When Hungary's economy minister predicted a year ago an economic "fairy tale" for Hungary in 2013, few believed him. But recent data from the central European country show he might have been right.
Hungary began evacuating villages and reinforced leaking dykes along the rising Danube River on Saturday, as central Europe's worst floods in over a decade headed toward Budapest.
Hungary has sought to ease tensions with Berlin after Prime Minister Viktor Orban asked Germany not to "send in the tanks again" in a recent interview on state radio.
Hungary's parliament on Monday stoked concerns about creeping authoritarianism in the EU member state by altering the constitution for the fourth time since Prime Minister Viktor Orban won power in 2010.
Freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall in the Balkans, that seriously affected traffic throughout the region, claimed a second victim on Sunday as a man died from cold in northern Serbia.
Tens of thousands of Hungarians were expected to rally in Budapest on Tuesday in rival political gatherings closely watched for any signs of waning support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban.