In their first reactions, news outlets offer opposing evaluations of the deal reached on Monday, whereby the EU will lower the level of a proposed funding freeze in exchange for Budapest lifting its veto on two items. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist accuses the Hungarian government of trying to unlock EU funding by threatening to veto key EU decisions. A pro-government analyst, on the other hand, accuses the EU of blackmailing Hungary. READ MORE
The five opposition-leaning weeklies doubt whether the European Commission can achieve full transparency in public procurements in Hungary, while pro-government commentators dismiss as unjust the whole procedure of making the transfer of EU funds conditional on rule of law compliance. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist suggests that the European Commission intends to punish Hungary for returning Fidesz to power last Sunday. READ MORE
A left-wing and a pro-government columnist ponder the implications of Wednesday’s ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union. READ MORE
Commentators on both sides of the political divide see both room for cooperation and opposition between the President of France and the Hungarian Prime Minister. READ MORE
As it seems almost certain that the European Court of Justice will enable the European Union to make payments to member countries conditional on rule of law compliance, a pro-government commentator suspects a political design behind that scheme. READ MORE
Pro-government commentators claim in unison that the opposition is the ideological heir of the 2006 ‘Őszöd speech’ and ensuing police violence. They also insist that the opposition is still led by former PM Gyucsány from behind the scenes. A left-wing author dismisses that as pure propaganda. READ MORE
A pro-government analyst rejects a report by three US organisations as a call for NATO to interfere in Hungarian internal affairs. READ MORE
Last week, the European Parliament voted to sue the European Commission if it fails to apply the rule of law conditionality against Hungary and Poland. READ MORE