Hungary to Reinstate Border Controls with Romania Starting January 1
Hungary is set to implement border controls with Romania starting January 1, coinciding with Romania’s accession to the Schengen area by land
Hungary's political landscape is rocked as President Katalin Novak steps down amidst mounting criticism for her decision to pardon a man convicted in a child sexual abuse case. The move follows intense pressure from both the public and opposition parties, culminating in a wave of protests demanding her resignation.
In a televised address announcing her departure, Novak admitted to making a grave error in judgment. She acknowledged granting a pardon to a convicted individual involved in concealing a case of sexual abuse in a children's home, expressing remorse for undermining the zero-tolerance policy towards paedophilia. Her decision, made in April 2023, sparked widespread outrage and eroded public trust in her leadership.
The controversial pardon was granted ahead of Pope Francis's visit, raising questions about the integrity of the justice system and prompting calls for accountability. Among those pardoned was the deputy director of a children's home implicated in covering up the misconduct of the former director, Endre K.
Endre K, sentenced to three years and four months in prison in 2022, faced a five-year ban from working with minors. However, Novak's intervention saw him released and allowed to resume his professional activities, sparking further outrage and condemnation.
Novak's resignation marks a significant moment in Hungarian politics, particularly for Fidesz, the nationalist party led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Novak, a former family minister and close ally of Orban, made history as the youngest and first female president of Hungary. Her departure highlights the rare instance of political unrest within the ruling party, which has maintained a stronghold on governance since 2010.
The European Commission has launched investigations into Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein over concerns related to consumer protection
Teodora Georgieva, the head of the Bulgarian office of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), raised serious concerns at a legal conference in Sofia on Tuesday, accusing Bulgarian authorities of obstructing investigations
Bulgarian MEP Andrey Novakov stated in an interview with BNR that there have been no discussions about deploying European military units to Ukraine
Sweden and Latvia are preparing to seek compensation for the damages caused by the fiber optic cable disruption in the Baltic Sea, as confirmed by the Prime Minister of Latvia
The European Union is preparing to impose retaliatory measures on the United States if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to levy tariffs on the bloc
Gas supplies to Transnistria have resumed after a month-long disruption, restoring heating to apartments in the breakaway region
Bulgaria's Perperikon: A European Counterpart to Peru's Machu Picchu
Bulgarians Among EU's Least Frequent Vacationers, Struggling with Affordability