Hungarian Socialists let down by European Left?
Friday, April 4th, 2014A pro-government commentator notes that while Viktor Orbán’s Saturday rally was attended by Joseph Daul, the opposition event on Sunday did not even receive official greetings from European Socialists. READ MORE
Media accused of biased coverage
Thursday, April 3rd, 2014A pro-government analyst rejects an OSCE report according to which the media is biased in favour of governing Fidesz. A left-liberal daily complains that its election panel discussion was banned because the Kúria (or Supreme Court) and the National Election Comittee (NEC) found them in violation of the principle of balanced coverage by excluding Jobbik. READ MORE
Will Fidesz keep its 2/3 majority?
Monday, March 31st, 2014Left-wing commentators still hope that a crushing Fidesz victory can be prevented. In that case, they suggest, any complaints from the Left about the new election rules will seem more credible. Their right-wing counterparts meanwhile are pulling out all the stops to mobilise their readers for one last push. They argue that the latest scandals have stripped the Left of its last shreds of credibility. READ MORE
An argument against abstentionism
Thursday, March 27th, 2014A liberal commentator famous for his disrespectful remarks about politicians on all sides warns against the temptation to proudly boycott the coming Parliamentary election. He himself is not fond of any of the contenders, he says, but will be able to make his choice, nonetheless. READ MORE
Left-wing media propose electoral TV duels
Wednesday, March 26th, 2014Népszabadság and ATV propose a series of televised debates, including a duel between PM Viktor Orbán and Socialist Party leader Attila Mesterházy during the last week of the campaign. Right-wing pundits dismiss the idea that such pre-electoral debates are a must in any democracy. READ MORE
MSZP in shambles but Fidesz takes no chances
Wednesday, March 12th, 2014An independent conservative commentator wonders why Fidesz is not content with its comfortable lead in the polls and bothers to flood the media with government advertisements. A liberal commentator complains that the opposition’s only strategy seems to be to wait for major mistakes on the part of government, and has now even begun to blame its coming defeat on the LMP. One centrist analyst suggests that it is time for the MSZP to disappear from the scene because of its endemic corruption
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Zuschlag accuses the MSZP and Gyurcsány
Monday, March 10th, 2014Commentators agree that the revelations of a former Socialist MP ,who served six years in prison for corruption, are extremely painful for the Left. Left-wing authors add however, that they believe the claims have been fabricated for propaganda purposes. READ MORE
Left rebrands itself on the homestretch
Saturday, March 8th, 2014Népszabadság believes that changing the name of the left-wing alliance was unavoidable, dictated by the nature of the new electoral system. It’s new joint programme, on the other hand, has been published because the electoral messages have not been effective so far. READ MORE
Opposition accuses PM of siding with Putin
Friday, March 7th, 2014A former Socialist MEP calls on opposition parties to focus on their social and political messages in the campaign, rather than on raising fears about Russian expansionism. Such language does not suit them, he warns, and is also counterproductive. READ MORE