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Hungarian fairy tale or sickness on the Danube? Who is right: The Economist or György Matolcsy?


A left-wing pundit chastises public officials and the conservative press for what he calls their pathetic attempts to deny the charges levelled against the government in the West. Former chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel of Austria takes up PM Orbán’s defence. Otherwise, observers across the political spectrum agree that Hungary faces significant difficulties in the months ahead. READ MORE

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Hungary defies red star verdict


Magyar Hírlap welcomes a decision by the Hungarian government to disregard a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favour of a Communist party official, who was found guilty in Hungary of wearing a (banned) red star symbol in public. READ MORE

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May 2012: a tilt in the polls?


A popular political analyst believes if elections were held today, the outcome would be uncertain – for the first time since 2010. READ MORE

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House speaker persona almost non grata in Romania


Népszabadság accuses Fidesz of trying to draw ethnic Hungarians in Romania under its own political control. Magyar Hírlap rejects Romanian charges of Hungarian interference in the local election campaign in Transylvania. READ MORE

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Uncertainty reigns on Central Bank law


Népszabadság urges the government to revise its reticent attitude towards demands put forward by the EU to ensure the independence of the Hungarian National Bank. Magyar Nemzet cautions against either rejecting or accepting those demands in their entirety. READ MORE

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Trianon day complaints


Opinions diverge sharply on the post-First World War peace treaty and what it means for contemporary Hungary. A left-wing commentator believes the government side is exploiting the anniversary in its rivalry with the far right, while a pro-government commentator complains that the European Union does not stand up for the rights of the Hungarian minority in neighbouring countries. A moderate conservative historian suggests that Trianon should be considered for what it is – history. READ MORE

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The Orbán government’s mid-term balance sheet


Commentators assessing the Orbán government’s performance in its first two years in office all agree that Fidesz has not yet fulfilled its promises. But while left-wing pundits believe it is the fault of the Prime Minister”s mistaken policies, right-wing columnists blame former Socialist governments and international organizations for causing Hungary so many problems. READ MORE

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Who could benefit from voter registration?


Commentators discuss the government’s plan to introduce mandatory voter registration, and caution that pre-registration may not be a useful tool to keep angry, politically under-informed and possibly radical voters away from the ballot box. READ MORE

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EU to lift ban on development aid to Hungary


Commentators all welcome the recommendation of the European Commission  that an earlier threat to suspend development aid to Hungary should not be carried out. They also warn, however, that the government still has a lot to do in order to boost economic growth and restore investors’ confidence. READ MORE

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Nyirő as a battlefield in the culture wars


A centrist analyst believes that symbolic political debates have real political importance, and should not be seen as something completely irrational. He notes, however, that the government seems to sacrifice its centrist stance in the current culture war. READ MORE

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