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Left and right accuse each other of stirring up hatred

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

Commentators from the left and the right blame each other for polarizing and politicizing issues related to the Roma. They both believe that their opponents use the Roma for opportunistic political reasons. READ MORE

Utility tariff cuts debated

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

A left-wing commentator suggests that the energy price cuts will further slow down the Hungarian economy. Pro-government columnists, on the other hand, find it bizarre that the left opposes the price cuts after criticizing the government for restrictions and austerity. READ MORE

A bad week for the Forint and the government

Monday, January 14th, 2013

Commentators agree that the weakening of the Hungarian currency (HUF) was due to a statement by the Minister of the Economy. One cautions the PM against nominating him for the presidency of the National Bank. Other analysts think recent events have dealt several blows to the authority of the governing élite. READ MORE

A liberal view on citizenship

Saturday, January 12th, 2013

A liberal pundit ponders the implications of Gérard Depardieu’s newly acquired Russian citizenship and criticises the government’s intention to keep graduates in Hungary if they enjoy free university tuition. READ MORE

FIFA punishes Hungary after racist scandal

Friday, January 11th, 2013

A left-wing columnist believes Hungary should not appeal against FIFA’s decision to play its next World Cup qualifier behind closed doors as a consequence of an anti-Semitic incident during the Hungary-Israel match in August last year. His right–wing colleague suggests the ruling was unjust and may stir up anti-Semitism. READ MORE

LMP leader accused of ’double talk’ on Roma

Thursday, January 10th, 2013

An independent blogger defends LMP leader András Schiffer from liberal critics who accuse him of double talk in connection with anti-Roma racism. READ MORE

Bayer rejects racism charge

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

A leading pro-government columnist accuses left-liberal protestors of misrepresenting his position on the Roma, in the wake of the latest knife attack on two young sportsmen in a night club. His editor-in-chief and the owner of Magyar Hírlap promise to be more careful in the future. READ MORE

The lull in the tuition battle is nearing its end

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013

In an unusually bitter column, a pro-government columnist urges the government to reconsider its higher education reforms in order to give the children of poor families access to free tuition. READ MORE

Voter registration abandoned but the culture war heats up

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Pro-government columnists suggest that the government has backed down elegantly, disproving the charges of arrogance and authoritarianism often levelled against it, while according to centrist and left-leaning analysts, the government tested the water of public feeling and realized it had too much to lose on the registration issue. READ MORE

Fidesz finds it wiser to drop voter registration

Saturday, January 5th, 2013

A centrist analyst explains how the government had to find a balance between political gains and losses after the decision of the Constitutional Court. READ MORE