A conservative columnist accuses the left of radicalism, after Together 2014 leader Gordon Bajnai urged PM Orbán to step down and disappear from public life. Centrist pundits find Mr Bajnai’s performance pathetic, while the leading left-wing daily regrets the lack of a meaningful dialogue between the right and the left. READ MORE
A liberal weekly suggests it should not have come as a surprise that Lungo Drom activists drove Roma voters to the booths. A pro-government columnist, on the other hand, finds the allegation the apogee of a smear campaign that is a small-scale rehearsal for the real thing in 2014. READ MORE
Magyar Nemzet carries a bitter comment on an open letter by the Vienna theatre director who declined an invitation from the Budapest National Theatre, saying that he did not intend to risk the “good name” of his theatre. READ MORE
Commenting on a crude statement made by a Fidesz State Secretary, left-wing pundits accuse the right-wing politician of fomenting male chauvinism and sexism. A pro-government columnist also criticizes the vulgar tone used by MP Illés, but finds the left-wing outcry over the impolite words somewhat hypocritical and overblown, nonetheless. READ MORE
The leading left-wing daily contends that despite the record low overall inflation rate, Hungarian families have to spend more on basic goods. A pro-government columnist, on the other hand, believes the low inflation rate proves that the government is on the right path. READ MORE
Commenting on the breakdown of the negotiations among left-wing parties, commentators suggest that the absence of a broad left-wing coalition plays into the hands of Fidesz. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator believes that the government has won an important battle against the European Commission which tried to punish Hungary by suspending EU funds. READ MORE
Commenting on the government’s plan to transform the energy and utility providers into non-profit services, a left-wing and a centrist columnist accuse the government of welfare populism. A right-wing pundit, on the other hand, believes that the Socialists want to increase their popularity by creating a fully welfare dependent constituency. READ MORE
A pro-government paper criticizes The New York Times for overemphasizing the tension caused by extremist Hungarian fans, or ultras, without reporting on similar incidents on the Romanian side. The leading left-wing Hungarian daily reminds readers that no one outside Hungary expected the national team to win and the government was rather late in warning Hungarian fans to abstain from wrongdoing. A transborder Hungarian writer describes how harmful the ultra’s behaviour will be for Hungarians in Transylvania. READ MORE
Magyar Nemzet welcomes an initiative by the new management of the National Bank to alleviate the burden on families indebted in foreign currencies, which could help them cope better with their debts. READ MORE