Echoing the opposition parties, a left-wing commentator accuses the government of ‘bleeding dry’ local councils by reducing local business taxes. A pro-government columnist, on the other hand, accuses the opposition of the ‘absurd tendency’ to increase taxes in times of economic hardship. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator accuses the government of trying to disqualify companies which are not close to Fidesz from the tender for the reconstruction of the Chain Bridge. Her pro-government counterpart, on the other hand, contends that the opposition-run Budapest City Council wants to secure a lucrative deal for the Austrian firm, Strabag. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator dismisses as groundless an allegation advanced by Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, that the government intends to punish Budapest by cutting its budget. A liberal pundit wonders if Budapest could become insolvent. READ MORE
A left-wing pundit accuses the government of stigmatizing Budapest by starting to lift the coronavirus restrictions only in the countryside. His pro-government counterpart finds such speculation absurd and politically motivated. READ MORE
As Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony announces plans to drastically reduce speed limits in Budapest, a pro-government commentator labels him a ‘green Nazi’. His liberal counterpart also has serious doubts about the implications of the proposed restrictions. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator blames coronavirus cases in Budapest care homes personally on Budapest Mayor Karácsony. A left-wing columnist thinks that the mayor cannot be made responsible for everything that happens in Budapest. READ MORE
A right-wing columnist castigates the Budapest Mayor for taking what he calls politically motivated decisions against the advice of a professional panel, while a left-wing outlet accuses the government of meddling in theatre nominations. READ MORE
A liberal and a pro-government commentator assess Budapest Mayor Karácsony’s performance during his first one hundred days in office. READ MORE
A liberal weekly welcomes the alliance of liberal-led East European cities as the advance guard of a potential shift in government throughout the region. A conservative constitutional lawyer warns the leaders of the cities that now they must prove their ability to govern in order to become serious challengers to the incumbent government. READ MORE
While the Brussels representative of the new left-liberal Mayor of Budapest hopes that the capital can get direct EU subsidies without having to submit applications through the government, a right-wing columnist calls the idea a bluff. READ MORE