The leading left liberal daily contends that the government wants to silence its critics by imposing an advertisement tax on media outlets. A right-wing blogger wonders why the government is punishing Hungarian media companies rather then helping them. READ MORE
Commentators from left to right believe that the EU is unlikely to lift the excessive deficit procedure imposed on Hungary, and agree that its motives are political. A pro-government commentator says there are foreign interests behind the pessimistic EU forecast, while both a left-wing editorial and a business columnist interpret the move as a warning to Hungary. READ MORE
Commentators from across the political spectrum agree that the government has managed to increase the sum originally allocated to Hungary in the 2014-2020 EU budget. They also agree however that more effective EU integration would require far more money. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist welcomes the new budget but warns that the deficit target may not be easy to meet. READ MORE
A leading pro-government columnist says that while Hungary does not need an IMF loan, negotiations should continue next year. READ MORE
The editorial of a pro-government daily describes the package as a necessity under the constraints of the global economic crisis, while a centrist economist dismisses it as yet another unrealistic plan.
Columnists wonder whether or not the government’s announcement that it will restructure the 2013 budget in order to save 397 billion Forints means that it has abandoned its previous economic strategy . Left-wing and liberal analysts believe that the government has thereby admitted the failure of its previous earlier policies. A pro-government pundit suggests that it is too early to reach a verdict on the government’s efforts. READ MORE
A conservative columnist suspects that the government will only revise its controversial fiscal policy and budget forecasts for next year if forced to do so by financial markets. READ MORE
Commentators on the right, the left and in the centre all agree that the new 10-point “employment protection” programme is a step in the right direction, but the latter warn that costs are not covered by planned adjustments to the budget. READ MORE
The leading pro-government daily welcomes the decision by the ECOFIN to lift the suspension of 500 million Euros in aid to Hungary, and explains it as an open acknowledgement of the validity of the government’s economic policies. Left-wing commentators, on the other hand, believe that the Hungarian government has wasted two years and was forced by the EU to back-pedal on the counter-productive economic strategy it initially pursued. READ MORE