Storm of accusations over spyware allegations

A prominent left-wing columnist and the leading pro-government daily give diametrically opposing interpretations of the Pegasus spyware scandal.

Dispatches from the trenches in the culture war

A pro-government commentator finds it justified for the government to have reclaimed national sovereignty from what he calls the ‘post-Communist deep state’. Two liberal analysts, on the other hand, accuse the Orbán government of uprooting democratic rule and introducing far-right authoritarian governance.

Weeklies on rule of law deal

Commentators try to make sense of the agreement reached last week on rule of law conditionality of EU financial transfers to member states which enabled Hungary and Poland to abandon their threat to veto the seven-year Union budget and the Covid recovery scheme.

EU measures seen as reminiscent of the Soviet Union

Pro-government columnists agree with Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch, that the EU’s attempts to make financial disbursements conditional on resect for the ‘rule of law’ resemble Soviet attitudes. A left-wing commentator predicts that PM Orbán will have to retreat in order to get access to vital EU funding.

Poland and Hungary might veto the EU budget

A left-wing pundit hopes that, although Hungary and Poland may block it, the EU will pass the strict law conditionality agreement tabled last week. A pro-government commentator suggests that the proposal mirrors George Soros’s ideas and is intended to punish Hungary for not letting in illegal migrants.

Weeklies on rule-of-law criticism by the European Commission

Opposition-leaning commentators believe the European Union is still too weak to enforce its rule of law criteria, while pro-government columnists dismiss criticism from Brussels as both discriminatory and biased.

Debate over rule of law continues

Left-wing and liberal commentators accuse the government of waging a propaganda war in its handling of EU criticism of the rule of law in Hungary. Pro-government pundits, on the other hand, think that the EU’s criticism originates from the domestic opposition, and is being used to blackmail the country.

European Commission scrutinizes rule of law in Hungary

A pro-government columnist contends that the European Commission rule of law report on Hungary mirrors the views of the ‘Soros network’, and will be used to blackmail Hungary. A left-wing commentator finds the report justified and factual.

PM Orbán says EC Vice-President should be sacked

A pro-government agrees with Prime Minister Orbán that European Commission Vice-President must step down after calling Hungary an ‘ill democracy’. A left-wing pundit, on the other hand, thinks that Ms Jourová’s criticism of the government was justified.

PM Orbán traces his path to the 2022 elections

In a long essay in the leading pro-government daily, PM Viktor Orbán suggests that the next elections will be decisive for Hungary’s independence. His foes, he suggests, stand for submission to international liberalism.