Out on the prairie or home on the range?
The leading left wing daily Népszabadság criticises Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for enshrining his economic policy in so called “cardinal acts”, and denounces his decision to finance Hungary’s debt-servicing from the financial markets, rather than negotiating with the IMF. READ MORE
Tags: constitution, Orbán, taxes
Hungary, land of promises
Hungary has grown accustomed to overspending and over-borrowing, and its political parties have fed the population a diet of unrealistic welfare promises. But the leading conservative commentator believes the present government has chosen a new path. READ MORE
From mini-coups to open warfare
Until recently, the Socialists were keen to keep their internal debates and conflicts in a more or less intellectual channel. But not any longer– writes Népszabadság, on the expanding political tensions within the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP). READ MORE
How to save the public health service?
The exodus of young (and old) Hungarian doctors is reaching intolerable proportions. Young doctors are threatening to leave their posts en masse. A pro-government commentator understands their bitterness, but fears that their demands for pay rises are unrealistic. READ MORE
Tags: doctors
Party materialism
What is at stake in the struggle for the leadership of the Socialist party is not so much which ideological line to follow, but rather who will control the financial and organizational resources of the party, a right wing commentator suggests. READ MORE
Tags: MSZP
Local governments give up schools – churches take over
Due to the financial squeeze and the falling birth-rate, local councils are being forced to get rid of the schools under their jurisdiction. Many are being taken over by various Churches. The weekly Heti Válasz, which usually supports the Government, paints a rather dramatic picture of the school situation in Hungary. READ MORE
Success in a headwind
On Friday (10 June) Croatia was given the go-ahead by the European Commission to join the European Union, and is likely to become the 28th member in 2013. “Zagreb’s success belongs to Budapest too,” writes Magyar Nemzet, “this represents a huge step towards reaching one of the main goals of the Hungarian EU Presidency.” READ MORE
Tags: EU, foreign affairs
It’s getting hotter
Political tensions within the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) have become ever more visible in the last few days. “The party has set out on the road of political self-mutilation” suggests political analyst Gábor Török in his blog. Should the Socialists split, he concludes, the real winner would be the governing conservative party, Fidesz. READ MORE
War of the clowns
As public expenditure cuts spark protests among more and more categories of employees, including teachers, doctors, bus drivers and locomotive drivers, a pro-government commentator suspects that the protesting policemen are politically motivated. READ MORE
Tags: constitution, debt, EU, Orbán, protests