A bad week for the Forint and the government

Commentators agree that the weakening of the Hungarian currency (HUF) was due to a statement by the Minister of the Economy. One cautions the PM against nominating him for the presidency of the National Bank. Other analysts think recent events have dealt several blows to the authority of the governing ...

Further amendments to the Electoral Law

Liberal and left-wing commentators contend that Fidesz wants to entrench itself in power by adding new elements to the Electoral Law. Even some conservative columnists find the bill controversial.

Socialist leader cries fascism

A pro-government columnist vehemently criticizes MSZP leader Mesterházy for labeling the Hungarian government fascist, in a left-wing Italian daily. A left-wing commentator notes that conservative dailies have also warned of undemocratic tendencies in Hungary.

Mixed reactions to local election results in Tiszavasvári

A pro-government columnist says the election result shows Fidesz still has a strong backing, while the leading left-wing paper describes the alleged fraud in Tiszavasvári as a foretaste of how Fidesz intends to run elections in general. A centre-right analyst says the Tiszavasvári result foreshadows a possible political landscape where ...

Commentators weigh up the weaknesses of opposition and government

Analysts are busy assessing how much credibility the government has lost due to its two successive adjustment packages, and whether the divided opposition will be able to  capitalize on the Prime Minister’s supposed weakening.

Up and downsides of the new electoral procedure

An independent conservative analyst compares the advantages and drawbacks of the new bill regulating electoral procedures, and believes the final scoresheet is positive.

Sólyom repeats his criticism of the government

In an interview published in Heti Válasz, former president László Sólyom repeated his earlier criticism, that the government's "military-style tactics” lead nowhere, and are harmful to democracy. In response, Minister of Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics said Sólyom cannot see the wood for the trees.

From anti-Semitism to the Olympics, the culture war goes on

Historians’ polemic In Élet és Irodalom, Eszter Babarczy argues that anti-Semitism became a political factor two decades ago, when liberals and socialists first raised the charge against their conservative opponents.

Self-critical reactions to Sólyom’s speech

In his analysis of the left-wing reception of former president László Sólyom’s recent criticism of government policies, a Marxist philosopher calls his fellow left-wingers intolerant, while a conservative columnist admits that the right-wing press is silent because it would find it difficult to challenge Mr Sólyom’s verdict.

Sólyom accuses the government of recklessness

Left-wing commentators welcome former president László Sólyom’s criticism of government policies. Two liberal authors think he did not go far enough.