75 ezer forint az átlagos nettó munkajövedelem, Budapesten ez 666 ezer a GKI szerint - 24.hu: MNB launches investigation into Russian billionaire Ruszlán Rahimkulov’s companies over huge loans — The central bank has opened a market-supervision investigation into two Rahimkulov companies that reportedly lent more than 160 billion forints without the required licence, while his Láng-negyed project has also lost its priority status and needs a new contractor.
Original (Hungarian): 24.hu: Vizsgálatot kezdett az MNB Rahimkulov Ruszlán orosz milliárdos cégeinél az óriási kölcsönügyletek miatt - After major police and intelligence failures, French politicians blame one another for the unrest — After protests escalated into unrest and looting in several French cities, 2,331 people had been detained and nearly 1,000 members of the security and emergency services injured, while authorities acknowledged they had underestimated the crowds and politicians traded blame.
Original (Hungarian): A súlyos rendőrségi és hírszerzési kudarc után egymást hibáztatják a francia politikusok a zavargások miatt - Local, partial curfews to be introduced in French cities — After weekend unrest and looting, some French cities may impose local partial curfews, with Coulaines already restricting people under 18 from going out after 11 p.m.; President Emmanuel Macron also cancelled a planned Budapest visit amid the domestic crisis.
Original (Hungarian): Helyi és részleges kijárási tilalmakat vezetnek be a francia városokban - Students asked for teachers, got police instead, and then France went up in flames — Protests over deteriorating schools, teacher shortages and the admissions system grew into nationwide demonstrations against the cost-of-living crisis, with mostly peaceful crowds alongside looting, arson and clashes in several cities.
Original (Hungarian): Tanárokat kértek, rendőröket kaptak, aztán egész Franciaország lángba borult - Partial curfews may be imposed in French cities amid unrest — Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu asked prefects to prepare local partial curfews after weekend unrest, while the government said it would deploy more police and raised the possibility of a state of emergency if needed.
Original (Hungarian): Részleges kijárási tilalom jöhet a francia városokban a zavargások miatt - The house is on fire, but Emmanuel Macron will not come to Budapest on October 23 — Macron will not attend Budapest’s October 23 state commemoration, according to information from the French embassy reported by Telex, which did not give a reason for his absence.
Original (Hungarian): Ég a ház, mégsem jön október 23-án Budapestre Emmanuel Macron - Von der Leyen will give a speech in Budapest on October 23 — Ursula von der Leyen will visit Budapest and speak at the October 23 state commemoration, the European Commission confirmed, while Volodymyr Zelensky will not attend.
Original (Hungarian): Von der Leyen fog beszédet mondani október 23-án Budapesten - Russian drone strike kills six people, including three children, in Kharkiv region — A Russian drone struck a park in Kharkiv region, killing six people, including three children, and injuring 15 as families were there.
Original (Hungarian): Hat embert, köztük három gyereket megölt egy orosz dróntámadás Harkiv megyében - At least 80 people killed in two drone strikes in Sudan — At least 80 people, most of them civilians waiting for buses, were killed in two drone strikes on a bus station in ad-Dibáb, with the RSF’s political wing blaming Sudan’s army.
Original (Hungarian): Legalább 80 embert megölt két dróncsapás Szudánban - Trump is open to meeting Putin and Xi Jinping together next month — Trump said he was open to a three-way meeting with Putin and Xi Jinping next month on limiting nuclear weapons, while Putin would also use talks to address the war in Ukraine and Trump criticised Zelensky.
Original (Hungarian): Trump kész Putyinnal és Hszi Csin-pinggel hármasban találkozni jövő hónapban - Trump says Ukraine has lost its oceans in the war — Trump said Ukraine had lost its “seas and oceans” as he explained why he did not want to pressure Russia, and criticised Zelensky over attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Original (Hungarian): Trump szerint Ukrajna elvesztette az óceánjait a háborúban - Australian MP deliberately hit by a car twice and in critical condition — Australian MP Helen Haines is in critical condition after a vehicle allegedly struck her twice outside her Wangaratta electorate office, and a suspect was arrested at the scene.
Original (Hungarian): Kétszer is nekihajtottak autóval az ausztrál képviselőnőnek, szándékosan ütötték el, kritikus állapotban van - Australian MP attacked with a car and in critical condition — Helen Haines was taken to hospital in critical condition after a vehicle deliberately hit her outside her electorate office, and police arrested a 43-year-old man while investigating the motive.
Original (Hungarian): Autóval támadtak egy ausztrál képviselőre, kritikus állapotban van - NNI opens investigation into school bomb threats — The National Bureau of Investigation opened a case over threats to more than 70 educational institutions, saying no explosives had been found and that it was checking for links to earlier threats.
Original (Hungarian): Eljárást indított az NNI az iskolai bombafenyegetések miatt - Radnóti school orders an extraordinary closure after a bomb threat — The ELTE Radnóti Miklós Practice School cancelled classes after its building was searched following a bomb threat, while the Trefort Ágoston Practice Gymnasium was also being checked.
Original (Hungarian): Bombariadó miatt rendkívüli tanítási szünetet rendeltek el a Radnótiban - National Police: Schools threatened with bombings — More than 70 educational institutions received bomb threats on Monday morning, and police urged those affected to follow official instructions and report similar messages.
Original (Hungarian): ORFK: Iskolákat fenyegettek robbantással - Police seek children allegedly persuaded by a 35-year-old Miskolc man to make intimate recordings — Police are seeking additional underage victims in a case involving a 35-year-old man accused of persuading mainly 9-to-12-year-olds online to make intimate images and videos or engage in sexual acts.
Original (Hungarian): A rendőrség olyan gyerekeket keres, akiket egy 35 éves miskolci férfi intim felvételek készítésére vett rá az interneten - Neither Varga Mihály’s former deputy state secretary nor Palkovics László’s former confidant admitted guilt in major corruption trial — Former IFKA head Barta-Eke Gyula and former deputy state secretary Karsai Tamás denied guilt in a corruption case involving 25 billion forints in grants, while prosecutors sought prison sentences and confiscation of assets.
Original (Hungarian): Sem Varga Mihály volt helyettes államtitkára, sem Palkovics László korábbi bizalmasa nem ismerte be a bűnösségét a korrupciós óriásperben - Prosecutors seek prison and permanent expulsion for driver accused of causing fatal Váci Road flyover crash — Prosecutors charged a 25-year-old Turkish driver over a crash that allegedly killed two people on the Váci Road flyover and sought a prison sentence, permanent expulsion and a lifetime driving ban.
Original (Hungarian): Börtönbüntetést és végleges kiutasítást kért az ügyészség a Váci úti felüljárón tömegbalesetet okozó sofőr ügyében - Debrecen Semcorp factory has been shut for four months amid highly unclear circumstances — Semcorp’s Debrecen factory has been closed for four months after authorities reported excessive metal contamination in soil samples, while the company disputes the testing method and says four later tests found no exceedance.
Original (Hungarian): Nagyon zavaros körülmények mellett áll már négy hónapja a debreceni Semcorp gyár - PORR: Company does not intend to buy V-Híd but is considering taking over workers, machinery and projects — PORR denied plans to acquire Mészáros Lőrinc’s V-Híd, but said it could take over staff, equipment and construction projects in coordination with the government and clients to keep work going.
Original (Hungarian): PORR: A cég nem szándékozik felvásárolni a V-Hidat, de fontolgatja a dolgozók, gépek és építkezések átvételét - V4 asks EU to ease rules on Russian energy imports — Hungary and Slovakia are seeking more flexibility and EU funding to manage the phase-out of Russian energy imports, while the European Commission says support must not undermine efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Original (Hungarian): A V4 az orosz energiaimport szabályainak enyhítését kéri az EU-tól - Mészáros Lőrinc’s luxury jet made a tour of Hawaii — Mészáros Lőrinc’s Bombardier Global 6500 flew to the United States and Hawaii in October, with passengers reportedly spending a week in Honolulu and visiting Kahului, while the article also notes declines in the value of his shares.
Original (Hungarian): Hawaii körúton járt Mészáros Lőrinc luxusgépe - What was a Fidesz operative doing in Magyar’s room? — The article examines the people present at a party at Magyar Péter’s home in 2024, how Fidesz used the affair and what one of Kubatov Gábor’s associates was doing in the room.
Original (Hungarian): Mit keresett a Fidesz háttérembere Magyarék szobájában? - Kaprinyák Tibor removed from the Committee Responsible for the Living Environment after hunting photos emerged — The TISZA parliamentary group removed Kaprinyák Tibor from the committee after information emerged about his hobby hunting and photographs posing with animals he had killed.
Original (Hungarian): Kirakták az Élő Környezetért Felelős Bizottságból a vadászatokon pózoló Kaprinyák Tibort - Fekete-Győr András is ending his Momentum era — Fekete-Győr András said he would leave Momentum and continue as an independent politician outside parliament, seeking public donations to support work on accountability, equality, sustainability and social justice.
Original (Hungarian): Fekete-Győr András lezárja a momentumos korszakát - Kubatov wants to be Ferencváros president again — Kubatov Gábor has gathered the endorsements needed to join Ferencváros’s nine-member board, which elects the club president, though planned conflict-of-interest rules could later prevent him from holding the post.
Original (Hungarian): Kubatov újra a Ferencváros elnöke lenne - Media Council: KDNP nominee passes, Fidesz nominee rejected by culture committee — The culture committee unanimously backed KDNP nominee Boór-Gőblyös István for the Media Council, while Fidesz nominee Siklósi Beatrix failed to secure the required support.
Original (Hungarian): Médiatanács: a KDNP jelöltje átment, a Fideszét leszavazta a művelődési bizottság - Rétvári Bence: KDNP is the most successful party — Rétvári Bence said KDNP has spent a total of 24 years in government since the political transition, while critics point out that the party has not run independently since 2002.
Original (Hungarian): Rétvári Bence: A KDNP a legsikeresebb párt - Szabó Bálint sat in the parliamentary gallery as Pócs János’s guest, then shouted until he was removed — Szabó Bálint entered the parliamentary gallery as Pócs János’s guest, repeatedly shouted from it and left after the speaker’s instruction, with Pócs and Bóka János helping escort him out.
Original (Hungarian): Szabó Bálint Pócs János vendégeként ült be a parlamenti páholyba, majd onnan ordibált, míg ki nem küldték - Company of former mayor owes Eger 16 million forints — A company belonging to former Eger mayor Mirkóczki Ádám owes the municipality 16 million forints in rent for Senator Ház, and the municipality has sent a payment demand.
Original (Hungarian): 16 millió forinttal tartozik Egernek a volt polgármester cége - Békéscsaba cuts this year’s spending by 1.1 billion forints — Békéscsaba’s council cut this year’s spending by 1.1 billion forints after business tax revenue came in below expectations, affecting more than 60 items including road maintenance, renovations and cultural and sports support.
Original (Hungarian): 1,1 milliárd forinttal csökkentették Békéscsaba idei kiadásait - No products available in DPK Shop, while Lázár Bazár has disappeared — All products in DPK Shop are currently listed as sold out, while items linked to Lázár János have disappeared from the Lázár Bazár website, which now redirects to its homepage.
Original (Hungarian): Egyetlen terméket sem lehet kapni a DPK Shopban, a Lázár Bazár pedig el is tűnt - German man digs up 22 investment gold bars while building a garden pond at a Somogy property — A 62-year-old German man is suspected of stealing 22 gold bars buried by the property owner and selling some of them, causing more than 13.6 million forints in losses.
Original (Hungarian): Egy német férfi egy kerti tó építése közben 22 befektetési aranytömböt ásott ki egy somogyi ingatlan udvarán - Court finds Kenyan cult leader who starved followers to death guilty of murdering 190 children — A Kenyan court found Paul Nthenge Mackenzie guilty of murdering 190 children and one adult, with sentencing set for November 6, and convicted 29 other cult leaders.
Original (Hungarian): A bíróság szerint 190 gyermek meggyilkolásában bűnös a követőit halálra éheztető kenyai szektavezér - Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after 43 years — Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN next year after 43 years, ending her daily programme at the end of the year and continuing with a weekly show until May and the transition until June.
Original (Hungarian): 43 év után távozik a CNN-től Christiane Amanpour - Cristiano Ronaldo receives 30-day suspension from Portuguese federation — Cristiano Ronaldo was given a 30-day suspension and a 255-euro fine after leaving Portugal’s national-team training camp without permission in September, though the federation did not specify the suspension’s scope.
Original (Hungarian): Harmincnapos eltiltást kapott a portugál szövetségtől Cristiano Ronaldo - The gay Dutch prime minister is going to become a father — Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and his fiancé, Nicolás Keenan, announced they will become fathers with the help of an egg donor and a surrogate.
Original (Hungarian): Apa lesz a meleg holland miniszterelnök - Tennis power couple Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils are divorcing — Elina Svitolina announced that she and Gaël Monfils are divorcing and will continue to raise their daughter together, while L’Équipe reported that Monfils withdrew from October tournaments because of the situation.
Original (Hungarian): Válik a tenisz álompárja, Elina Szvitolina és Gaël Monfils - Valter Attila ends the season with a fracture — Valter Attila will end his 2026 season with a broken collarbone after an injury at a one-day race in Japan, and said he had not met his goals and had been affected by setbacks and criticism.
Original (Hungarian): Töréssel zárta a szezont Valter Attila - Steelworkers block Genoa airport while truckers disrupt traffic in Naples — Workers at Genoa’s Ilva steel plant occupied the airport check-in hall to protest planned job cuts affecting more than 8,000 people, while a truckers’ strike over fuel prices disrupted traffic around Naples.
Original (Hungarian): Acélgyári munkások a genovai repteret, kamionosok pedig Nápoly közlekedését bénították meg - “Hi, sir! Interested in a little perfume?” — After unrest and looting in France, listings for goods suspected of being stolen appeared on Vinted, which said it was removing suspicious offers, tightening checks and cooperating with French authorities.
Original (Hungarian): Szia Uram! Petit parfum érdekel? - Paris-based Tisza Island disagrees with Magyar Péter’s remarks about migrants and French protests — The Paris-based Szajna-parti Tisza Island criticised Magyar Péter for linking vandals in the French unrest with migrants and said the protests’ causes should be discussed using facts and without scapegoating.
Original (Hungarian): A Szajna-parti Tisza sziget nem ért egyet azzal, hogy Magyar Péter migránsozott a franciaországi tüntetések kapcsán - The notorious bedroom and the most successful party — The newsletter covers the secrets of a room on the Körút, the role of the new president and developments in a corruption trial, alongside Magyar Péter’s budget plans and international news.
Original (Hungarian): A hírhedt hálószoba és a legsikeresebb párt - Borízű hang #290: Never search for hair transplants! [short version] — The programme discusses Uj Péter and Parragh László, a land issue in Rácalmás, economic policy and pensions, as well as beauty-industry advertising aimed at men and Elon Musk’s hair transplant.
Original (Hungarian): Borízű hang #290: Soha ne keress rá arra, hogy hajbeültetés! [rövid verzió] - The sold-out premiere of the Közért special edition turned into a huge party — 444 presented its Közért special edition to a full house at the Toldi cinema on October 16, followed by a discussion and party about changes in Hungary after the Orbán era and the prospect of a change of government or system.
Original (Hungarian): Hatalmas buliba torkollott a Közért különkiadásának sold out-os bemutatója - A small miracle on the M4: no one was injured after a car nearly hit the vehicle ahead and bounced off the barrier — A speeding driver spun into the guardrail while avoiding another vehicle on the M4 on October 15 and stopped on the shoulder without anyone being injured, while nine motorists drove on without helping.
Original (Hungarian): Kisebb csoda az M4-esen: senki sem sérült meg, miután egy autós majdnem ráfutott az előtte haladóra, majd visszapattant a szalagkorlátról - Too fast and not early enough, but 444,444 is still 444,444 — Ákos photographed his Volkswagen Crafter’s odometer when it reached 444,444 kilometres on July 21, 2025, while noting that matching the timing to other details would have required an earlier start.
Original (Hungarian): Túl gyorsan ment, és nem is elég korán, de a 444 444 akkor is 444 444 - Secret gates open: registration begins for the 10th Night of Modern Factories — Registration has opened for the November 13 Night of Modern Factories, offering free factory tours across the country by advance booking, with places limited.
Original (Hungarian): Megnyílnak a titkos kapuk: Indul a regisztráció a 10. Modern Gyárak Éjszakájára!
Machine-written English summaries of Hungarian articles. Links lead to the original Hungarian articles on 444.cafe, where you can read and comment.