As the European Commission announced infringement proceedings against Hungary, left wing newspapers blame the government, while one right wing commentator lays most of the blame on the EU for its refusal to accept unorthodox methods to tackle the crisis. Another pro-government analyst urges talks to overcome the crisis. READ MORE
Commentators on the left and in the centre of the political spectrum wonder whether President Pál Schmitt can stay in office, after Heti Világgazdaság accused him of plagiarising a significant part of his doctoral dissertation, submitted in 1992. READ MORE
Now that the European Commission has demanded a U-turn from Hungary in her legislative and political course, commentators ponder what the possible consequences are, who is at fault and what should be done. READ MORE
Left and right wing commentators agree that the Hungarian government has no choice but to reach an agreement with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. While Népszabadság and Népszava urge the cabinet to return to European norms, both Magyar Nemzet and Magyar Hírlap believe that there is no need to crawl on all fours to the lenders. READ MORE
The Forint stopped sinking on Thursday after a soothing statement by the Hungarian IMF negotiator. Prior to that statement, commentators from both right and left warned that the government should be more cooperative with the EU and the IMF in order to restore the confidence of international investors. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators condemn Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for refusing to join the new fiscal deal of the European Union. A right-wing columnist thanks Prime Minister David Cameron of Great Britain for rejecting the package and thus winning time and space for others to ponder what to do. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator believes the government wants to bring the judiciary under its own control, while a right-wing columnist thinks the reform will finally put an end to the left-wing domination of the courts. READ MORE
Left wing papers call for PM Viktor Orbán and National Economy Minister György Matolcsy to resign after Moody’s downgraded Hungary to junk status. There are striking differences of interpretation, meanwhile, between the two pro-government dailies. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator believes that the government wants to stigmatize the Socialists by establishing in law that the Socialist Party (MSZP, the successor of the Communist MSZMP), shares responsibility for the crimes of the pre-1989 regime. A right-wing observer, however, welcomes the proposal and suggests that victims of the Communist era should be compensated. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators consider Hungary’s intention to resume talks with the IMF as sufficient reason for the prime minister to resign, although they don’t believe he will. A pro-government and anti-IMF commentator describes the government’s move as an act of capitulation. READ MORE