Matolcsy György detained as Hungary marks October 23
A court ordered the detention of former central bank governor György Matolcsy for one month in a case involving assets linked to an MNB foundation; the decision is not final. Hungary’s October 23 commemorations featured competing political events and speeches, with Viktor Orbán absent from the Fidesz gathering. International coverage included developments in Ukraine, France and Serbia, as well as a new EU funding agreement for Hungary.
- György Matolcsy offered his “entire savings,” 30 million forints, as bail, but the court rejected it — The court rejected Matolcsy’s 30 million-forint bail offer and ordered him and two other suspects detained for a month in a case concerning a securities-lending transaction involving MNB foundation assets, while Matolcsy Ádám and a former Optima executive are abroad and subject to arrest warrants.
Original (Hungarian): Matolcsy György az „összes megtakarítását", 30 millió forintot ajánlott fel óvadékként, de a bíróság elutasította - The court ordered György Matolcsy’s detention — A court ordered former central bank governor György Matolcsy and two people linked to his son detained for a month over suspected economic fraud and other offences, with all three appealing the non-final decisions.
Original (Hungarian): Elrendelte a bíróság Matolcsy György letartóztatását - Péter Magyar’s October 23 speech: Long live a free, democratic and now truly independent Hungary — In his October 23 speech, Péter Magyar commemorated the heroes of the 1956 revolution and called for the preservation of freedom, democracy and national independence, while criticizing leaders who, he said, seek support from foreign powers.
Original (Hungarian): Magyar Péter október 23-ai beszéde: Éljen a szabad, demokratikus és immáron valóban független Magyarország - Melania Trump appears to have helped secure a ceasefire in a Ukrainian city — Melania Trump said she mediated between Russian and Ukrainian leaders to help secure a limited ceasefire near Kherson to evacuate elderly civilians from Oleshky, with both sides confirming the truce as around 1,700 civilians in need of supplies remain in the city.
Original (Hungarian): Úgy tűnik, Melania Trumpnak sikerült összehoznia egy tűzszünetet egy ukrán városban - 150,000 protest against Vučić in Belgrade ahead of the election — Around 150,000 people demonstrated in Belgrade before Sunday’s parliamentary election in support of the student-led University List, which seeks to end more than 14 years of rule by the Serbian Progressive Party.
Original (Hungarian): 150 ezren tüntettek Vucic ellen Belgrádban a választások előtt - Macron calls Friday’s Paris-area shooting a racist terrorist attack — Macron described a shooting in Trappes and La Verrière that killed one person and injured five as a racist terrorist attack, while prosecutors investigate it as a murder linked to a terrorist group and the motive remains unclear.
Original (Hungarian): Macron rasszista terrortámadásnak nevezte a pénteki párizsi lövöldözést - Trump says Musk restored Starlink in Ukraine, but Ukrainians say the connection remains unreliable — Trump said Elon Musk restored Starlink service in Ukraine, but Kyiv reported continuing disruptions that are hindering military operations and said it had no evidence that restrictions had been lifted.
Original (Hungarian): Trump azt mondja, Musk visszaállította a Starlinket Ukrajnában, az ukránok szerint továbbra is akadozik a kapcsolat - Another cargo ship sinks in the Black Sea; Romanian sources say it was hit by a drone — The Comoros-flagged Khoryv tanker was hit by a drone near Constanța, caught fire and began sinking, leaving one person dead, three missing and nine rescued.
Original (Hungarian): Újabb teherhajó süllyedt el a Fekete-tengeren, román források szerint dróntalálat érte - Russian strikes hit a gas station and a thermal power plant in Ukraine — Russian drone strikes injured two people in Sumy and damaged a thermal power plant and civilian infrastructure in Odesa region, while energy facilities were also damaged in Rivne region.
Original (Hungarian): Benzinkutat, hőerőművet ért orosz csapás Ukrajnában - Kremlin spokesperson says Russia-Ukraine-US peace talks could resume in Abu Dhabi in November — Talks involving Ukrainian, Russian and US representatives could resume in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November, though details have not been announced and Kyiv also wants European partners involved.
Original (Hungarian): A Kreml szóvivője bejelentette: Abu-Dzabiban folytatódhatnak novemberben az orosz–ukrán–amerikai béketárgyalások - Messages suggesting links between a former EU commissioner and Russia have been published — Messages seen by EUobserver indicate contact between former EU commissioner Didier Reynders and Belgian intelligence officer Hugues Brulin from 2019 to 2023, but the outlet could not independently verify claims that the communications may have obstructed investigations, and Reynders denies wrongdoing.
Original (Hungarian): Egykori uniós biztos orosz kapcsolataira utaló üzenetváltások kerültek nyilvánosságra - France to deploy 70,000 police officers for expected protests, including counterterrorism units — France plans to deploy 70,000 police and gendarmes, including counterterrorism officers, to prevent a repeat of recent unrest, while some demonstrations have been restricted or banned and the measures have drawn criticism.
Original (Hungarian): 70 ezer rendőrt vezényelnek az utcákra Franciaországban, terrorelhárítókat is bevetnek a várható tüntetéseken - New book says Trump’s son-in-law transferred money from secret Arab accounts to warlords and mercenaries — A new book by Matthew Cole alleges that Jared Kushner had access to secret Saudi and Emirati accounts that received at least $2 billion through Azerbaijan and were used to pay warlords and mercenaries; Kushner denies the claims.
Original (Hungarian): Egy új könyv szerint Trump veje haduraknak és zsoldosoknak utalt arab országokban vezetett titkos számlákról - András Kármán shakes hands with Jens Stoltenberg as they confirm a 93-billion-forint Norway Grants agreement — András Kármán and Jens Stoltenberg confirmed an agreement worth nearly 93 billion forints to support the green transition, healthcare and local communities, and also discussed Hungary’s budget, euro adoption and the EU single market.
Original (Hungarian): Kármán András kezet rázott Jens Stoltenberggel, megerősítették a 93 milliárdos Norvég Alap-megállapodást - Austria expels four Russian diplomats — Austria expelled four Russian diplomats after security services said they had engaged in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, with Profil reporting that they were suspected of trying to contact Austrian military employees.
Original (Hungarian): Ausztria kiutasított négy orosz diplomatát - British prime minister urges people to prepare, recommending three days’ worth of water and canned food — The British government is advising people to keep nine litres of water per person, three days’ worth of non-perishable food and basic emergency supplies at home in case of extreme weather, cyberattacks or war-related threats.
Original (Hungarian): Preppelésre biztatja a briteket a miniszterelnökük, három napra elegendő víz és konzerv felhalmozását javasolta - Viktor Orbán spends October 23 in Paris — Orbán did not attend the Fidesz holiday event and was seen by a reader on a hotel terrace in Paris, while his spokesperson confirmed that he had announced his absence in advance.
Original (Hungarian): Orbán Viktor Párizsban tölti október 23-át - Fidesz hoped to show signs of life, but then came János Áder — More people than expected attended Fidesz’s October 23 event without Orbán, but János Áder’s lengthy historical speech dampened the initial momentum, and the gathering ended with a speech by Mária Schmidt and a group rendition of “Nélküled.”
Original (Hungarian): Életjelet mutatott volna a Fidesz, de akkor jött Áder János - Mi Hazánk leader stokes nationalism in Corvin Alley, then declares national resistance over a board game — At the party’s October 23 commemoration, László Toroczkai accused Zelenskyy and Péter Magyar of building a dictatorship, called for action against LGBTQ organizations and announced the creation of “Resistance Circles.”
Original (Hungarian): Felpörgette a magyarométert a Corvin közben a Mi Hazánk elnöke, majd nemzeti ellenállást hirdetett egy társasjáték miatt - Kövér joked that Fidesz could try building a dictatorship it might come out of well — László Kövér rejected celebrating with Tisza and criticized the party’s views, while saying ironically that Fidesz might try building a dictatorship differently after previously coming out badly.
Original (Hungarian): Kövér azzal viccelődött, hogy megpróbálhatna már olyan diktatúrát építeni a Fidesz, amiből jól jön ki - Those who find Mi Hazánk insufficiently nationalist could attend the Legion Hungaria’s march and salute-filled commemoration — After Mi Hazánk’s event, the far-right Legion Hungaria held a torchlight march and commemoration in Corvin Alley, where participants chanted nationalist slogans and speakers denounced LGBTQ people, feminism and antifascism.
Original (Hungarian): Akinek a Mi Hazánk nem elég nacionalista, az a Légió Hungária masírozós-karlengetős megemlékezésével vigasztalódhatott - Even Orbán could not change this — Fidesz supporters held a flag march instead of the usual Peace March, with a much smaller turnout than in previous years, while participants said they did not miss Orbán, who stayed away.
Original (Hungarian): Ezen Orbán sem tudna változtatni - This holiday was very different from the ones we have experienced before — This year’s national holiday followed familiar elements while sharply departing from previous years, and its commemorations again showed how interpretations of the past can serve present-day political aims.
Original (Hungarian): Nagyon más volt ez az ünnep, mint amiben eddig voltunk - A march, a history lesson and the first free commemoration in a long time: October 23 this year — Coverage followed the events marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 revolution, which began with a flag-raising and speeches amid debate over expected attendance at state events.
Original (Hungarian): Menetelés, törióra és hosszú idő után az első szabad ünnep: ilyen volt az idei október 23. - A Stalin statue that can be toppled endlessly and bounces back made “popular sovereignty” tangible in the capital — On October 23, Budapest’s City Hall Park hosted a light show and a toppleable replica statue recalling the removal of Stalin’s statue in 1956, though spectators could not knock it down because the barriers remained in place.
Original (Hungarian): Végtelenszer ledönthető, visszapattanós Sztálin-szoborral tette „átélhetővé” a főváros a „népfelséget" - The prelude to 1956: When a system of institutionalized lies collapses — Imre Nagy’s 1953 “new course” eased economic burdens and ended internment camps and deportations, but reforms were constrained by Rákosi’s power struggle and party resistance as public discontent continued to grow.
Original (Hungarian): 1956 előzményei: Amikor az intézményesített hazugság rendszere összeomlik - For a few weeks, the city was a cemetery — During the 1956 fighting, hundreds of temporary graves were dug in Budapest parks and squares, and commemorative steles with photographs are now being installed at three sites to mark forgotten burial places.
Original (Hungarian): Néhány hétig temető volt a város - A long weekend, a double Jeti Cinema — To mark the 70th anniversary of the 1956 revolution, Jeti Cinema is showing two documentaries about the revolution’s role in the transition to democracy and the dual identity of Hungarian refugees’ children in the United States.
Original (Hungarian): Hosszú hétvége, dupla Jeti Mozi - Weekend reading on the Matolcsys, the most famous room, a very different national holiday and lots of money — The newsletter reviews the Matolcsy case and a former chief prosecutor’s parliamentary hearing, as well as the Tisza government’s first October 23 commemoration, the budget and other political, economic and cultural topics.
Original (Hungarian): Hétvégi olvasnivalók Matolcsyékról, a leghíresebb szobáról, egy teljesen más nemzeti ünnepről és rengeteg pénzről - EU commissioner tells 444: European young people may no longer have better lives than their parents — EU commissioner Dan Jørgensen said housing and energy crises could lower living standards and leave young Europeans worse off than their parents, and outlined EU efforts to support affordable housing and clean energy.
Original (Hungarian): Uniós biztos a 444-nek: Fennáll a veszély, hogy az európai fiataloknak már nem lesz jobb élete, mint a szüleiknek - All of Moscow’s airports had to close because of Ukrainian drones — All four Moscow airports were closed after air defences shot down at least 11 drones heading toward the capital, disrupting flights with no reopening time announced.
Original (Hungarian): Ukrán drónok miatt kellett lezárni Moszkva összes repülőterét - György Matolcsy spoke in court for two and a half hours — Matolcsy spoke for two and a half hours at a closed court hearing on his detention, and the court was also due to hear from the head of Quartz Investment Fund Management and a lawyer.
Original (Hungarian): Két és fél órát beszélt Matolcsy György a bíróságon - György Matolcsy’s lawyer says his client will make a statement — Matolcsy’s lawyer said the former central bank governor would testify at the court hearing on his detention and would seek a less restrictive measure or no detention.
Original (Hungarian): Matolcsy György ügyvédje szerint védence vallomást fog tenni - Lawyer says Matolcsy Ádám could be extradited within a month — Lawyer Balázs Braun said the United Arab Emirates could extradite Matolcsy Ádám from Dubai within a month under a special agreement, though he described that as the most optimistic scenario.
Original (Hungarian): Egy ügyvéd szerint el lehet intézni, hogy akár egy hónapon belül kiadják Matolcsy Ádámot - What’s new on the police wanted list? — Police are still seeking Matolcsy Ádám and György Stofa in a suspected fraud case connected to matters around the central bank, and Stofa holds senior positions at several companies linked to Matolcsy Ádám or István Száraz.
Original (Hungarian): Mi újság a rendőrség körözési oldalán? - Tom Skerritt, actor in Top Gun and Alien, dies — American actor Tom Skerritt, known for Alien, Top Gun and MASH, has died of natural causes at the age of 93.
Original (Hungarian): Meghalt Tom Skerritt, a Top Gun és az Alien színésze - Capital’s wind record broken on Thursday — A storm system brought gusts of up to 99 kilometres per hour on János Hill, breaking Budapest’s record for the date, set in 2014 at 93.6 kilometres per hour.
Original (Hungarian): Megdőlt a fővárosi szélrekord csütörtökön - Another Romanian airline has gone bankrupt — Dan Air sought insolvency proceedings on October 22 but said it would continue operating its usual schedule, despite a 40 percent rise in debt in 2025.
Original (Hungarian): Újabb román légitársaság ment tönkre - Cigarettes will cost more — Excise duty on tobacco products will rise from November 1, potentially increasing cigarette prices by about 5 percent and heated tobacco products by around 10 percent.
Original (Hungarian): Drágább lesz a cigi - We gain an hour on Sunday — Clocks will go back from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday, and BKK and MÁV said no major transport disruptions are expected, though some night and international services will be affected.
Original (Hungarian): Kapunk egy órát vasárnap - A preschooler was North Macedonia’s youngest millionaire taxpayer last year — A four-year-old received 3.1 million denars in dividends from shares in a domestic bank, making the child North Macedonia’s youngest taxpayer with million-denar income.
Original (Hungarian): Egy óvodás volt tavaly Észak-Macedónia legfiatalabb, milliomos adózója
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