The Orbán government’s mid-term balance sheet

Commentators assessing the Orbán government’s performance in its first two years in office all agree that Fidesz has not yet fulfilled its promises. But while left-wing pundits believe it is the fault of the Prime Minister"s mistaken policies, right-wing columnists blame former Socialist governments and international organizations for causing Hungary ...

Austerity stifles growth

Writing in a right-wing daily, the economist László Gazdag criticizes the austerity measures of past Socialist governments and thereby expresses implicit criticism of the strict fiscal policies pursued by the present government.

Banks forced to cooperate

The government’s tough and uncompromising determination has successfully convinced the banks that they have to do more to help indebted Hungarians, struggling to service their loans in foreign currencies, a pro-government commentator believes.

Little elbow room in IMF talks

A pro-government columnist accuses the left-wing of celebrating the government’s retreat from its previous strategy by turning to the IMF. She believes the current economic hardships are the result of the irresponsible policies of the former governments, whose supporters are now cynically feasting on the failure of Orbán’s strategy.

Greek virus may infect Hungary

If the Greek crisis escalates, the Hungarian economy will suffer badly – warns a liberal conservative blogger. The government, he believes, should retreat from its unorthodox policies in order to prevent an economic meltdown

Viktor Orbán’s debt-saving package

Left-wing commentators accuse Orbán of sending an anti-market message with the six point plan outlined in Parliament on Monday. A pro-government pundit acknowledges the risks of such an unorthodox strategy, but finds the proposals fair and reasonable.

Paying off the mortgage

First reactions are rather critical to a Fidesz proposal to help struggling borrowers pay off mortgages denominated in foreign currencies at favourable exchange rates.

Workaday problems on national holiday

Commentaries marking Saint Stephen’s day turn invariably around some of the usual controversies which divide left and right: Hungary’s international image, internal ideological divisions and the economic policies advisable in today’s unfavourable world business climate.

Social housing or ghettos?

Left-wing commentators fear that the government’s latest housing scheme will produce a suburban ghetto. The Ministry of Interior has announced plans to build new homes for families who can no longer service their debts. The first houses are to be built in a small municipality 30 kilometres from Budapest.

Buying time

Opinions diverge on who is to blame for the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Hungarians struggling with mounting debts denominated in foreign currencies, mainly in Swiss Francs. But commentators agree that their problem is a threat to the country as a whole.