Pro-government commentators welcome the nuclear deal between Hungary and Russia, and argue that it will serve the Hungarian national interest. Left-wing columnists, on the other hand, criticize the lack of transparency and the increased dependence on the Russian energy infrastructure which the agreement will cause. READ MORE
In the very first press reaction to the new opposition electoral pact, a liberal commentator finds it hair-raising that former SZDSZ chairman Gábor Fodor should have been given the fourth place on the joint ballot. READ MORE
Tags: Fodor, Left, opposition, SZDSZ
A conservative columnist suspects that the Socialists will promise to introduce a guaranteed basic income for all inhabitants, although they know that the project is infeasible. The leading left-wing daily on the other hand deems the idea technically possible, but as it would be disadvantageous for the middle class, no sane politician will dare to endorse it. READ MORE
Liberal columnists are highly sceptical about a new opposition pact which incorporates Ferenc Gyurcsány into Gordon Bajnai and Attila Mesterházy’s alliance. Some blame leading progressive intellectuals for interfering with the political process. In a lone optimistic column, a political analyst linked to the Socialist Party suggests that all is not yet lost.
Tags: 2014, Bajnai, Democratic Coalition, elections, Gyurcsány, Mesterházy, MSZP, opposition, Together 2014
The number one business daily condemns the Hungarian branch of an international initiative which has proposed a guaranteed and unconditional “basic income” for all European citizens as ”campaign-flavoured”. READ MORE
Left-wing dailies express mixed emotions over the new opposition pact, fearing that time is too short to reach out to potential voters. A pro-government commentator thinks that by embracing Mr Gyurcsány as their future partner, Socialist Party chairman Attila Mesterházy and Together-2014 leader Gordon Bajnai have given up their quest for something different to the pre-2010 system of government. READ MORE
Tags: Bajnai, Gyurcsány, Mesterházy, opposition
Népszabadság suggests that a planned ‘exclusive review’ illustrates how the government is attempting to tame authors and artists. The internet is “aflame” with spicy reactions and young right-wing authors who have been queuing up to dissociate themselves from the project. READ MORE
Tags: press, right-wing
The leading leftist daily deplores the main players’ reluctance to revise their electoral pact, and hopes that their announcement has not come too late. The main pro-government daily is less charitable and points out that after so much ado, the leading left-wing candidate for the Premier’s post has yet to be picked. READ MORE
Tags: Bajnai, elections, Gyurcsány, Mesterházy
A left-wing daily welcomes Bajnai’s move as a new chance to beat Orbán with joint candidates and a coordinated campaign – a much-needed boost for opposition morale. READ MORE
In their first post-new-year’s-day analyses of the electoral landscape, most columnists consider Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party the likely winner of the next elections, although a left-wing commentator suspects that the opposition constituency is underrepresented by the opinion polls. READ MORE
Tags: Bajnai, campaign, elections, Gyurcsány, Mesterházy, Orbán