According to a conservative author’s calculations, the government has practically given back the so-called 13th month pension bonus abolished by the former Socialist-Liberal coalition. READ MORE
A liberal analyst writes that the Left is failing to react to a new series of welfare measures introduced by the government. The main problem, he suggests, is the lack of an overall message. READ MORE
Népszava carries an angry reaction to parallel proposals from the Socialists and Jobbik which would allow men to retire after 40 or 41 years of service. The 40 year rule was introduced for women at the proposal of the Christian Democratic Party in 2010. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist welcomes the Prime Minister’s decision to increase pensions. A left-wing commentator, on the other hand, accuses the government of vote hunting. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator ponders the implications of recent demographic trends, and finds it unlikely that Hungarians could work or save more in order to compensate for the increasing ratio of dependants. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator disagrees with the idea that men, like women, should be allowed to retire after 40 years of fixed employment and contributions.
A conservative columnist thinks that Hungary has no choice but to raise the retirement age, otherwise the pension system will become insolvent. READ MORE
A left-wing paper and an independent liberal commentator both excoriate the government for going back on its promise to create individual retirement accounts for those citizens who transferred their compulsory retirement savings to the national social security system. READ MORE
A right-wing economist suggests that in order to make the pension system balanced for the foreseeable future, Hungary should return to traditional family-based solidarity. A conservative blogger believes that a wide public debate should be initiated about the future of the pension system. READ MORE
A conservative liberal blogger looking back on the past year contends that despite efforts aimed at a wholesale reform, the government has failed to discontinue some unfortunate practices. READ MORE