A liberal pundit fears that hepatitis and AIDS may spread in Budapest as the right-wing mayor has withdrawn support from a drug users’ contact point in his district. His right-wing colleague finds the liberals guilty of fear-mongering. READ MORE
Index runs a lengthy fact-finding story to underpin the suspicion that Jobbik’s leading foreign affairs expert is a Russian secret service operative. He denies the charges and has threatened to sue the author and the news site. READ MORE
A left-liberal webmagazine expects a real clash within the Fidesz camp after the municipal elections in October, while a pro-government commentator suggests that “a new era will begin” on both sides. READ MORE
Commentators both from left and right agree that the Scottish referendum was a victory for democracy. They also believe that despite the failure of the Pro-Independence movement, Scotland will enjoy more autonomy in the future. Right-wing columnists suggest that the referendum sets an example for other national minorities, including ethnic Hungarians in the neighbouring countries. READ MORE
Tags: autonomy, transborder politics, Transylvania
An economist remarks that despite lavish government subsidies on industry and trade, investment and employment rates have not increased in the long run. READ MORE
A Marxist pundit expresses his complete lack of surprise if at the October local elections, the Left receives its third consecutive blow from voters this year. The Left’s unpopularity is due to its inconsistent politics, he suggests, and without a complete overhaul, it has no chance to regain its strength.
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A conservative columnist welcomes the government’s plan to amend the criminal code so that child abuse becomes prosecutable without limitation. A liberal commentator, on the other hand, fears that child abuse accusations will be increasingly misused to discredit innocent people.
Tags: child abuse, crime, paedophilia
Columnists commenting on the weekend Swedish and Brandenburg elections agree that the rise of the far-right is inevitable even in western European countries which were not hit hard by the economic crisis. The growing popularity of far-right radicalism is a good reminder for moderate parties that they should pay more attention to growing inequality and lack of opportunity. READ MORE
Tags: Europe, far-right, Germany, immigration, Sweden
A conservative analyst contends that a new model of ‘Europeanism’ is emerging in Central Europe. Central Europeans are realizing that EU integration is only possible at a slower pace. READ MORE
Tags: Central Europe, EU, Europe
A right-wing columnist welcomes the government bill submitted to Parliament on Friday, which would force banks to return a total of 1000 billion Forints to mortgage holders, on the grounds that the money was unfairly collected. He suggests that once the process is completed, all FX loans should be converted to Forint credits. READ MORE