An independent conservative commentator says pro-government and opposition politicians must remove Jobbik’s dirt from Hungary’s honour. READ MORE
A leading commentator at Népszabadság claims the government does not want to reach an agreement with the IMF, because it finds the price – a return to “orthodox” economic policy -too high. READ MORE
The main pro-government daily castigates right-wing politicians for their mild reaction to an anti-Semitic speech by a Jobbik MP and calls on the government and the right wing in general “to wake up.” READ MORE
Commentators unanimously condemn a speech by Jobbik MP Márton Gyöngyösi, who proposed a “survey of MPs and cabinet members of Jewish descent who represent a risk to national security”. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator calls the downgrading of Hungary’s sovereign debt by S&P “low grade entertainment”, unsubstantiated by the actual state of Hungarian public finances. READ MORE
The leading pro-government daily welcomes the failure of the EU summit as a sign of democracy and good news for Hungary, while its left-wing counterpart accuses PM Orbán of selfishness. An influential economist says that although the EU’s growth forecasts are biased against Hungary, the government has to make efforts to convince Brussels anyway. An independent centrist outlet suspects that once the EU lifts the excessive deficit procedure the government will be free to start spreading money around immediately before the 2014 elections. READ MORE
A pro-government daily writes that it was a question of principle for the LMP to reject Gordon Bajnai’s invitation to join his Together-2014 electoral alliance, even though it might lead to the demise of the party. A centrist-liberal analyst says LMP made the right decision, as they may attract centre-right voters for whom Together-2014 is tainted, or form the seed of a new centre if a future Together-2014 based government were to fail. READ MORE
A centre-right columnist welcomes the endorsement of the left-leaning director of the National Theater by a prominent right-leaning rock musician as a rare example of how to ease tensions between opposing camps. READ MORE
Commenting on the bribery case involving former Croatian PM Ivo Sanader and Hungary’s oil multinational MOL, the leading left wing daily warns that wisdom is needed on both sides to prevent the two countries’ relations from deteriorating. READ MORE
A leading pro-government columnist says that while Hungary does not need an IMF loan, negotiations should continue next year. READ MORE