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MCC Feszt in Esztergom entered its second day with packed panels, bustling exhibitions, and evening concerts drawing huge crowds. Hungarian and international experts tackled topics from foreign policy and healthcare to artificial intelligence, culture, and migration.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó highlighted Hungary’s economic success, stressing that major Western carmakers and Eastern battery producers continue to invest in the country. He rejected Ukraine’s fast-tracked EU membership bid and underlined Hungary’s commitment to regional cooperation. State Secretary Péter Takács pointed to significant improvements, including modernized operating rooms and an increased number of medical specialists.

Artificial intelligence debates featured government commissioner László Palkovics and former finance minister János Veres, who discussed risks and opportunities of the technology. Panels also examined the credibility of opinion polling and the challenges facing European politics. International voices such as Michael Schellenberger, Dominic Cummings, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali raised issues ranging from environmental myths to migration and Western identity.

Alongside the discussions, visitors explored more than 100 exhibitors at the Edu Promenade before concerts by Parno Graszt, Irie Maffia, BSW, and Yamina. On Saturday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will join the festival for an exclusive conversation on Hungary’s future challenges, capping one of Europe’s most significant intellectual gatherings.