On October 21, 2025, Hungary’s parliament voted to extend the national state of emergency until mid-May, granting Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government expanded authority through the 2026 parliamentary elections scheduled for late April. The measure allows the government to bypass certain laws and take “extraordinary measures,” a system that has been in place since 2016 under various justifications, from the migration crisis to the war in Ukraine. The opposition has accused the ruling Fidesz party of using these powers to tighten control over the electoral process as its popularity declines, according to Eurointegration. The state news agency MTI reported that the extension ensures “stability” during the coming election period.
Budapest defends energy ties with Moscow
On the same day, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the EU Council decision to end the use of Russian fossil fuels, calling it a “deep blow” to Hungary’s energy security. He announced plans to challenge the ruling before the European Court of Justice, arguing that the decision was adopted “deceptively” under trade policy rules rather than as a sanction, and therefore should have required unanimous approval. Szijjarto claimed that the EU had “virtually dismantled Hungary’s energy security” by treating energy as a political rather than technical issue.
Government accused of deepening energy dependence
Despite EU efforts to diversify energy supply, Hungary continues to purchase gas from Russia and invest in joint projects. Szijjarto cited the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant as crucial to Hungary’s independence from energy imports, though the Paks II project is being constructed by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom with a €10 billion loan from Moscow. Analysts see this as another step that strengthens Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy and influence in Central and Eastern Europe.
EU divisions over RePowerEU mechanism
On October 20, the EU Council approved the RePowerEU mechanism by a large majority, formalizing the bloc’s complete withdrawal from Russian fossil fuels. Only Hungary and Slovakia voted against it, citing economic dependence. Both governments, viewed as populist and Russia-friendly, have argued that their industries are not ready for a full transition away from Russian energy supplies.
Regional response highlights energy transition progress
In response, Czech Trade and Industry Minister Lukas Vlcek offered Slovakia technical assistance to diversify its energy sources, emphasizing that both Budapest and Bratislava had ample time to prepare. The Czech Republic itself ended imports of Russian oil in April 2025, completing a key phase of its energy transformation. “Russia is waging war against us, and it makes no sense to continue financing that war,” Vlcek said, highlighting Prague’s success in modernizing its infrastructure and reducing dependence on Russian resources.
