In a surprise move,the minister in charge of education fired his undersecretary, just days before she was to due to sit down for talks with protesting teachers. Magyar Nemzet and Népszabadság
Commenting on the Jobbik leader’s annual address to his party, a moderate columnist wonders if the radical right-wing party can move to the political centre and challenge Fidesz as a more moderate people’s party. READ MORE
One left-wing and one conservative columnist welcome plans to cut red tape by restructuring and closing down public offices. They fear, however, that the government’s new plan may not quite fulfil the hopes invested in it. READ MORE
A former Socialist representative puts forward a ’personal conspiracy theory’ about Fidesz’s proposal on the planned ‘Emergency State of Terror’ constitutional amendment, while a liberal commentator calls such laws hotbeds of dictatorship. READ MORE
An independent conservative pundit cautions the left-wing opposition against boycotting the parliamentary debate over the planned amendment, because it would amount to letting down their voters. READ MORE
Besides welcoming the unprecedented success of a Hungarian film, commentators ponder the Prime Minister’s message of congratulations, and the anti-Semitic comments posted by readers of Mr Orbán’s Facebook page.
In their assessment of last year’s developments, commentators focus on Prime Minister Orbán’s performance – for better or for worse. They recall that the Prime Minister was identified by more than one international outlet as the ‘man of the year’. READ MORE
A conservative foreign affairs analyst concedes that Hungary’s Prime Minister has successfully promoted himself as an important factor in European politics, but laments the lack of a consistent foreign policy. READ MORE
Conservative analysts suspect that the decisions adopted by the European Council on Friday will prove insufficient as crisis management tools. They believe that Europe is still reluctant to take resolute action in order to avert what they regard as a looming catastrophe. READ MORE
As Angela Merkel is named person of the year by Time magazine, and the Economist features PM Orbán alongside Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen, commentators ruminate on the growing rift between liberal elites and their opponents. READ MORE