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PM Orbán visits Turkey

Wednesday, July 5th, 2017

As Prime Minister Orbán calls for more trade with Turkey and political cooperation with Ankara, writers critical of the government and its supporters disagree on how Hungary can and should relate to an illiberal but geopolitically important state. READ MORE

Reflections on the Turkish referendum

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

A pro-government columnist interprets the success of the Turkish referendum as a sign that Turkey is turning away from Europe. A left-wing commentator thinks Erdogan is doomed to fail because he has divided his country. READ MORE

Hungary’s interests in Turkey

Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Commenting on Hungarian official statements on Turkey, a left-wing columnist thinks that there is little leeway for Hungary to pursue its own strategic interests in the complex geopolitical situation of the Middle East. READ MORE

The implications of Turkish-Russian rapprochement

Thursday, August 11th, 2016

Commentators disagree on whether Turkish-Russian diplomatic rapprochement is to be judged as a worrisome development by Europe. READ MORE

Reactions to the failed coup in Turkey

Monday, July 18th, 2016

Commentators are convinced that after foiling the coup, President Erdogan will consolidate his rule still further. At the same time they dismiss conspiracy theories about him being the real mastermind behind the attempted takeover. READ MORE

Brussels refugee fine plan

Tuesday, May 17th, 2016

Two columnists point out that Hungary may have to pay stellar penalties for rejecting compulsory migrant relocation quotas, if the European Commission gets its way in the European Parliament and the European Council. READ MORE

Ruminations on the EU-Turkey migrant deal

Saturday, May 14th, 2016

Two conservative commentators criticize the EU for abandoning its core principles and trusting its security to Turkey. A left-wing columnist, on the other hand, hopes that the lifting of the Turkish visa requirement will strengthen democrats in Turkey without compromising the EU’s security. READ MORE

Migrant pact between the EU and Turkey

Monday, March 21st, 2016

Commentators fear that the deal struck at the European summit with Turkey will be hard to implement in practice and might provoke risky consequences. READ MORE

Merkel’s stance criticised

Saturday, March 19th, 2016

A leading conservative pundit accuses the German chancellor of putting the future of her country and of Europe as a whole at risk by refusing to opt for a brand new immigration policy. READ MORE

EU-Turkey migrant deal in limbo

Thursday, March 10th, 2016

Magyar Idők praises Viktor Orbán for saying no to the Turkey-EU draft deal, while Magyar Nemzet and Népszabadság accuse the government and public service media of staging a publicity stunt in Brussels to try to boost the Prime Minister’s popularity at home. READ MORE