Hungary's Viktor Orban may have got a brief poll boost last month from a costly pension sweetener, but he faces a race against time before April's election to turn the stagnating economy around enough to extend a 15-year grip on power.

Budapest

Hungarian President Viktor Orban has introduced a pension top-up aimed at winning support from the country's 2.4 million retirees ahead of the spring election. Despite this measure, recent polls show only a brief and minor increase in support for Orban's Fidesz party, while the rival Tisa party has gained more ground.

The pension top-up, costing $454 million next year, primarily benefited existing Fidesz supporters and has not shifted the broader national sentiment. Economic difficulties, including high inflation and low average salaries, continue to weigh on voters, with some pensioners expressing skepticism about the government's motives.

Orban's giveaways still not turning election tide in Hungary

Residents of Budapest line up for food distributed by a charity on a cold day in December. These lines are a barometer of Hungary's stagnating economy, and a dead weight on President Viktor Orbán heading into a springtime election. In an effort to extend his 15-year grip on power, Orbán pushed ahead with a pension top-up, hoping to win over Hungary's 2.4 million retirees, who make up a quarter of the electorate. And they are struggling. Erzsébet Bodlik told Reuters she would hardly have anything if not for her two children. She said food from the charity helps because it means she needs to spend less on food for Christmas. The pension top-up seems to have given Orbán's Fidesz party a small but short-lived boost. According to a survey by the 21 Research Center, Fidesz's poll rating rose by one point to 27 percent of all voters, before retreating to 26 percent in December. Over the same period, support for the rival Tisa party rose by three points to 34 percent. Orbán's pension top-up will cost $454 million next year, with its price tag rising each following year as it is phased in over the next government cycle. Daniel Rona is the director of 21 Research Center, the pollster. He said the pension payout primarily went into the pockets of voters already supportive of Orbán, and that it might be too late to change national sentiment. The problem is that it's still negative and it can be changed dramatically in a few months because the time is too short and the amount of money to be distributed is limited. Orbán's re-election bid will be watched far beyond Hungary. The nationalist, who takes a hard-line approach on immigration and gay and trans rights, has been a thorn in the side of the European Union. Orbán counts U.S. President Donald Trump as an ally, and maintains close ties with Russia's Vladimir Putin. But the domestic economy is not on his side. Income tax rebates he pushed through ahead of the 2022 election helped fuel Europe's worst inflationary surge. At the same time, the annual average full-time salary per employee was the third lowest in the bloc. Pensioner Beatrice Agoston said the payout gave her a little boost, but said she was suspicious that future payouts were only election propaganda.

On Monday, President Trump announced a new class of Navy battleships he's calling the "Golden Fleet." The president said two vessels will be built in the short term, with plans to expand to up to 25.

Washington

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Beijing

China says U.S. ship seizures ‘serious violation' of international law

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Nuuk

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Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Russian general killed in car explosion

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Caracas

U.S. pursuing third oil tanker near Venezuela, officials say

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Bekkersdal

At least nine people killed in South Africa pub shooting

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Islamabad

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Damascus

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Taipei City

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Providence

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Washington County

Justice Department releases new tranche of Epstein files

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Combing through newly released Epstein files

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Kyiv

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Salem

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Breakdown