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.

National Consultation Number 9

A liberal sociologist slams the government’s latest national consultation questionnaire as a mere propaganda tool, while a pro-government analyst sees it as a smart exercise in democracy.

Hungary downgraded by Freedom House

As the American watchdog organisation brands Hungary a ‘hybrid regime’ rather than even a half-consolidated democracy, opposition-leaning commentators believe their position has been vindicated while pro-government authors suggest that the report is deeply flawed.

Budapest theatre directors appointed under double political pressure

A right-wing columnist castigates the Budapest Mayor for taking what he calls politically motivated decisions against the advice of a professional panel, while a left-wing outlet accuses the government of meddling in theatre nominations.