German Chancellor to Visit Hungary at Time of Huge Political Challenges

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is traveling to Budapest next week for talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that come at a time of strain between the two nations, with Mr Orban moving closer to Russia and imposing higher taxes and other burdens on German and other foreign companies operating in the country.

Chancellor Merkel will also visit a synagogue, which her spokeswoman said she felt important given Germany's history. It also reflects German concerns at the rise of Hungary's far-right Jobbik party that became the second-largest opposition force in parliament in elections last year.

Chancellor Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert says that "internal political developments in Hungary" would figure in the talks.