The Greek crisis and Hungary

Népszabadság warns that the possibility of electoral victories by new, anti-establishment movements in southern Europe makes the future of the Euro-zone increasingly uncertain. Hungary’s adoption of the common currency may thus be postponed to the distant future.

President sets date for municipal elections

Left-wing and liberal columnists accuse the government of rewriting the Budapest municipal election rules in order to secure their victory at the October election, and the Constitutional Court of assisting the government in what they consider as a limitation of basic rights. A conservative analyst contends that the new rules ...

Two thirds majority for Fidesz confirmed

The count of votes sent by mail from around the world confirmed on Saturday that the Fidesz-KDNP alliance will retain its two thirds majority in Parliament. A left-wing analysis takes it for granted that the Prime Minister will not refrain from making full use of his overwhelming power in the ...

Fears and hopes for the next four years

Commentators wonder whether or not the next Orbán government will strike a more conciliatory tone, and seek compromises in the economy and in symbolic battles at home and on the European scene.

Closing remarks on 2013

In their traditional New Year columns, left and right-wing dailies alike agree that Fidesz is the probable winner of the next elections, but that prospect does not make them equally happy.

Extreme right leader elected village mayor

Pro-government commentators accuse former PM Ferenc Gyurcsány’s DK party of being ready to cooperate with far right organizations to beat Fidesz. Some liberal commentators agree that the DK’s anti-Orbán rhetoric may have strange side-effects, others point out that local DK leaders acted without the knowledge of the centre and were ...

Left-wing ruminations on the Baja by-election

Left-wing commentators accuse Fidesz of election fraud after the Baja local by-election results in one sub-district were scrapped by the court. They also claim that the new electoral law will allow the manipulation of results at the 2014 Parliamentary election.

Bajnai in Transylvania

A pro-government columnist describes Gordon Bajnai’s visit to Transylvania as phoney and hypocritical. A Transylvanian news site, on the other hand, suggests Bajnai did not go to chase after votes but to listen to what Hungarians living in Romania had to tell him.

Voter registration annulled on formal grounds by Constitutional Court

Analysts ponder the message and the wider implications of a first decision by the Constitutional Court to strike down mandatory voter registration.

Former PM Gyurcsány begins 7-day hunger strike

Commentators on both the right and the left agree that former Premier Gyurcsány’s decision to start a hunger strike in protest against the government’s electoral reform is a piece of theatre which cannot be taken seriously, and will do little to mobilize the masses.