Election campaign in full swing

With just two weeks to go till the Parliamentary election, weeklies and the dailies’ weekend editions discuss corruption scandals and ponder what comes after 8 April.

Who is threatening whom?

A liberal pundit accuses the Prime Minister of threatening his critics. A pro-government columnist dismisses the accusation and recalls that the opposition has threatened government politicians with imprisonment.

Vona describes Jobbik as ‘the last bastion of democracy’

As Jobbik leader Gábor Vona claims that his party is the ‘last bastion of democracy’, a pro-government commentator accuses him of pure opportunism. A left-wing blogger also dismisses the idea that Mr Vona would in any way be a defender of democracy.

Jobbik as the central theme of year-end politics

As the Jobbik party stands accused of illicit campaign financing, columnists on Left and Right ponder the impact of its billboard-financing controversy on party politics and electoral chances.

Jobbik to demonstrate against campaign finance fine

As the Jobbik party announces a demonstration ‘in defence of democracy’, a left-wing blogger wonders whether liberals and left-wingers should join the demonstration of the radical party.

State Audit Office fines Jobbik 

Liberal and conservative pundits accuse the State Audit Office of Hungary of using double standards after it fined Jobbik for illicit campaign financing. A pro-government columnist thinks the office did its job and applied the law in a fair way.

Simicska’s war continues

As the media mogul Lajos Simicska continues his war on Prime Minister Orbán, a pro-government commentator accuses the Left of applying double standards. A left-wing columnist wonders whether Mr Simicska has information on secret Fidesz deals. 

Poster bill is back in parliament

As the government tries to push its ban on political posters outside electoral campaigns through Parliament, a left-wing commentator claims that if successful, this would deprive   opposition parties of one of their few remaining tools to reach a wider public.

Campaign ad law amendments rejected by Parliament

A pro-government commentator accuses opposition parties of corruption after opposition MPs rejected the government’s amendments to the political campaign law. Magyar Nemzet’s columnist, on the other hand, thinks that the government wants to silence the opposition.

Parties already in campaign mode

Commentators try to make sense of the bitter campaign which parties have launched, less than 12 months before the next parliamentary elections. The battles rage both across the main political fault line, and within the opposition camp.