Why the Right is successful
Monday, June 9th, 2014A liberal analyst thinks the Left has not found a language that could make its messages convincing, while the govenring conservatives are keen on reacting to people’s everyday concerns. READ MORE
Archive for the ‘Magyar Narancs’ Category
Bajnai and Bilderberg – the plot thickens
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014A liberal weekly calls recent accusations by right-wing pundits against the Bilderberg Group conspiracy theories, while a pro-government commentator thinks the invitation to Gordon Bajnai this year may signal an intention to interfere in Hungarian domestic politics. READ MORE
A first take of the EP elections
Tuesday, May 27th, 2014The first analyses following the elections for the European Parliament agree that the Socialist Party was the main loser of the day. The absolute majority of Fidesz was no surprise, given the low turnout, and Jobbik was expected by most observers to come in second. But the poor showing of the MSZP was a shock for left-wingers and a cause for much schadenfreude for the Right. READ MORE
Might Jobbik be banned?
Monday, May 26th, 2014A liberal analyst wonders whether Fidesz will ban far-right Jobbik after a prominent politician of the movement was accused of spying for Russia. By banning the far-right party, Fidesz could in the short run increase its own constituency, but it would thereby lose the strategic advantage of claiming the centre of the political spectrum, challenged from both sides. READ MORE
E P election stakes
Saturday, May 24th, 2014One liberal commentator claims that voting in this weekend’s European Parliament elections would be absolutely pointless. Other liberal and left-wing pundits, however, believe that European Socialists and Liberals could help to contain PM Orbán’s power. Conservative columnists, on the other hand, contend that neither further transnational integration, nor radical EU-scepticism are in-line with Hungary national interests. READ MORE
Monument to mark Nazi occupation nears completion
Saturday, May 3rd, 2014Left-liberal commentators reject the Prime Minister’s statement, which justifies the controversial statue project as a gesture to remember all victims of Nazi occupation. One even calls the statue a Nazi monument that will be blown up. A pro-government columnist says it is obvious that the monument expresses the condemnation of Hungary’s occupation by Hitler’s army and that the government has expressed its grief over the Holocaust and admitted the guilt of Hungarian collaborators in no uncertain terms. READ MORE
Is the “Orbán régime” here to stay until 2022?
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014In their analyses on the causes of the defeat of the Left at the elections on 6th April, commentators across the political spectrum believe that there will be no left-wing alternative to the incumbent government until the far reaching lessons of two consecutive electoral catastrophes are learned. Opinions differ, however about what those lessons are. READ MORE
Fears and hopes for the next four years
Monday, April 14th, 2014Commentators wonder whether or not the next Orbán government will strike a more conciliatory tone, and seek compromises in the economy and in symbolic battles at home and on the European scene. READ MORE
Pre-election excitement
Monday, April 7th, 2014One day before the elections political dailies publish passionate battle cries, pinpointing enemies which readers should not vote for under any circumstances, barring an unavoidable national tragedy. Sunday’s general election is the first in Hungary without a 48 hour a ban on campaign messages. Weeklies that mostly appear on Wednesday and Thursday took a more analytical attitude, but also made a final effort to mobilize voters. READ MORE
Will Fidesz keep its 2/3 majority?
Monday, March 31st, 2014Left-wing commentators still hope that a crushing Fidesz victory can be prevented. In that case, they suggest, any complaints from the Left about the new election rules will seem more credible. Their right-wing counterparts meanwhile are pulling out all the stops to mobilise their readers for one last push. They argue that the latest scandals have stripped the Left of its last shreds of credibility. READ MORE