A right-wing commentator contends that renewed speculation about who leaked former PM Gyurcsány’s 2006 “lie-speech,” is actually part of Mr Gyurcsány’s strategy to blackmail the left-wing opposition and thereby secure himself a place in a future anti-Orbán coalition. READ MORE
A left wing daily claims that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is bound to win the sympathy of the voters whether Brussels waives the excessive deficit procedure or not. A pro-government daily suggests that the EU has run out of excuses to keep a punitive measure in place, which in any case had more to do with anger with a country that defies orthodoxy yet remains successful. A business daily focuses on the new taxes to be introduced to meet the deficit target, and maintains that the planned tax on commercials and advertising revenue guarantees further control over the commercial media. READ MORE
After a stormy reaction on the left to a rude homophobic remark made by special government commissioner Imre Kerényi, the leading right-wing daily runs a short editorial on its website repudiating both his words and his person in no uncertain terms, giving rise to speculation that “open season has been opened on Kerényi”. READ MORE
A left wing columnist calls on the Prime Minister to apologise for his latest remark on German criticism of constitutional changes in Hungary. A centrist commentator suspects that the real cause behind the divergence of views is Mr Orbán’s scepticism towards Ms Merkel’s vision of a federal European Union. A right-wing pundit blames western media outlets for spreading lies about Hungary. READ MORE
The leading pro-government daily appreciates the role of the United States as Hungary’s most important ally, but rejects critical remarks coming from Washington about recent developments in Hungary. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist warns that Hungary cannot be sure of release from the EU’s excessive deficit procedure, despite all its fiscal zeal. READ MORE
A conservative columnist fears that the apology of WJC chairman Ronald S. Lauder for his earlier criticism of PM Orbán’s speech will not be as widely reported in the international media as the original communique blaming Orbán for not being specific enough in distancing his party from the anti-Semitic far-right. A left-wing columnist, on the other hand, criticizes PM Orbán’s labelling of the Jews as a minority. READ MORE
A left wing commentator welcomes the Prime Minister’s attempts to prevent anti-Semitic demonstrations, although he would prefer clear-cut legislation to ban racist rallies in general. A right-wing columnist believes the Left needs the danger of racism in order to present itself as the only bulwark against barbarism. READ MORE
Commentators from left to right believe that the EU is unlikely to lift the excessive deficit procedure imposed on Hungary, and agree that its motives are political. A pro-government commentator says there are foreign interests behind the pessimistic EU forecast, while both a left-wing editorial and a business columnist interpret the move as a warning to Hungary. READ MORE