Sino-Hungarian summit in Beijing
Saturday, February 15th, 2014Commentators agree on the importance of broadening business ties with China, but left-wing analysts criticise the political overtones of the Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing. READ MORE
Author Archive
Favourable ruling expected for forex mortgage debtors
Friday, February 14th, 2014A conservative analyst thinks the weakening of the Forint may annul the favourable impact of the expected decision of the European Court of Justice to empower Hungarian courts to rewrite forex mortgage contracts. He urges serious confidence-building measures to bolster the national currency. READ MORE
Common Holocaust remembrance in jeopardy
Thursday, February 13th, 2014While Jewish community leaders have outlined their demands in a letter to the Prime Minister, a pro-government commentator expresses disappointment and dismay that the likelihood of a joint remembrance of the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust seems to be waning. READ MORE
Ruminations on the Swiss referendum
Wednesday, February 12th, 2014Népszava thinks Switzerland and the European Union will both have to pay a heavy price for the immigration restrictions to be imposed by the Swiss government. Magyar Nemzet interprets the outcome of the referendum as a first sign that European governments must face immigration problems seriously. READ MORE
Mesterházy’s criticism of the electoral system
Tuesday, February 11th, 2014A moderately conservative analyst argues that the Socialist leader should not have evoked left wing precedents in his criticism of the new electoral rules, as the present government has followed in the footsteps of a previous Socialist-led coalition. READ MORE
PM draws up balance-sheet and outlines prospects to the House
Wednesday, February 5th, 2014The leading left-wing daily suspects the campaign of the governing party will be dominated by the single issue of energy and utility tariff cuts. A pro-government commentator, on the other hand, finds it strange that MSZP leader Attila Mesterházy missed the opportunity to attend the session and outline a left-wing alternative to the current government in parliament. READ MORE
The role of utility tariffs in the campaign
Monday, February 3rd, 2014“The war on utility costs” is featured in two parallel analyses of the upcoming election campaign. A left-leaning commentator notes that Fidesz chose the cut in utility prices as its main theme for the campaign and the now united opposition must convince the electorate that they offer more substantial safety and freedom. A commentator for a pro-government daily notes that negative statements on the utility cost issue will hardly provide enough fuel for the left-wing campaign. Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics, in his regular column, sums up the dilemma as finding a good policy that is also popular enough to win an election. READ MORE
Forint under pressure
Monday, February 3rd, 2014A business analyst says critics have been too hasty to condemn the National Bank for not resorting to swift “verbal intervention” in response to the heavy losses the Forint has suffered over the past week. A pro-government columnist urges decision makers to consider joining the Eurozone, in order to shield Hungary from currency fluctuations. READ MORE
Forint plunges but Bank chief’s lips are sealed
Saturday, February 1st, 2014A pro-government commentator says cutting interest rates was good policy until now, but National Bank leaders should heed the clear signs that the markets want a rise. READ MORE
No end to Culture Wars over Holocaust memorial year
Friday, January 31st, 2014A Jewish cultural weekly suggests that Jewish organizations should be prepared to make compromises but should also stay away from some of the events of the Holocaust memorial year. Reacting to earlier and sharper comments, one of the leading architects of the memorial year says the attacks are part and parcel of the election campaign. A conservative editor takes her defence against what he considers a vicious personal attack by a liberal historian. READ MORE