A bill submitted to Parliament broadening the rights of the prosecution against suspected criminal offenders has caused a major uproar in the left wing press. Even a conservative commentator describes the successive amendments to the bill as ‘hasty.’ READ MORE
The leading pro-government daily welcomes the measures being taken to cut back Hungary’s foreign debt as ‘a historic shift of direction’ after four decades of relentless borrowing. READ MORE
Thousands protested on Thursday (June 16) against the government’s planned changes to the early retirement system. Right-wing commentators detect political motives behind the protests, while left-wing media interpret the demonstrations as a plea for democracy and the rule of law. Both sides appear to assume that a reasonable compromise is not an option. READ MORE
Hungary simply cannot afford to spend twice as much on its debt-servicing, as it earns from the growth of its GDP– a pro-government analyst remarks, in defence of the legislative policies of the ruling coalition. READ MORE
The exodus of young (and old) Hungarian doctors is reaching intolerable proportions. Young doctors are threatening to leave their posts en masse. A pro-government commentator understands their bitterness, but fears that their demands for pay rises are unrealistic. READ MORE
On Friday (10 June) Croatia was given the go-ahead by the European Commission to join the European Union, and is likely to become the 28th member in 2013. “Zagreb’s success belongs to Budapest too,” writes Magyar Nemzet, “this represents a huge step towards reaching one of the main goals of the Hungarian EU Presidency.” READ MORE
As public expenditure cuts spark protests among more and more categories of employees, including teachers, doctors, bus drivers and locomotive drivers, a pro-government commentator suspects that the protesting policemen are politically motivated. READ MORE
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has identified debt and unemployment as the twin enemies to defeat, lest we be defeated by them. Left-wing commentators accuse him of waging war with virtually all actors at home and abroad. Right-wing analysts also report signs of social tensions, but blame the hardships on the previous left-wing governments. READ MORE
On the first anniversary of the establishment of the Orbán government, pundits and politicians weigh in to assess the centre-right government’s performance so far, and to outline the possible government strategies of the coming years. READ MORE
„Viktor Orbán must fall” philosopher János Kis tells the leftist weekly 168 Óra, “before the new Constitution can be repaired”. Kis, now a professor at the Central European University in Budapest, was a respected dissident leader during the last decade of communism in Hungary, then founding president of the liberal Party of Free Democrats in 1988. He left his party in 2002 but remains an undisputed authority among left wing liberals. READ MORE