Liberal pundits criticize both Right and Left for not confronting policies which they see as targeting the Roma who live in poverty. A Minister is criticized for his “unfortunate” statement on the Roma Holocaust. A Dutch-Hungarian psychologist calls for the publication of Hungarian crime statistics by ethnicity. READ MORE
A centrist author excoriates left-wing leaders for betraying their anti-racist ideals in order to win the municipal elections in Miskolc. They might be right in their drive to defeat PM Orbán, but fomenting racism is too high a price, he suggests. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators are deeply divided about the candidacy of Albert Pásztor for the mayoral seat of Miskolc. Some condemn what they see as the arrogance of Budapest-based intellectuals for trying to meddle in the internal affairs of the city, while others deem the nomination of a law and order candidate by the Left unacceptable. READ MORE
Columnists wonder whether it is acceptable and reasonable for the Left to support as a candidate for mayor of Miskolc a former police chief known for his highly controversial statements about Roma crime. READ MORE
A conservative columnist blames the exclusion of the Roma on what he calls “the culture of poverty” rather than on discrimination by the majority. His left-wing counterpart finds it peculiar that the Right would expect those living in deprivation and exclusion to fight prejudice. READ MORE
A centre-right portal runs a commentary by a Roma activist who says that unemployed Roma lack basic skills, and should be taught to manage time, be more ambitious for their children and gain the respect of the majority. READ MORE
A left-wing daily believes the new Roma party will eat into the constituency of the opposition, while a Roma politician maintains in a pro-government weekly that the Roma should change themselves, to change their plight. READ MORE
According to a conservative columnist, evidence suggests that the staged Baja video tape was commissioned by the Socialist party. Népszava accuses the pro-government media of exaggerating the issue, while Népszabadság, the leading left-wing daily, welcomes the opposition parties’ decision to distance themselves from the individuals involved in the fabrication. READ MORE
After a video surfaced showing Roma men exchanging money for votes in an apartment, centrist commentators question the credibility of the footage while left-liberal columnists lament the fact that the Hungarian Roma sell their votes because they see no other opportunity in politics. READ MORE