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Coronavirus and vaccination as political battlefields

Monday, March 22nd, 2021

As the third wave of the pandemic sweeps through Hungary, commentators from across the political divide discuss the government’s strategy and speculate on the possible date of the end of the emergency. READ MORE

Monetary experts warn against high debt

Saturday, March 20th, 2021

Two chief economists of the Hungarian National Bank dismiss the suggestion, broadly held among left-wing US economists, that governments have no reason to worry about high levels of public debt. READ MORE

Vaccination crossfire

Monday, March 8th, 2021

Pro-government commentators find it absurd for the opposition to now accuse the government of reacting too late to the third wave of the pandemic, when for weeks it has demanded and easing of restrictions. Left-wing and liberal commentators, on the other hand, accuse the government of letting the epidemic get out of control. READ MORE

Government announces new lockdown

Saturday, March 6th, 2021

As the government announces another strict lockdown to stop the third wave of the coronavirus, a pro-government commentator is confident that Hungarians will cope with the restrictions. A liberal columnist accuses the government of responsibility for the deaths of hundreds by not introducing restrictions earlier. READ MORE

Heated dispute over vaccination

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021

As the third wave of the pandemic hits Hungary, a respected surgeon calls for ethical proceedings against GPs who hesitate to recommend the Chinese jab to patients. A left-wing columnist, on the other hand, criticizes the government for using the epidemic for political purposes. READ MORE

Rollout of Chinese Covid vaccine begins

Thursday, February 25th, 2021

As family doctors start inoculating hundreds of thousands of Hungarians with the Chinese anti-Covid vaccine, a liberal news site finds government communication on the Sinopharm vaccine confusing, while a pro-government outlet praises the jab. READ MORE

Hungary’s vaccine rollout in comparative perspective

Wednesday, February 17th, 2021

As Hungary starts using the Russian coronavirus shots for for the elderly and vulnerable, and the health authorities continue to study the Chinese Sinopharm jab, the leading business online media examines the global vaccination data. READ MORE

Former PM Gyurcsány’s state of the nation address

Tuesday, February 16th, 2021

Prime Minister Orbán has announced that he is postponing his annual state of the nation address due to the coronavirus situation. Meanwhile former PM Ferenc Gyurcsány, in his own customary missive at about the same time, blasts the government for what he calls its ineffective and inconsistent measures to battle the pandemic. READ MORE

Government calls national consultation on lockdown schedule

Monday, February 8th, 2021

A left-wing commentator dismisses as a publicity stunt the Prime Minister’s announcement of a national consultation on how and when to lift the emergency restrictions. A conservative pundit lambasts the EU for failing to secure more jabs for the citizens of the European Union. READ MORE

Prospects of economic recovery

Saturday, February 6th, 2021

A left-wing economist fears that the growing public debt will undermine the economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis. A conservative analyst, on the other hand, points out that Hungarian average wages dropped the least in the EU, while the increase in public debt has also remained lower than the EU average. READ MORE