Viktor Orban

FILE - In this June 14, 2021 file photo a drag queen waves a rainbow flag during an LGBT rights demonstration in front of the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary. Populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long used soccer to advance his right-wing politics, and now widespread international criticism of a new Hungarian law that is seen as targeting the LGBT community has turned this month's Euro 2020 tournament into a major stage for his challenge to Europe's liberal values. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky, File)

Astra Hungary vs MTK Hungaria FC 10/18/2020

Jun. 23, 2021 06:44 AM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, June 15, 2021 file photo a view of the Ferenc Puskas stadium before the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and Portugal in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long used soccer to advance his right-wing politics, and now widespread international criticism of a new Hungarian law that is seen as targeting the LGBT community has turned this month's Euro 2020 tournament into a major stage for his challenge to Europe's liberal values. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh, Pool, File)

Hungary's PM uses soccer to push vision of right-wing Europe

By Justin Spike Jun. 23, 2021 06:42 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 19, 2021 file photo, Hungarian fans follow the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France, at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary. Tens of thousands of soccer fans packed the Puskas Arena in Budapest last week to attend Euro 2020 matches. It was the first full-house international soccer event in Europe in more than a year — made possible largely by Hungary's adoption of government-issued immunity cards. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool, file)

Hungary's immunity cards allow packed stands, raise concerns

By Justin Spike Jun. 22, 2021 04:07 AM EDT

People take part in the Equality Parade, the largest gay pride parade in central and eastern Europe, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday June 19, 2021. The event has returned this year after a pandemic-induced break last year and amid a backlash in Poland and Hungary against LGBT rights.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Warsaw gay pride parade back after backlash, pandemic

By Vanessa Gera Jun. 19, 2021 03:40 AM EDT

France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, center, France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan, right, and France's goalkeeper Steve Mandanda attend a training session at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, June 18, 2021, the day before the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Hungary: Plan to build Chinese university branch protested

Jun. 05, 2021 03:18 PM EDT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and UC Davis Assistant Nurse Manager Claudio Alvarado select the first 15 Californians to be awarded $50,000 for doing their part in getting vaccinated against COVID-19 at the California Lottery Headquarters on Friday, June 4, 2021, in Sacramento, Calif. It was the first in a series of drawings for $16.5 million in prize money aimed at encouraging Californians to get their shots ahead of June 15, when the state plans to lift almost all virus-related restrictions. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)

The Latest: Mexico to use US vaccine doses at border

By The Associated Press Jun. 04, 2021 02:24 AM EDT

A protester takes part in a rally in downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 28, 2021. Some thousands of people on Friday rallied against Slovenia's right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa, reflecting mounting political pressure on the government weeks before the country takes over European Union's rotating presidency. (AP Photo)

Thousands rally against Slovenian PM ahead of EU presidency

May. 28, 2021 02:48 PM EDT

Hungary donates COVID-19 jabs amid slowing vaccination drive

By Justin Spike May. 28, 2021 09:00 AM EDT
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's prime minister on Friday urged Hungarians to register for their COVID-19 jabs, following a sharp drop in what was until...

A woman wearing a face mask loads groceries into her car after shopping at a Zupan's grocery store in Portland, Ore., on Friday, May 21, 2021. As the federal government and many states ease rules around mask-wearing and business occupancy, some blue states like Oregon and Washington are still holding on to some longtime coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)

The Latest: Variant 1st seen in UK now dominant in LA County

By The Associated Press May. 22, 2021 07:39 AM EDT

Men celebrate as a bar reopens, in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Hungarians had their first taste of normality in nearly six months Saturday as the outdoor terraces of restaurants and bars filled up in the country's capital, marking the newest round of openings in a country that's been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh)

Vaccines mean Hungary's restaurants open for outdoor service

By Justin Spike Apr. 24, 2021 10:22 AM EDT

An elderly homeless woman walks in the corridor of the hospital for the homeless in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, April 14, 2021. A bitter conflict has emerged between Hungary’s right-wing government and the liberal leadership of the country's capital city over a hospital for the homeless that may soon have to close. The Budapest hospital provides medical and social services and shelter to more than 1,000 people annually. But the Hungarian government has ordered it to vacate the state-owned building it occupies. Budapest's mayor says the eviction will risk the lives of the hospital's homeless patients as Hungary struggles with a deadly COVID-19 surge. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh)

Hungary's government spars with mayor over homeless hospital

By Justin Spike Apr. 21, 2021 04:55 AM EDT

Hairdresser Andrea Roder washes the hair of a client in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday April 7, 2021. Hungary's government lifted several lockdown restrictions on Wednesday, even as some doctors and medical experts urged caution after a record-breaking day of COVID-19 deaths, a move that came as Hungary reached 2.5 million first-dose vaccinations, a benchmark the government set for when a gradual reopening could move forward. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh)

Doctors in Hungary question reopening amid spike in deaths

By Justin Spike Apr. 08, 2021 11:24 AM EDT

A staff member of a flower shop holds tulips in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday April 7, 2021. Hungary's government lifted several lockdown restrictions on Wednesday, even as some doctors and medical experts urged caution after a record-breaking day of COVID-19 deaths, a move that came as Hungary reached 2.5 million first-dose vaccinations, a benchmark the government set for when a gradual reopening could move forward. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh)

Hungary lifts some restrictions despite virus death spike

By Justin Spike Apr. 07, 2021 10:22 AM EDT

Hungary to ease lockdown after hitting vaccination milestone

Apr. 06, 2021 01:40 PM EDT
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's prime minister says some lockdown restrictions will be lifted Wednesday after more than a quarter of the population has been...

An employee checks the newly arrived coronavirus vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm at the logistics base set up to in the parking lot of the government office in the 13th district of Budapest, Hungary, Monday, March 29, 2021. (Noemi Bruzak/MTI via AP)

Hungary first in European Union for vaccinations, and deaths

Justin Spike Mar. 29, 2021 08:09 AM EDT

In break from region, hard-hit Hungary to loosen lockdown

By Justin Spike Mar. 26, 2021 01:02 PM EDT
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Despite struggling with the worst COVID-19 death rate in the world and record new infections, Hungary announced plans Friday to scale...

A man wears a mask in the colors of the Hungarian flag during a protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, March 15, 2021. Hungarians gathered on the country's national day to protest against the current lockdown measures after new restrictive measures were introduced by the Hungarian government last week aiming to slow a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh)

Hungarian far-right party protests lockdown

By Justin Spike Mar. 15, 2021 09:57 AM EDT

Boxes of Sputnik V vaccines are unloaded from a truck at a warehouse of Hungaropharma, a Hungarian pharmaceutical wholesale company, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)

Hungary emerges as an EU vaccination star amid surging cases

By Justin Spike Mar. 12, 2021 09:24 AM EST