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A liberal view of the self-defeating left

Wednesday, October 30th, 2013

A liberal analyst thinks Fidesz owes its comfortable lead in opinion polls to the weakness of the left-wing opposition. READ MORE

The Szeklers’ Great March for Autonomy

Tuesday, October 29th, 2013

Magyar Hírlap believes that sooner or later the Szekler people are bound to achieve territorial autonomy within Romania. Népszabadság condemns sympathisers who chanted revisionist slogans in front of the Romanian embassy in Budapest. READ MORE

Rift deepens on the left

Monday, October 28th, 2013

Commentators agree that Mr. Gyurcsány’s harsh criticism of his potential left-wing allies weakens the left and its chances of defeating Fidesz at the 2014 election. READ MORE

Does Hungary need an Apocalypse?

Monday, October 28th, 2013

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

Tax cuts for families with children

Saturday, October 26th, 2013

A left-wing commentator believes that the new family tax allowance proposed by the government will increase inequality. His conservative counterpart welcomes the proposal which he believes will stimulate the birth rate. READ MORE

Controversial 1956 commemorations

Friday, October 25th, 2013

Analysts across the political spectrum agree that politicians used the anniversary of the 1956 revolution to kick off the election campaign. READ MORE

Baja-gate rolls on

Thursday, October 24th, 2013

According to a conservative columnist, evidence suggests that the staged Baja video tape was commissioned by the Socialist party. Népszava accuses the pro-government media of exaggerating the issue, while Népszabadság, the leading left-wing daily, welcomes the opposition parties’ decision to distance themselves from the individuals involved in the fabrication. READ MORE

Polarized nation to commemorate 1956 revolution

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013

Pro-government columnists accuse the opposition of using the anniversary to entrench political cleavages. Left-wing pundits, on the other hand, suspect that the government is using the public media and other state run services to silence the opposition. READ MORE

Mutual recriminations around Baja video

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013

A liberal columnist suggests that if Fidesz wins the 2014 Parliamentary elections, its victory cannot be seen as legitimate. A pro-government commentator compares the Socialists to the former Communist Party for staging a video in order to accuse the governing party of electoral fraud. READ MORE

Football’s role in politics

Monday, October 21st, 2013

A liberal writer describes Viktor Orbán’s interest in and support for Hungarian football as symbolic elements of a mafia-style leadership, while a libertarian commentator thinks the Premier sincerely believes that his favourite game is an essential part of nation-building which was destroyed by the Communists. A conservative columnist writes that liberal commentators try to discredit Orbán’s government with various references to history, instead of trying to understand its nature. READ MORE