Márki-Zay’s controversial words on Covid victims

A pro-government commentator lambasts opposition frontrunner Márki-Zay for saying that elderly Fidesz voters have been decimated by the pandemic. A left-wing columnist accuses the pro-government media of deliberately defaming Márki-Zay.

Left-wing analyst fears post-election violence

An opposition-leaning legal and political analyst warns that next year’s election may be followed by political violence. A pro-government commentator dismisses such warnings as mentally unbalanced.

Trouble in store for Hungarian relations with post-Merkel Germany?

Right-wing analysts fear that the new left-liberal German government will harshly criticize Hungary and try to encroach on national sovereignty. Left-wing commentators are less than certain that Germany will become more critical of Hungary than under Chancellor Merkel.

Weeklies on discord within the opposition over proposals to scrap the 2011 constitution

Commentators across the political spectrum wonder whether, if they win the election next April, the opposition could or would revoke the Fundamental Law - even in the absence of the required two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Democratic Coalition and Jobbik conclude primary pact

Jobbik’s former leader explains the reasons behind such a surprising alliance, while a conservative pundit accuses Jobbik of betraying its origins. A leftist commentator lambasts Jobbik and Karácsony for supporting a Socialist candidate accused of corruption.

Weighing the chances of the opposition alliance in 2022

Commentators from across the political spectrum consider that while Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony could be the strongest candidate for the opposition in the 2022 parliamentary election, he might be defeated by the Democratic Coalition’s Klára Dovrev in the primary election this autumn.

Diplomatic row between Hungary and Germany over the sacking of a coach

he German Foreign Ministry has rejected Hungarian protests against the sacking of a Hungarian football coach in Berlin. Commentators’ opinions diverge on the rights and wrongs, but even opposition leaning columnists tend to believe that firing the coach was a disproportionate punishment.

Weeklies on Fidesz’s future outside the People’s Party

Although Fidesz has only left the People’s Party group within the European Parliament, weeklies take it for granted that it will also leave the European Christian democratic alliance itself. They wonder what comes next.

Row over law of conditionality EU deal rumbles on

Commentators on Left and Right ponder the broader implications of the EU’s rule of law conditionality. Most importantly, they try to gauge how and when it could be used against Hungary.

Hungary and Poland refuse to back down

A liberal analyst thinks that Prime Minister Orbán miscalculated his chances of success when he opted for a head-on collision with the most influential European governments over plans to make EU financial transfers conditional on respect for the rule of law. A pro-government commentator, on the other hand, believes that ...