A conservative columnist urges the government to reach an agreement with the IMF, and implicitly rejects an official communique condemning his critical stance on the government’s economic policy. READ MORE
A left-wing economist calls upon the government to ask for more complex international financial assistance rather than bargaining so hard over the preconditions.
A right-wing columnist, implicitly criticizing the Prime Minister’s March 15th speech, warns against harsh anti-EU rhetoric, and welcomes the more pragmatic approach which the PM usually employs towards foreign investors.
A right-wing columnist accuses the European left of attacking the Hungarian government in order to restore the credibility of their battered ideological fellows within Hungary. A left-wing analyst, on the other hand, finds that Western criticism is only aimed at defending basic European values. READ MORE
In his regular lead column in 168 óra, Tamás Mészáros suggests that the Prime Minister’s radical “freedom fighter’s” rhetoric is aimed at keeping his camp together amid the present financial difficulties. READ MORE
Looking back at the controversial March 15 celebrations in Budapest, a conservative Polish commentator finds it sad that there are no more non-political national holidays, at least not in Hungary. And the contagion has reached Poland as well. READ MORE
A conservative critic of the right-wing government fears that Hungary’s rulers think they can get away without an IMF credit line agreement. READ MORE
A conservative philosopher believes Prime Minister Orbán should use more diplomatic language in his argument with the European Union, but admits that Brussels gives him little room to make concessions without losing face.
A leading centrist analyst believes that Viktor Orbán has no choice but to use double talk, but advises him to practice this more carefully, while his conservative colleague writes that the EC has over-reacted to the Hungarian PM’s words on March 15th. READ MORE
Hungary’s leading business daily warns that the sanctions imposed on Hungary by the European Union are just the beginning of the road, and instead of complaining about being treated unfairly, Hungary had better comply with the recommendations of the European Commission. READ MORE