Antony Blinken named as next US Secretary of State

Commentators across the political spectrum try to guess how US-Hungarian diplomatic relations will develop under the new US administration.

European Parliament to reconvene

As the European Parliament opens its plenary session, a pro-government pundit claims that left-liberal MEPs serving the interests of George Soros will launch another attack on Hungary. Her left-wing counterpart hopes that the EU will get rid of Hungary and Poland.

Weeklies on the coronavirus epidemic

The weeklies went to print before the Prime Minister’s announcement on Friday evening of a heightened state of emergency and the closure of all schools. All commentators write gravely about the virus, although not without political overtones.

Diametrically opposed interpretations of Fidesz’ EPP suspension

A liberal gonzo journalist thinks that Fidesz was humiliated by the EPP. A pro-government pundit finds the suggestion that Fidesz lost the dispute with the EPP absurd.

Weber and Orbán thought to have saved Fidesz’s EPP membership

Although after three hours of talks with PM Victor Orbán in Budapest, EPP top candidate Manfred Weber said they could not agree on all issues, a liberal reporter believes,  that he offered a face-saving solution to the last contentious issue.

EPP to debate expulsion of Fidesz 

Commentators from right across the political spectrum wonder whether the European People’s Party will finally expel Fidesz. Most deem it a very unlikely possibility.

Soros meets Chancellor Kurz in Vienna

Pro-government authors find it strange for Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to personally meet Hungarian-American financier George Soros and talk to him about Europe’s future, over and above the gradual transfer of most of the courses of Central European University from Budapest to Vienna.

New and old arguments about the Central European University

A pro-government commentator accuses the CEU of not meeting the Hungarian regulations that would allow it to issue US accredited degrees in Budapest. Left-wing and liberal columnists, on the other hand, think that the government is persecuting the university founded by George Soros for political reasons.

Further comments on the departure of the Central European University

Left-wing commentators see a litmus test in the government’s handing of the CEU affair; one explains why the Prime Minister feels he cannot compromise on that matter, while pro-government outlets ridicule the protests over the planned transfer of most CEU courses to Vienna.

Dispute over US Ambassador’s comments

A Hungarian-American liberal commentator lambasts the new US Ambassador to Budapest for ignoring what he sees as the decline of democratic norms in Hungary. His pro-government counterpart welcomes Mr Cornstein’s words.