Right-wing commentators celebrate Hungary’s exit from the EU excessive deficit procedure, which they interpret as an acknowledgment of the government’s performance. Left-wing pundits, on the other hand, believe that the EU pressurized Orbán into submission, and fear that the Hungarian economy will not grow any time soon. READ MORE
A right-wing economist contends that Europe should follow the example of the BRIC countries and help the middle classes kick start economic growth. His left-wing counterpart defends the welfare state and warns against mindless austerity. READ MORE
Tags: austerity, EU, growth, utility tariffs, welfare
The leading left liberal daily contends that the government wants to silence its critics by imposing an advertisement tax on media outlets. A right-wing blogger wonders why the government is punishing Hungarian media companies rather then helping them. READ MORE
Tags: budget, deficit, EU, free speech, media
A right-wing commentator contends that renewed speculation about who leaked former PM Gyurcsány’s 2006 “lie-speech,” is actually part of Mr Gyurcsány’s strategy to blackmail the left-wing opposition and thereby secure himself a place in a future anti-Orbán coalition. READ MORE
A left wing daily claims that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is bound to win the sympathy of the voters whether Brussels waives the excessive deficit procedure or not. A pro-government daily suggests that the EU has run out of excuses to keep a punitive measure in place, which in any case had more to do with anger with a country that defies orthodoxy yet remains successful. A business daily focuses on the new taxes to be introduced to meet the deficit target, and maintains that the planned tax on commercials and advertising revenue guarantees further control over the commercial media. READ MORE
After a stormy reaction on the left to a rude homophobic remark made by special government commissioner Imre Kerényi, the leading right-wing daily runs a short editorial on its website repudiating both his words and his person in no uncertain terms, giving rise to speculation that “open season has been opened on Kerényi”. READ MORE
Tags: homophobia, theatre
A leading left wing commentator does not dismiss the story that former Prime Minister Gyurcsány’s 2006 “lie speech” was leaked by three leading MSZP politicians, but thinks that regardless of who it was, the speech itself has left an unhealing wound on Hungary’s left wing. A right-wing columnist suggests the story is untrue and the tip-off must have come from Mr Gyurcsány. READ MORE
Tags: Gyurcsány, Mesterházy, MSZP
A left-wing analyst thinks efforts to forge an opposition coalition have failed so far and urges all “’democratic anti-Fidesz forces” to come up with a left-liberal-green vision for the post-Orbán era. READ MORE
Tags: Bajnai, LMP, MSZP, opposition
In its first comment on the Prime Minister’s remark cautioning Germany “not to send the tanks in again”, the leading left-wing daily thinks Mr Orbán hurt Chancellor Merkel in her re-election-campaign, by providing the German Social-Democrats with arguments against her, for “cherishing such a snake in her bosom”. READ MORE
A left wing columnist calls on the Prime Minister to apologise for his latest remark on German criticism of constitutional changes in Hungary. A centrist commentator suspects that the real cause behind the divergence of views is Mr Orbán’s scepticism towards Ms Merkel’s vision of a federal European Union. A right-wing pundit blames western media outlets for spreading lies about Hungary. READ MORE