Fidesz loses two thirds majority
Tuesday, February 24th, 2015Commentators agree in interpreting the outcome of the Veszprém by-election as a warning for the government and an encouragement to the opposition. READ MORE
Archive for the ‘Népszabadság’ Category
Orbán’s foreign policy doctrine in focus
Monday, February 23rd, 2015Commenting on the government’s foreign affairs strategy, most left-wing and liberal commentators accuse PM Orbán of selling out to Moscow. Right-wing pundits, on the other hand, defend what they see as the government’s pragmatic and balanced foreign affairs vision. Some moderate analysts castigate mindless exaggerations and ideologically motivated approaches on both sides. READ MORE
First reactions to Putin’s visit
Thursday, February 19th, 2015Left-wing and liberal columnists accuse PM Orbán of assisting Russian President Putin in his geopolitical tricks. A pro-government pundit contends that Hungary, like Europe, needs to maintain good relations with Russia for pragmatic reasons. READ MORE
Welcoming Putin
Wednesday, February 18th, 2015In welcoming Vladimir Putin’s visit to Hungary on Tuesday a pro-government columnist praises the Russian President for what he considers the restoration of Russia’s greatness. The leading left-wing daily contends that in the current geopolitical situation, Hungary should not try to strengthen ties with Russia. READ MORE
Hungary GDP grows by 3.5 per cent in 2014
Monday, February 16th, 2015After the publication of 2014 growth data which exceeds even the most optimistic estimates, the leading left-wing daily suggests that the government should spend more on welfare. A conservative columnist believes that fast economic growth can be sustained. READ MORE
Left-wing Veszprém by-election candidate in crossfire
Friday, February 13th, 2015Commentators both on Left and Right find it highly controversial or even absurd that in the Veszprém by-election the Left supports a libertarian candidate who earlier suggested that voting rights should be conditional on tax payment and that primary education as well as health care should be privatized. READ MORE
Will Simicska wage his media war on his own?
Monday, February 9th, 2015Commentators wonder how far the feud between Prime Minister Orbán and his former friend and treasurer will go, and what impact it will have on the main right-wing media outlets which are ultimately owned by the latter. READ MORE
Simicska bitterly opposed to 5 per cent advertising tax
Saturday, February 7th, 2015The dailies build long stories around one single sentence uttered by the owner of Magyar Nemzet and HírTV, according to which any increase in the ads tax to be paid by most media outlets will lead to “a total media war.” (According to estimates, this would mean an increase from the current 0.5% or 1% ad tax to around 5%) READ MORE
Government and RTL TV make peace?
Friday, January 30th, 2015Left-wing dailies report that the Government has made a deal with the German owners of Hungary’s increasingly critical No. 1 commercial TV station and thus removed a thorn from German-Hungarian relations a few days before Chancellor Merkel’s visit to Budapest. READ MORE
Auschwitz anniversary
Thursday, January 29th, 2015A left-wing commentator thinks Prime Minister Orbán should have attended the commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. A right-wing analyst quotes his words, admitting Hungary’s guilt for the Holocaust. READ MORE