Olympic bonuses criticized
August 27th, 2012
A liberal weekly considers the lavish financial rewards offered to Olympic finalists by the government disproportionately large. READ MORE
Tags: Fidesz, Olympic Games, populism
PM Orbán wants non-profit utility providers
August 25th, 2012
A liberal conservative commentator criticizes PM Orbán’s plan to transform public utilities into non-profit businesses. According to Véleményvezér, the Premier wants to boost his support by opening up a new controversy with the EU. READ MORE
Tags: energy, nationalisation, Orbán, taxes
Austerity or stimulus?
August 24th, 2012
Commentators across the political spectrum debate whether public programs or restrictions on spending would help most to overcome the economic crisis. Pro-government analysts recommend a Keynesian stimulus, while a liberal economist considers this option unavailable for the Hungarian government. READ MORE
A Gyurcsány-associate on Orbán’s social revolution
August 23rd, 2012
Sociologist Tibor Dessewffy, a former advisor to Ferenc Gyurcsány, believes that PM Viktor Orbán”s aim is the complete restructuring of Hungarian society. According to the left-wing pundit, the prime minister is attempting nothing less than a reshuffle of social classes, in order to entrench his power. READ MORE
Health care wage hikes
August 22nd, 2012
A right-wing columnist welcomes efforts by the Hungarian government to fulfil its promise to offer significant salary rises to doctors and nurses. She notes, however, that in the current health care system it is not possible to offer salaries which are competitive at a European level. READ MORE
Tags: Fidesz, health, privatisation
Conflict over Saint Stephen’s heritage
August 21st, 2012
A right-wing commentator praises the Orbán government for continuing Saint Stephen’s heritage by strengthening the Hungarian state. A left-wing columnist, on the other hand, accuses the government of betraying the legendary Hungarian king’s efforts to modernize the country, by weakening democracy and turning away from the West. READ MORE
Tags: constitution, democracy, Orbán
Revisionist remarks only harm Hungarian minority
August 20th, 2012
Heti Válasz warns that the comments of Fidesz MP Zoltán Kőszegi concerning territorial revision are not exactly a laughing matter, even if the government has distanced itself from his “personal opinion”. READ MORE
Tags: Romania, Transylvania, Trianon
Sólyom repeats his criticism of the government
August 20th, 2012
In an interview published in Heti Válasz, former president László Sólyom repeated his earlier criticism, that the government’s “military-style tactics” lead nowhere, and are harmful to democracy. In response, Minister of Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics said Sólyom cannot see the wood for the trees. READ MORE
Bajnai’s thinktank accused of trickery
August 20th, 2012
Only a day after heaping praise on an analysis by Gordon Bajnai’s foundation, Magyar Nemzet believes that Haza és Haladás are deliberately overstating the electoral chances of Fidesz, in order to establish themselves as the leading force uniting the Hungarian Left. READ MORE
Strategic paper by Bajnai’s thinktank praised by Magyar Nemzet
August 18th, 2012
A leading columnist at Magyar Nemzet thinks the analysis published by former PM Gordon Bajnai’s thinktank, proves that Hungary is a democracy – it is up to the opposition to present an attractive alternative to Fidesz. READ MORE