MSZP vice chairman’s undeclared assets case still in focus

A business weekly suggests that the mishandling of public funds in the 18th district of Budapest (in the pre-2010 period) must have given ample opportunity for Socialist luminaries to enrich themselves. A liberal commentator thinks that accusing Fidesz of having an even bigger appetite since then is no answer to ...

Leading Socialist MP’s secret bank account unearthed

Left-wing commentators call on the MSZP to disown its corrupt politicians, after a pro-government daily unveiled a secret bank account with hundreds of millions of undeclared funds possessed by Socialist Vice Chairman Gábor Simon. The leading left-wing daily adds that the scandal further diminishes the chances of the left at ...

President Áder announces election date

The date of the election itself has become a campaign topic, with left-wing commentators suspecting that the President's decision was prompted by political convenience rather than neutral rationality. 

Storm blows on around Horthy statue

A centre-right commentator argues that instead of erecting new statues to Horthy, his era should be evaluated by historians. The Hungarian Reform Church has declared that a right-wing pastor’s key role in the celebration will be investigated.

Far right journalist forced to return government award

A centrist blog argues that the award granted to an openly racist journalist reveals the problems with the highly centralised government Prime Minister Orbán has created, as Zoltan Balog, the Minister for Human Resources has to supervise too many areas.

Secretary of state for culture is leaving office

A centre-right journalist describes László L. Simon as a moderate, unjustly reviled by liberals, who lost his battle against the far more conservative chairmann of the Hungarian Art Academy. A left-liberal commentator writes that the removal of László Simon is another sign of culture wars raging within the governing party, ...

FIFA punishes Hungary after racist scandal

A left-wing columnist believes Hungary should not appeal against FIFA’s decision to play its next World Cup qualifier behind closed doors as a consequence of an anti-Semitic incident during the Hungary-Israel match in August last year. His right–wing colleague suggests the ruling was unjust and may stir up anti-Semitism.

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.

Why has the Forint lost value?

Commentators across the political spectrum wonder why the exchange rate of the Forint declined in December. Pro-government analysts suggest purely external factors are responsible, while left-wing columnists blame the fall primarily on the government.

The Nyírő saga continues

Right and left accuse each other of acting in bad faith in connection with the government-sponsored, but failed reburial of Transylvanian writer József Nyírő. A liberal analyst believes both sides need enemies in order to mobilise their own  troops.