Left ‘captured’ by obsolete neoliberal ideas

A conservative analyst contends that the Hungarian Left is failing to offer compelling and coherent answers to the challenges of contemporary societies. Instead, its representatives keep repeating the hollow slogans of liberalism – and label their opponents as fascists.

Weeklies on Orbán’s ‘illiberal democracy’

In their comments on the Prime Minister’s speech in Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő) on July 26th, left-liberal weeklies accuse Viktor Orbán of openly opting for dictatorship instead of western democracy. Pro-government analysts retort that the speech has been distorted by the left.

PM Orbán announces the end of liberalism

Analysing the Prime Minister’s speech on Saturday at the Fidesz sponsored traditional summer "free university” in Transylvania, commentators disagree on whether Mr Orbán has opted for an authoritarian model of government or just intends to increase the role of the government in promoting growth and competitiveness.

PM Orbán in Transylvania

Both left and right-wing commentators missed Romanian politicians at this year’s Fidesz summer university at Tusnádfürdő. A left-wing columnist, however, accuses PM Orbán of trans-border vote hunting while his pro-government counterparts believe that the electoral impact of the Hungarian diaspora will be miniscule.

PM Orbán envisions nation state revival

In a comment on Viktor Orbán’s weekend speech, in which the PM blamed Brussels for the mishandling of the economic crisis, pundits on both left and right warn of the perils of the revival of national sovereignty.

The decline of the West?

PM Viktor Orbán suggests that Hungary should focus less on the declining West, where sovereign debts have become unmanageable, and concentrate instead on introducing a labour-based economic model, whilst strengthening ties with Central European countries. Pundits ponder the possible implications of the PM’s new vision.