Parliament to rewrite FX loan contracts

In their commentaries on the Constitutional Court’s verdict on forex loans, analysts from across the political spectrum agree that it is the government’s responsibility to help indebted families. It is, however, unclear how loans denominated in foreign currencies could be converted into Forint credits without severe economic consequences. READ MORE

Pre-election landscape

Commentators on both the right and left fear that Jobbik may increase its constituency yet further in the 6 April Parliamentary election, after reaping almost 17 per cent of the popular vote four years ago. Left-wing commentators argue against despair, and one lays the blame for the bankruptcy of the Left on the Liberals and personally on Ferenc Gyurcsány. READ MORE

Democracy devours its middle class

A sociologist believes that populism is on the rise in East Central Europe. In Hungary, he argues, the middle class was weakened during the years of transition to the market economy, and is therefore defenceless against the rising tide of anti-market populism. READ MORE

Opposition losing ground before the election run-up

Various commentators – including even some who otherwise deem the government’s performance appalling – believe that the opposition hardly stands a chance at the elections scheduled for next spring. READ MORE

Divided opposition uniting for October 23

A leading liberal commentator believes that the joint celebration of the anniversary of the 56 revolution is just window-dressing, with the main opposition forces intending to ignore the leaders of minor groupings, while claiming the votes of their followers. READ MORE

Left-wing weeklies fear an uphill campaign

Left-leaning weeklies think it will be extremely difficult for the Socialists and their allies to match the governing right wing. They accuse Fidesz of smart but unfair campaign methods. READ MORE

Head-on confrontation rather than fair competition

A left-wing sociologist suggests that intellectuals who ceaselessly complain about the warlike atmosphere which dominates Hungarian politics fail to find a new language that could help society overcome its paralysing divisions. READ MORE

Tug-of-war with Brussels

Commentators unanimously find the protracted tug-of-war between the government and the European Union on constitutional and financial issues harmful, but opinions diverge widely on the causes and the possible solutions. READ MORE

Two weeks of student unrest: a political turning point?

Left-wing analysts suggest that the student demonstrations of the last two weeks have signalled the beginning of the end for the governing right wing. A conservative pundit suspects that left wing forces are trying to manipulate the student movement. READ MORE

From anti-Semitism to the Olympics, the culture war goes on

Historians’ polemic

In Élet és Irodalom, Eszter Babarczy argues that anti-Semitism became a political factor two decades ago, when liberals and socialists first raised the charge against their conservative opponents. READ MORE