Might Simicska run for Veszprém seat?

Commentators across the political spectrum believe that if the Fidesz tycoon does actually challenge the official Fidesz candidate in the by-election scheduled for February next year, then the rift between him and  the Prime Minister must be even more serious than observers realised.

Magyar Idők published as Magyar Nemzet

Four years after its transformation into a government-critical daily, and nine month after it was closed down, Magyar Nemzet has been relaunched by the editors of Magyar Idők. It is practically Magyar Idők with just the title being changed. The new Magyar Nemzet claims that it will stand for national ...

Fidesz dominates the media landscape

After the ‘recapture’ of HírTV’ by the government side, left-wing commentators paint a bleak picture of the Hungarian media landscape, while a pro-government author lays the blame at the door of the tycoon who lured conservative journalists into his anti-Orbán offensive and then left them in the lurch.

HírTV back in the government fold

Left-wing commentators see the takeover of Hungary’s first TV news channel as a sign of mounting authoritarianism, while pro-government newspapers declare that justice has been done.

Jobbik in free fall

Commenting on the latest opinion polls, a pro-government analyst contends that Jobbik is in deep crisis, and will find it extremely hard to reverse its decline.

Jobbik on the brink of a split

As Jobbik expels radical right-wing László Toroczkai, two pro-government pundits wonder about the fate of Jobbik.

Heti Válasz shuts down

The highest circulation conservative weekly owned by the media mogul Lajos Simicska closes down after announcing insolvency.  The editor ascribes the failure of his weekly to the hostile political environment.

Magyar Nemzet shuts down

As media tycoon Lajos Simicska withdraws from several important outlets, commentators complain that a piece of Hungarian history is disappearing with the daily Magyar Nemzet – unless a political investor manages to save it.

Wholesale corruption charges levelled and dismissed

Magyar Nemzet accuses unnamed officials of having channelled vast amounts of bribes to offshore accounts. One of the ‘money couriers’ is allegedly a ‘protected witness’ in the USA. Magyar Idők quotes a series of official statements characterising the report as groundless.

Election campaign in full swing

With just two weeks to go till the Parliamentary election, weeklies and the dailies’ weekend editions discuss corruption scandals and ponder what comes after 8 April.