Left-wing and liberal commentators accuse the government of waging a propaganda war in its handling of EU criticism of the rule of law in Hungary. Pro-government pundits, on the other hand, think that the EU’s criticism originates from the domestic opposition, and is being used to blackmail the country. READ MORE
A centrist economic analyst contends that the German proposal eases the rule of law conditionality of access to the EU coronavirus EU recovery funds. He finds it unlikely that Hungary and Poland can be punished with the suspension of their EU funding. READ MORE
The weeklies, and the weekend editions of the dailies ponder the broader implications of the EU recovery fund and the next 7 year budget. Liberal analysts see it as a step towards a more unified Europe, while a Marxist philosopher interprets it as the end of the European dream. Conservative commentators interpret the deal as a great victory for Prime Minister Orbán. READ MORE
A centrist and a conservative analyst believe that the EU recovery fund agreement offers powerful tools for the European Council to punish countries found guilty of violating basic EU norms. READ MORE
Some left-wing commentators interpret the EU recovery fund agreement as a victory for Prime Minister Orbán, and a defeat for a unified Europe. Others disagree. Pro-government columnists welcome the deal as a pragmatic compromise, and see it as a huge defeat for liberals who accused the Hungarian government of violating democratic norms. READ MORE
A former Fidesz EU Commissioner believes that the EU agreement on the 750 billion recovery fund is a reasonable deal that offers some perks for all member states – and further strengthens the European Union itself. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist agrees with Prime Minister Orbán that Hungary stands falsely accused of violating EU norms. His left-wing counterpart likens the EU summit on recovery funds to a pathetic exercise in horse-trading. READ MORE
The nationwide left-wing daily stands by its claim that the government has submitted to the European Union a financial scheme in which the Hungarian capital is left out of a list of target areas for European development funds. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist thinks that Central Europe and Hungary may get less EU funding as a result of the EU’s 2050 carbon neutrality agreement. A liberal commentator is less pessimistic. READ MORE
After a rule of law hearing about Hungary in Brussels on Monday, a pro-government commentator finds it strange that Hungary and other ‘new’ member states are criticised for alleged violations of democratic values. He claims that democratic decline is more prevalent in the West than in the East of the continent. READ MORE