A pro-government analyst welcomes the announcement that mortgage based foreign currency loans will be converted into forints and the modalities of the project will be negotiated with the Hungarian Banking Association. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator thinks it is unreasonable to replace a cheap loan with more expensive ones, therefore the government’s decision must be based on political calculations. A business news site suggests that getting rid of the IMF may prove politically profitable for the governing right wing. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator thinks the government will eventually opt to repay the country’s outstanding debt to the IMF ahead of schedule, as such a feat would strengthen its position in the electoral race. READ MORE
Commentators and political analysts ponder the prospects of the Hungarian economy and the chances of government projects as the country is likely to soon exit the EU excessive deficit procedure. READ MORE
Right-wing commentators celebrate Hungary’s exit from the EU excessive deficit procedure, which they interpret as an acknowledgment of the government’s performance. Left-wing pundits, on the other hand, believe that the EU pressurized Orbán into submission, and fear that the Hungarian economy will not grow any time soon. READ MORE
Two pro-government commentators disagree over the desirability of a credit-line agreement with the International Monetary Fund. READ MORE
A leading commentator at Népszabadság claims the government does not want to reach an agreement with the IMF, because it finds the price – a return to “orthodox” economic policy -too high. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator calls the downgrading of Hungary’s sovereign debt by S&P “low grade entertainment”, unsubstantiated by the actual state of Hungarian public finances. READ MORE
The leading leftist daily says a partial government bail-out was inevitable but the banks that funded Hungarian local governments are unlikely to recover all their money. READ MORE
Commentators all welcome the recommendation of the European Commission that an earlier threat to suspend development aid to Hungary should not be carried out. They also warn, however, that the government still has a lot to do in order to boost economic growth and restore investors’ confidence. READ MORE