Budapest Pride as an opposition march
Tuesday, July 27th, 2021As for the first time in its history, the LGBTQ march through Budapest was also an anti-government demonstration, opinions sharply diverge on its message. READ MORE
Archive for the ‘Mérce’ Category
Left-wing analyst defends inclusion of Jobbik in opposition alliance
Thursday, July 22nd, 2021A left-wing political scientist acknowledges that some of the values espoused by Jobbik are anathema to left-wing and liberal voters, but he nonetheless believes that Jobbik should be part of the opposition cooperation. READ MORE
Football seen as politics by other means
Monday, June 28th, 2021Commentators right across the political spectrum interpret the Hungarian team’s unexpected success and tragic exit from the European Football Championship as a political allegory. READ MORE
Two opposing views on the culture war
Friday, February 5th, 2021An alt-left historian accuses the elites of betraying the working class by embracing liberal and nationalist versions of pro-market bourgeois ideologies. A pro-government pundit welcomes the government’s efforts to weaken the cultural and intellectual domination of left-wing liberal elites. READ MORE
Antony Blinken named as next US Secretary of State
Monday, November 30th, 2020Commentators across the political spectrum try to guess how US-Hungarian diplomatic relations will develop under the new US administration. READ MORE
PM Orbán announces new restrictions to combat the pandemic
Wednesday, November 11th, 2020A left-wing political scientist deems the government’s epidemic emergency policies announced on Monday belated and week. A pro-government commentator, on the other hand, thinks that the restrictions are necessary – and describes opposition criticism as incoherent and irresponsible. READ MORE
Debate over rule of law continues
Monday, October 5th, 2020Left-wing and liberal commentators accuse the government of waging a propaganda war in its handling of EU criticism of the rule of law in Hungary. Pro-government pundits, on the other hand, think that the EU’s criticism originates from the domestic opposition, and is being used to blackmail the country. READ MORE
No compromise in sight over Theatre and Film University
Monday, September 7th, 2020As the controversy over the restructuring of the University of Theatre and Film rages on, the political debate has escalated into a full-fledged culture war between the government and the opposition. Both sides rule out the possibility of compromise. READ MORE
Opposing views on Index
Tuesday, July 28th, 2020Opposition-leaning outlets mourn the end of what they see as the leading independent news site while a pro-government analyst believes that Index was a staunchly pro-opposition website. A middle of the road commentator suggest that it was not in the government’s interest to dismantle Index. READ MORE
Sceptical opinions on the chances of the Left
Monday, June 29th, 2020A left-wing commentator calls on the opposition to boycott the 2022 Parliamentary election. An alt-left blogger thinks that in the absence of a clear vision and strong local presence, the opposition cannot defeat Fidesz. A pro-government columnist contends that the opposition’s ‘Frankenstein coalition’ would be corrupt. READ MORE