Left-wing commentators fear that the government’s latest housing scheme will produce a suburban ghetto. The Ministry of Interior has announced plans to build new homes for families who can no longer service their debts. The first houses are to be built in a small municipality 30 kilometres from Budapest. READ MORE
Left wing commentators welcome the unequivocal warnings addressed to the Hungarian government by various Western sources, while right wing analysts deem accusations of anti-democratic tendencies directed at Hungarian leaders unfair. READ MORE
Tags: churches, debt, foreign affairs, media
Opinions diverge on who is to blame for the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Hungarians struggling with mounting debts denominated in foreign currencies, mainly in Swiss Francs. But commentators agree that their problem is a threat to the country as a whole. READ MORE
It is little wonder that the Hungarian Socialists are in decline, writes the editor-in-chief of Heti Válasz, Gábor Borókai, given the short-sighted policies of their leaders since the late 1990s. His commentary comes in response to a statement by former MSZP president Ms Ildikó Lendvai and as a contribution to the ongoing debate about making former political leaders accountable. READ MORE
While the Swiss Franc hits new highs against the Hungarian Forint, the left wing daily Népszabadság urges the Hungarian government to act to soothe all those Hungarian citizens who have taken out large loans in Swiss Francs. A moderate right wing blogger believes that the government has very little manoeuvring space. READ MORE
The main left wing daily Népszabadság revives the idea of an alliance between the left and the far right, in order to defeat PM Viktor Orbán and undo his reforms – despite the fact that an initiative on these lines was rejected as unrealistic and counterproductive by all commentators and possible protagonists alike. In another sign of just how bitter political enmities are, the commentator evokes the example of an anti-Nazi alliance during World War II to make his case. READ MORE
Commentators in Hungary are still arguing on the Parliamentary majority’s plan to find a way to sue politicians responsible for the country’s indebtedness. In the mainstream press there is full consensus on the impossibility of retroactive legislation, but left and right wing commentators disagree on all the rest. READ MORE
Tags: debt, retroactive legislation
The Hungarian government has ordered the destruction of hundreds of hectares of corn grown from genetically modified seeds, in order to retain Hungary’s GMO-free image. Although an unusual consensus reigns among political parties on the importance of GMO-free agriculture, the press debates the economic and health related issues at stake. READ MORE
Tags: agriculutre, economy, GMOs, health
A conservative economist suggests more concentrated public spending on higher education. His ideas seem to be partly reflected in a draft reform document leaked from the Ministry of Human Resources. READ MORE
Tags: education
Commenting on the governing party’s plans to sue those responsible for Hungary’s debt burden, Former Finance Minister Péter Oszkó makes a passionate defence of his one year performance. READ MORE