After the EU summit agreed to try and keep Syrian refugees outside the European Union, but declined the Hungarian proposal to set up a joint force to guard Greece’s maritime borders, left-wing commentators think the Prime Minister has gone too far in criticising Chancellor Merkel of Germany. READ MORE
An agreement with Germany and Austria has allowed Hungary to transfer asylum seekers to the Austrian border. Weeklies and dailies ponder the implications of the crisis and the prospect of its resolution. READ MORE
Pundits across the political spectrum fear that migration will cause an ever bigger problem in Europe in the absence of a common EU migration framework. The lack of a joint EU solution may also endanger free movement in the EU. READ MORE
As the government tries to divert the current massive migration wave from Hungary, commentators tend to agree that Europe cannot take more migrants without seriously jeopardising its way of life. Opinions differ solely on whether that is inevitable or not. READ MORE
Commenting on the government’s foreign affairs strategy, most left-wing and liberal commentators accuse PM Orbán of selling out to Moscow. Right-wing pundits, on the other hand, defend what they see as the government’s pragmatic and balanced foreign affairs vision. Some moderate analysts castigate mindless exaggerations and ideologically motivated approaches on both sides. READ MORE
Commentators wonder if the agreement reached by Europe, Russia and Ukraine in Minsk can be implemented and if it can prevent the escalation of the Ukraine crisis. READ MORE
Hungary’s weeklies put Chancellor Merkel’s talks in Budapest on Monday and President Putin’s visit two weeks later in the context of Hungary’s position as a NATO member country that has consistently voted against sanctions against Moscow, while working on new joint projects with Russia. READ MORE
As opposition groupings plan to hold demonstrations to welcome Chancellor Merkel in Budapest in February, commentators believe she will concentrate on relations with Russia rather than internal Hungarian affairs. READ MORE