Commentators have been surprised by the swift weakening of Russia in the wake of western sanctions and declining oil prices. One believes the events have delivered a bleak verdict on Putin’s model, while another sees them as a warning of how narrow Hungary’s own elbow room is.

As parliament passes a bill to force most shops to close on Sundays from 15 March next year, a left-wing commentator accuses the government of targeting multinational enterprises which are more competitive than “its favourite domestic chains”.