Whatever their political affiliations, Hungary’s daily newspapers are united in regretting President Pál Schmitt’s refusal to resign, despite being stripped of his doctoral title by the Semmelweis University in Budapest. READ MORE
In his sarcastic weekly editorial column, the editor of Magyar Narancs cautions against forcing Hungary’s President to resign. READ MORE
Commentators seem to agree that Hungarians in Slovakia are among the losers of the Parliamentary election there. Some blame what they call the Orbán government’s wrong-headed cross-border policies; others believe the new inter-ethnic party is at fault. READ MORE
Centre-right Fidesz is walking a tightrope, trying to distance itself from the radical right-wing Jobbik party in order to strengthen its democratic and pro-EU image, without alienating radical leaning right-wing voters, a liberal weekly argues. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist accuses the LMP of strengthening radical right-wing Jobbik by not cooperating with left-wing opposition parties. A founding member of the LMP rejects the accusations, while a liberal pundit believes that after the next election the LMP could become Fidesz’s coalition partner.
Left-liberal observers are extremely critical of the verdict of the Budapest Appeal Court sentencing “the apostle of midwifery in Hungary” to two years in prison. READ MORE
Right-wing commentators feel that Hungary is being unfairly accused of anti-democratic tendencies and unjustly put under pressure, but a business analyst says it has to comply with the demands put forward by the European Union. READ MORE
All commentators agree that 2012 will be even tougher than 2010. But they disagree on the reasons, and on the best policy to follow. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators consider Hungary’s intention to resume talks with the IMF as sufficient reason for the prime minister to resign, although they don’t believe he will. A pro-government and anti-IMF commentator describes the government’s move as an act of capitulation. READ MORE
Commentators wonder whether the mass meeting held under the slogan “We don’t like the system” will give birth to a new left wing opposition, or if it was a one-off event. READ MORE