A conservative commentator ponders the debate on the Tavares report in the European Parliament and believes that the Hungarian government should show more restraint in its use of the two thirds majority. READ MORE
Tags: democracy, EU, European Parliament, Fidesz, sanctions
A young alternative left-wing activist accuses the main left-wing parties of betraying Social Democratic principles. He recommends that they adopt the values of the Western anti-capitalist left, rather than sticking to what he calls their current ‘neoliberal’ principles. READ MORE
Left-wing and liberal columnists believe that the mostly peaceful Budapest Pride 2013 walk proved a major success or even a breakthrough for gay rights activists. They find it disappointing, however, that the police showed little zeal to pursue radical protesters who beat up three marchers. READ MORE
Tags: far-right, homophobia, police
A pro-government commentator suggests that, weak as the left-wing opposition may seem, it would be too early to take its defeat at next year’s elections for granted. READ MORE
Tags: Bajnai, Mesterházy, MSZP, opposition
A centrist analyst thinks Jobbik’s spectacular protest stunt in Parliament (see BudaPost June 22 and 25) against the land reform was just the beginning of a long campaign. READ MORE
Commentators agree that it is difficult to interpret a conviction where no information is available to the public, not even the precise nature of the charge. They tend to believe the sentence is either ill-founded or justified, according to their political affiliations. READ MORE
Liberal and left leaning commentators find PM Orbán’s indignation over the EP resolution unfounded and hypocritical, while a Christian Democrat portal suggests the European Right dislikes Mr Orbán because he reminds them of their own cowardice. A pro-government daily finds it ridiculous that a former minister of a Socialist government now poses as a Conservative MEP. READ MORE
Tags: constitution, EU, Orbán
A pro-government columnist maintains that the Tavares-report was accepted by a narrow margin, and suggests PM Orbán’s speech before the vote may have convinced many MEPs to abstain, rather than vote in favour. A former Hungarian centre-right MP writes in an opposition daily that Orbán is unfit to lead because he tolerates no compromise. READ MORE
Tags: constitution, EU, Orbán
The main left-wing daily claims the EU cannot do much about Mr Orbán’s domestic policies while the PM reaps applause at home as a champion of independence. Another leftist outlet ridicules Orbán’s notion that the West is in decline and Hungary has brought new solutions to the crisis of advanced societies. A pro-government columnist, on the other hand, points out that members of the EPP defended Orbán in Brussels and sees business interests behind the attacks on him and his policies. READ MORE