Pro-government commentators welcome the government’s firm reaction to criticism from the Dutch ambassador to Budapest. Left-wing and liberal pundits, on the other hand, accuse the government of paranoia and overreaction. READ MORE
As the European Commission starts a new infringement procedure against Hungary over the law on foreign-funded NGOS, a right-wing columnist accuses NGOs of having ‘anarchist leanings’. A liberal blogger thinks that the procedure jeopardizes the membership of Fidesz in the European People’s Party. READ MORE
The Prime Minister evaluates the 1.7 million answers to the government’s questionnaire as an expression of overwhelming support for his policy of rejecting mass immigration and further supranational European integration, while a left-wing commentator thinks that the questions put to the population were senseless. READ MORE
Two liberal weeklies accuse the government of trying to demonize and silence foreign funded watchdog organizations. READ MORE
As George Soros depicts the Orbán government as a ‘mafia state’, government politicians including the premier himself describe the NGOs supported by Mr Soros as ‘a mafia network.’ A pro-government columnist fears that anti-government protesters will soon turn violent. A left-wing commentator, on the other hand, finds the government’s rhetoric frightening. READ MORE
Pro-government commentators interpret the EP resolution against Hungary as a politically motivated attack by pro-migration forces. An independent and a left-wing columnist, on the other hand, agree with the authors of the text which accuses Hungary of violating basic EU norms. READ MORE
While the Prime Minister defended his policies against sharp criticism by the European Commission and MEPs, a legal analyst wrote that the infringement procedure launched by the Commission against Hungary rests on shaky foundations. READ MORE
As Parliament begins to debate a bill on NGOs which receive foreign funding, pundits across the political spectrum discuss the idea of an ‘open society’, an ideal frequently evoked by George Soros, and assess the status and political role of NGOs in Hungary. READ MORE
Commenting on PM Orbán’s Easter interviews, a conservative critic of the government thinks that Fidesz has alienated its conservative intellectual supporters. A pro-government commentator shares the PM’s view, when he detects George Soros behind the recent anti-government protests. READ MORE
A conservative economist agrees with the Prime Minister that the economy is on a firm footing and that Hungary has a chance of catching up with western Europe. Another analyst accuses the Prime Minister of trying to divert attention from corruption. READ MORE