Opposition holds first primary debate

Commentators right across the political spectrum agree that the opposition candidates avoided fierce disputes and divisive topics in order to show unity.

EU backs cage-free farming but not ethnic minority pact

A pro-government pundit lambasts the European Commission which, after rejecting the ‘Minority Safe Pact’, has now embraced a citizens’ petition entitled ‘End the Cage Age’.

Journalist fined for offending Hungarians

Commenting on the verdict of the Kúria (the supreme court), liberal lawyers express outrage, while a representative of the plaintiffs believes it was high time to punish a journalist whom he accuses of ‘regularly offending the dignity of Hungarians’.

Klub Radio remains off air – but online

In a furious first reaction to the decision taken by the Media Council, a staunch critic of the government accuses the authorities of stifling press freedom in Hungary.

Kubradio still in focus

A pro-government pundit thinks it was high time for Klub Radio to disappear from the air, while a liberal media analyst believes the system is skewed against the opposition-leaning radio station.

Klub Radio off air, but on the internet – for now

As the left-liberal radio station lost its court case against the National Media Authority on Tuesday, a liberal author accuses the government side of acting in violation of the principle of press freedom.

Weeklies on rule of law deal

Commentators try to make sense of the agreement reached last week on rule of law conditionality of EU financial transfers to member states which enabled Hungary and Poland to abandon their threat to veto the seven-year Union budget and the Covid recovery scheme.

George Clooney criticizes Hungarian government

A left-wing pundit thinks that US actor George Clooney is right in calling the Hungarian government a textbook example of authoritarian hatred. A left-wing blogger and conservative commentators, on the other hand, express diverging but equally opposing opinions.

Parliament elects controversial Supreme Court president

A left-wing lawyer says the election of someone who has never been a judge to head the judicial hierarchy is unprecedented in the history of democratic Hungary. A legal philosopher remarks that those who don’t consider members of the Constitutional Court judges, in fact, deny the legitimacy of the Constitutional ...

Klub Rádió fears losing its licence

As the Hungarian Media Authority refuses to renew Klub Rádió’s licence for another 7 years, its president announces a battle on several fronts to keep its frequency. The main pro-government daily rejects claims that the authority’s intention is to stifle opposition voices.