A pro-government commentator takes up the defence of public subsidies and tax rebates to parents as the only means to end the dangerous drop in birth rates, given that Hungarians reject the idea of solving their demographic problems through mass immigration from the Muslim world. READ MORE
Tags: demography, welfare
A conservative pundit welcomes the government’s plan to take asylum seekers into custody while their applications are processed. Her left-wing counterpart thinks that there is no real terrorist danger that would necessitate such strict regulations. READ MORE
Although all the involved parties have dismissed such speculations, pundits both on Left and Right continue to discuss the potential of a broad anti-Fidesz opposition including both the left-wing parties and Jobbik. READ MORE
Pundits across the political spectrum debate if and to what extent NGOs should be considered as political actors rather than independent organizations. READ MORE
Left-wing and liberal sources liken the government’s plans to require asset declarations from NGO executives to totalitarian and dictatorial policies. Centrist commentators welcome more transparency but criticize the harsh language. A conservative columnist thinks that the proposal is a mere political red herring. READ MORE
As Parliament prepares to discuss a bill that would require executives of NGOs to declare their assets annually, a left-wing columnist accuses the government of trying to silence its critics. A pro-government commentator, on the other hand, thinks the proposed legislation will promote transparency. READ MORE
Two pro-government columnists lambast the EU and western European governments for ‘still not taking illegal migration seriously.’ READ MORE
A former World Bank adviser contends that the monetary union has no real benefits for many of its members. While it benefits Germany, the common currency hampers the growth potential of less developed states. READ MORE
Tags: Euro
A liberal weekly criticises Shlomo Köves for spurning a Hanukkah greeting message from the radical right-wing leader. Other commentators put the matter in the more general context of Jobbik’s changing political profile and of preparations for the 2018 parliamentary elections. READ MORE
A conservative educational philosopher offers explanations for Hungary’s underperformance in the regular international competence test. He lists differences in educational traditions compared to western Europe, and the failure of efforts to improve education levels among the Roma, among the reasons. READ MORE