Teachers’ protest movement may run out of steam

Ahead of next Wednesday’s (20 April) national teacher’s strike, Népszabadság worries that ordinary people are increasingly baffled by the protests which follow one another in rapid succession. Magyar Nemzet agrees, while Magyar Idők claims people are fed up with the movement.

‘Political aspirations’ suspected behind teachers’ protests

Right-wing dailies warn of political goals behind teachers’ protests and urge a purely professional stance on educational issues.

Weeklies on teachers’ protest

Left-wing and liberal weeklies accuse the government of destroying the education system. A pro-government commentator, on the other hand, speculates that the opposition parties are orchestrating the teachers’ protests in the hope that they can bring down the Orbán government, if another flow of migrants reaches Hungary in the spring.

Further repercussions of the teachers’ demonstration

Commentators on both Left and Right ponder the broader implications of the teachers’ rally against the centralized education administration on Saturday.

Teachers’ rally in Budapest

Following Saturday's mass demonstration, Népszabadság declares what it calls ‘Orbán's educational counter-revolution' a failure, while Magyar Nemzet likens the unshaven protestors to the student movement which gave birth to Fidesz 28 years ago.

Teachers Organizations Split on Roundtable Talks

Where Népszabadság identifies a government attempt to divide and conquer teachers’ organizations, Magyar Idők discovers a measuring stick which shows who is working for a solution and those who want only short-term political gain from the upheaval.

Teachers’ demos in eleven cities

A left-wing daily welcomes demonstrations initiated by the teachers of a Miskolc high school as an example of "the courage and autonomy of citizens", while a right-wing webmagazine suggests that the teachers’ “legitimate protest movement” is being used by Soros-funded NGOs.

Disappointment following a postponed teachers’ pay raise

Left-of-centre, centrist and pro-government commentators are all appalled by the sudden move announced as part of a 400 billion HUF fiscal package

Blue collar workers among the higher earners

Blue collar workers seem to be improving their position on the wage ladder, while intellectuals are among the losers.

Opposition demands President Novák’s resignation over a controversial amnesty

A left-wing pundit thinks it was the fault of the ’system’ that President pardoned the helper of a paedophile offender last year. A pro-government columnist believes that the opposition side is more lenient towards paedophilia than the government.