Hungary Powers Down Paks Nuclear Plant, Straining EU Energy Balance

⚡ BUDAPEST — Paks offline Sunday. Orban loses his cheapest card. 📌 LOOK CLOSER: Paks provides ~50% of Hungary's electricity — the cheapest baseload in the EU. With Hormuz throttled and spot prices elevated, Hungary must import at crisis rates. That cost lands on Budapest's budget and erodes Orban's argument that Hungary's Russia-adjacent stance delivers energy security. EU dependency increases exactly when Brussels needs leverage over him.