A conservative philosopher contends that Francis Fukuyama’s criticism of the Hungarian government was based in part on erroneous assumptions. Magyar Nemzet predicts that Hungarian intellectuals who stand up in defence of the government will not impress leading Western media outlets, in contrast to the credit left-wing opponents of the government enjoy. READ MORE
Tags: opposition, Orbán, US
According to a pro-government commentator, the agreement reached at the European summit on Monday proves that Prime Minister Orbán was right not to rush to join the Merkel-Sarkozy pact in its original form in December. READ MORE
A left wing columnist believes LMP has made a moral rather than a political choice. A prestigious political analyst thinks the “outsider attitude” adopted by LMP is the only politically promising approach. READ MORE
Tags: LMP, opposition, Schiffer
A pro-government commentator accuses Hungary’s international critics of serving the interests of a few dozen greedy private companies. A renowned British conservative philosopher thinks Hungary should reject foreign interference in her internal affairs. READ MORE
Left wing newspapers remain highly critical of the government’s economic policy and of Minister György Matolcsy personally, after a week which witnessed PM Viktor Orbán meeting EC President José Manuel Barroso, the IMF issuing its annual Staff Report and Mr Matolcsy facing the Economic Committee of Parliament. Pro-government columnists talk about relative successes and the cabinet’s intention to accomplish a shift in its policies. READ MORE
A leading left-wing analyst regards the introduction of tuition fees for Higher Education unavoidable, in order to improve quality. He finds the government’s reform of university financing unfair, nonetheless. READ MORE
Tags: education
A pro-Gyurcsány commentator believes that the MSZP should cooperate with its left-wing allies, instead of criticizing LMP and the Democratic Coalition, since only a broad coalition of the left-wing opposition can hope to defeat Orbán at the next election. READ MORE
Tags: Democratic Coalition, Fidesz, Gyurcsány, LMP, Mesterházy, MSZP
A linguist welcomes the government’s proposal to restructure Higher Education in order to reduce the number of graduates who end up unemployed. He is, however, concerned about the probable but unintended consequences of the reforms, which he finds untimely and disproportionate. READ MORE
Tags: education
Liberal and left-wing analysts fear that the strengthening anti-EU rhetoric prevalent among the supporters of the government will in the long run play into the hands of the radical right. READ MORE
Tags: credit, EU, Fidesz, Jobbik, nationalism
Commentators ponder what the actual meaning and possible consequences of Saturday’s pro-government rally will be. According to right-wing commentators, the Orbán government will start the negotiations with the European Commission and the IMF about a loan from a better position. Left-wing pundits believe the opposite. READ MORE