**Hungary’s Opposition Leader Calls for Early Elections**
Peter Magyar, a leader of Hungary’s opposition party, has called for early elections in a New Year’s video address. He cited Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s declining popularity and allegations of corruption as the reasons.
Orban has been criticized for his pro-Russian stance, including opposition to EU sanctions on Russia and military aid for Ukraine. Magyar accused him of turning Hungary into “the EU’s poorest, most corrupt nation.”
This is the first time Magyar has demanded early elections before the scheduled 2026 vote. His message has gone viral in Hungary, with over 2 million views on social media.
**Hungary Loses EU Funding**
Meanwhile, Hungary has lost €1.04 billion ($1.08 billion) in EU funding after failing to implement reforms to meet rule-of-law standards. This is the first time the EU has taken such action against a member state.
The reforms aimed to address issues in political financing, media independence, and conflict-of-interest laws but were not completed by the end of 2024 deadline.
**Ukraine Conflict**
In Ukraine, Russian forces have suffered significant losses, including over 38,000 troops and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment since the beginning of the war. Ukraine’s electricity import has increased fivefold to 4.4 million megawatt-hours (MWh), while gas prices have risen to 51 euros per megawatt-hour.
Russian forces launched 72 drones against Ukraine overnight, killing a civilian and causing significant damage. Ukrainian units eliminated over 350 Russian drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed ones.
**International Reactions**
The international community has expressed concern about the situation in Ukraine and Hungary. The German government’s leader, Saskia Esken, called for an end to the conflict, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed hope that Poland would lead efforts towards peace.
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