A conservative pundit wonders if populist politics can go beyond mere demagogic ranting and design policies that help the masses grapple with economic and identity-related challenges. READ MORE
The leading pro-government daily bids farewell to Andy Vajna, praising his contribution to Hungarian film making. A liberal commentator suspects a fight over his media holding and casino concessions will follow. READ MORE
Weeklies and the weekend editions of dailies try to asses the chances of a broad anti-government coalition emerging, and whether it might prove a challenge to Fidesz. READ MORE
A pro-government and a left-wing analyst offer diametrically opposed assessments of PM Orbán’s Thursday press conference. One criticises journalists for their hostile questions, while the other complains that the PM’s Office refused entry refused to some critical outlets.
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According to the leading pro-government daily, trade unions could not reach agreement on a general strike proposed last week at the opposition demonstrations against the Overtime Bill. A liberal commentator points out that both the labour code and public sentiments make it difficult to call a general strike in Hungary. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator accuses those opposition parties which are pondering running jointly at the EP election of ‘of serving ‘foreign interests’. A left-wing pundit welcomes the proposal, claiming that the Left needs to cooperate with Jobbik to defeat Fidesz and restore democracy. A liberal columnist finds the opposition cooperation counterproductive. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator thinks that opposition parties will lose votes if they run jointly in the 2019 European Parliamentary election. A liberal analyst wonders whether the protests against the Overtime Bill have united opposition voters. READ MORE
Both a left-wing and a pro-government commentator think that the conflict between the government and the opposition demonstrators is likely to escalate. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator calls on the Right to use its political power to end what he calls ‘liberal dominance’ in culture. A liberal pundit mocks the government’s efforts to transform the cultural landscape. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist interprets the removal of Imre Nagy’s monument from the immediate vicinity of Kossuth Square as the completion of Viktor Orbán’s ideological turn and his betrayal of his 1989 democratic vision. A conservative historian welcomes the decision, claiming that Imre Nagy was a nationalist communist rather than a hero of democracy. READ MORE