A centrist analyst believes that Hungarian politicians mirror public sentiments. Polarizing and combative rhetoric are not the inventions of parties but rather the expectations of voters. Regardless of the composition of the government, politics will remain divisive unless Hungarians become more compromising in tone and ideas. READ MORE
A conservative commentator rejects the charges levelled against the government’s movie commissioner, whom many filmmakers accuse of ruining Hungary’s world famous film industry. READ MORE
A centre-right journalist describes László L. Simon as a moderate, unjustly reviled by liberals, who lost his battle against the far more conservative chairmann of the Hungarian Art Academy. A left-liberal commentator writes that the removal of László Simon is another sign of culture wars raging within the governing party, in which the loyalty of office holders is prized above their expertise. READ MORE
A centre-right columnist welcomes the endorsement of the left-leaning director of the National Theater by a prominent right-leaning rock musician as a rare example of how to ease tensions between opposing camps. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators believe that the pictures commissioned by the government to illustrate the deluxe edition of the new Constitution promote a partisan political message. Some young conservative pundits also find the paintings kitschy, while an art historian defends their originality and artistic quality. READ MORE
Twenty years after the regime change, Hungarians still do not care much for public property. A left-wing columnist blames the lack of public concern for public goods on the still prevailing heritage of “state socialism”. READ MORE
A popular liberal blogger reacts ironically to the appointment of a radical right wing actor as director of a small Budapest theatre, describing it as a selfless decision in favour of the mentally deranged. A leading moderate conservative commentator cautions against possible negative consequences. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator does not understand why left-wing newspapers which criticise the public service media are getting expensive advertisements from the Media Council, while cultural institutions are short of money. READ MORE
Recent public opinion surveys reveal a very low level of trust among Hungarians, both in one another and in public institutions. Sociologists blame the lack of trust on political elites, for failing to promote the basic norms of market capitalism and democracy after the fall of state socialism. Hungarians hate state intervention, but also expect support from the government. READ MORE
Hungarians love to hate mendacious political elites, and blame them for the difficulties the country has to face. But the source of all our problems runs deeper, says Gábor Bruck, former adviser and PR-director of the liberal Free Democrats (SZDSZ). Lack of sincerity is in the DNA of the Hungarian public, he suggests. READ MORE