Commentators all welcome the recommendation of the European Commission that an earlier threat to suspend development aid to Hungary should not be carried out. They also warn, however, that the government still has a lot to do in order to boost economic growth and restore investors’ confidence. READ MORE
Commentators across the political spectrum find the Hungarian-Romanian diplomatic incident over writer József Nyirő’s reburial sad but absurd. Right-wing commentators claim that Nyirő was not a National Socialist radical and blame the Romanian government and left-leaning Romanian Hungarians for the conflict. Left-wing columnists suggest that the Hungarian government has exacerbated tensions by commemorating a Fascist writer. READ MORE
Commentators from the left and right reflect on what the late communist leader meant for Hungarians during the 32 years of his rule, and what he means to them today. READ MORE
An editorial in Népszabadság protests against what it calls an emerging cult around Miklós Horthy, Regent of Hungary in the interwar years and during the Second World War. A right-wing commentator argues that left wing historians and columnists attack Horthy in an attempt to hurt Viktor Orbán. READ MORE
A centrist analyst fiercely opposes the Prime Minister’s idea of suspending public funding for political parties. A left wing commentator believes Fidesz has even broader control over public assets than the ruling party had under Communism. A sociologist shows that Hungary’s Communist ruler is more popular today than he even was during his last years in office. And a grass-roots Horthy-revival sparks furious emotions. READ MORE
A left-wing analyst suggests that by subsidising the middle classes, the Hungarian government is going against the grain of current trends in Western economic policies. A conservative philosopher, on the other hand, argues that society must acknowledge merit if it wants to encourage performance. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators claim that the government leases large state-owned fields to its “oligarchs” at a reduced rate, instead of helping local family farms. Centrist analysts believe that the debate will create an opportunity for opposition parties to attract rural voters. A pro-government columnist, on the other hand, finds such left-wing criticism deeply unconvincing. READ MORE
Commenting on last weekend’s elections in France and Greece, a left-wing and a liberal conservative analyst both warn that the Hungarian government may be put under increasing international financial and political pressure as discontent with austerity measures increases throughout Europe. READ MORE
A Népszabadság columnist writes that the Orbán government’s stability is an asset but the EU still has some cards to play if Orbán does not conform to IMF expectations. The editor-in-chief of Heti Válasz describes a piece of advice allegedly coming from the European Commission as disregard for the basic principles of democracy, yet he adds that important matters should be thoroughly negotiated backstage – even if the government’s two thirds majority would allow for unilateral decisions. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators think the new minister of the Ministry of National Resources lacks qualifications for the job, aside from the fact that he is an old friend of Viktor Orbán’s, while a centrist political analyst suggests that Zoltán Balog has gained enough experience in his current post to make a good Minister. READ MORE