A pro-government columnist finds it deeply worrying that an advisor to the President of the Hungarian National Bank is a Socialist party member. He believes that “such a conflict of interests” threatens the bank’s independence. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist accuses House Speaker and leading Fidesz politician László Kövér of advocating anti-abortion ideas. A pro-government commentator rejects this interpretation of Köver”s words, and suggests that the speaker actually wanted to highlight the demographic consequences of the declining birth rate. READ MORE
In an unusually swift procedure, Parliament banned slot machines with immediate effect, except for those in casinos. Commentators both on the right and the left agree that it was the right decision, although the price is high: the loss of tens of billions in gambling revenues and tens of thousands of jobs. READ MORE
Népszabadság criticizes Prime Minister Orbán for unveiling and praising a Turul-sculpture, which the daily considers a nationalistic symbol. According to a pro-government commentator, that criticism shows that the left cannot tolerate feelings of national belonging. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator marks the foundation of the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) 25 years ago, and suggests that throughout that period the centre-right parties have been united by their common anti-Communist stance. A liberal pundit, on the other hand, claims that the liberals were the first to openly criticise Communists and demand democracy. READ MORE
Right-wing commentators are appalled by the statement of a judge who convicted but at the same time praised a protester for damaging a statue recently erected to Hungary’s interwar ruler. Left-wing analysts welcome the judge’s position and disagree with the Vice President of the Supreme Court, who scolded his colleague for expressing a personal opinion when issuing his verdict. READ MORE
A right-wing commentator finds it strange that while the European Court rejected Hungary’s complaint against the Slovak refusal three years ago to let President László Sólyom attend a ceremony on Slovak territory, the European Commission and Parliament do not feel competent in the case of the post war Beneš decrees, which declared Hungarians collectively guilty. READ MORE
Hungary’s main business daily carries pungent criticism of the restrictive policies Brussels is imposing on Southern Europe. READ MORE
A pro-government pundit defends a public land lease programme against potentially damaging allegations of tender-rigging. READ MORE
According to Népszabadság ‘the air is getting thinner’ around the President of the National Bank – meaning that he is running out of breathing room – and he should consider resigning. Magyar Nemzet welcomes what it calls a break with old dogmas. READ MORE