A conservative columnist turned critic of the right-wing government thinks the majority of Hungarians are not very sensitive to the infringement of their democratic rights. They experience politics, he writes, as a form of ’tribal hatred’, and concludes that the demise of the present government is unlikely to come from mass movements. READ MORE
Tags: opposition, protests
A pro-government daily accuses the opposition of launching an irresponsible attack on the government after a snowstorm blocked major roads for several days, but also calls for the Prime Minister to explain what caused the delay in clearing the roads. READ MORE
The authorities were at least one day late in reacting to the exceptional snowstorm and a left-wing commentator thinks the reason was that PM Viktor Orbán was busy fending off growing discontent with Hungary’s constitutional amendments among European allies. READ MORE
Tags: Barroso, constitution, EU, Navracsics, Orbán, Semjén
The traditional open-air March 15 rallies on Hungary’s national holiday were cancelled due to the exceptional meteorological conditions, but nothing prevented the dailies from fighting their usual opinion duels on the anniversary. READ MORE
Tags: campaign, democracy, opposition
A popular centrist analyst believes that by deciding to sign the controversial constitutional amendments, the President has given up his effort to stand above the political fray. READ MORE
Tags: Áder, constitution
The President has announced that he will sign the controversial amendments to the Constitution. Earlier, a left-wing pundit argued that he should raise his voice against them. A pro-government legal expert objected that the President had no other lawful option than to promulgate the amendments. READ MORE
Tags: Áder, constitution, Constitutional Court
Népszabadság sees a communications trap in the Prime Minister’s decision to hold talks about utility tariff cuts on the day when Parliament had to vote on 22 amendments to the Basic Law. Magyar Nemzet argues that the domestic and international uproar is motivated by “something else”, rather than constitutional concerns. READ MORE
Tags: constitution, utility tariffs
In a bitter comment just hours before the controversial constitutional amendments were to be passed by Parliament, a moderate right-wing commentator suggested that Hungary cannot afford to confront European institutions over such issues of secondary importance. READ MORE
Tags: constitution
Right-wing columnists condemn the Socialist Party for using the images of famous Hungarians for propaganda purposes, while left-wing commentators accuse the government of trying to control the way past Hungarian luminaries can be used. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist accuses opposition protesters of provocation and radicalism. A left-wing pundit, on the other hand, fears that the government is about to create a volunteer army of its supporters and steer the country to the brink of civil war. READ MORE
Tags: constitution, Fidesz, protests