Overview
- European Commission officials on Monday requested explanations from Budapest after reports said Hungary’s foreign minister relayed details from closed EU talks to Moscow.
- Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ordered a Monday probe into what he called the wiretapping of Péter Szijjártó, describing it as a serious attack on Hungary.
- Péter Szijjártó denied leaking confidential material but said he routinely speaks with foreign counterparts, including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, before and after EU Council meetings.
- EU diplomats are holding more sensitive briefings in smaller like‑minded groups that exclude Hungary, yet formal foreign‑policy decisions still require all 27 states and often unanimity, which limits any formal sidelining.
- Germany called the allegations very serious, and opposition leader Péter Magyar labeled the alleged backchannel treason ahead of the April 12 election, while disclosures of audio and a 2020 call transcript deepened the political fight.