PM Orbán opens the ‘political season’

Commentators offer starkly opposing evaluations of the Prime Minister’s words at his party’s annual ‘Tranzit’ festival in Tihany, at Lake Balaton. READ MORE

Weeklies on Hungary’s position in the world – as reflected in the 20 August festivities

Opposition-leaning columnists vituperate against the government for only inviting a collection of  ‘undemocratic’ leaders to celebrate Saint Stephen’s day and watch the World Athletics Championship underway all week in Budapest. Pro-government weeklies regard both the national day and the World Athletics Championship as resounding successes for the country. READ MORE

Tucker Carlson criticises US ambassador

News outlets carry extensive reports on Tucker Carlson’s address in front of a thousand-strong audience in Budapest. An opposition-leaning website describes the US conservative political commentator as a journalist who has lost all credibility. READ MORE

A dozen foreign leaders visit Hungary on August 20

As Hungary celebrated St Stephen’s day on Sunday, commentators express opposing views on the presence of a high number of foreign luminaries (but not a single incumbent leader from EU countries). READ MORE

Crowd chants ‘dirty Fidesz’ at Budapest rock festival

A liberal commentator appreciates the anti-Orbán performance of the rapper whose fans chanted ‘dirty Fidesz’ at the annual Sziget (Island) festival in Budapest, while pro-government authors take the case as proof that Hungary is a free country. READ MORE

Zelensky meets Hungarian community leaders

Commentators express cautious optimism in their evaluations of President Zelensky’s visit to Berehove in the Transcarpathian region, which was home to an estimated 100 thousand ethnic Hungarians before the war. READ MORE

Actor criticised for expressing shame at being Hungarian

A radical pro-government pundit thinks one must be insane to be ashamed of one’s Hungarian nationality. READ MORE

More comments on the PM’s Băile Tușnad address

Pro-government commentators angrily reject criticism by Romania, Slovakia and Czechia of PM Orbán’s speech at the annual Fidesz festival in Transylvania, while liberal authors accuse him of provoking neighbouring countries. READ MORE

Spanish elections end in stalemate

Weeklies on Hungary’s position on Ukraine and NATO

Opposition-leaning commentators find cracks within the government camp on the correct approach to Ukraine, while pro-government columnists believe that continuing the war is futile for both sides. READ MORE