Commentators discuss the government’s plan to introduce mandatory voter registration, and caution that pre-registration may not be a useful tool to keep angry, politically under-informed and possibly radical voters away from the ballot box. READ MORE
A leading left-wing commentator praises President János Áder’s inauguration address and scolds leading MSZP (Socialist Party) officials who collectively refused to attend the ceremony. READ MORE
Commentators on the left, the centre and the right are all somewhat puzzled by János Áder’s inaugural speech. One accuses him of ‘deception’, while others find his words overly polite to the opposition. READ MORE
A leading LMP politician writes in his blog that Áder, despite his party political background in Fidesz, could represent a new chance for Hungary’s political culture. A left-wing columnist contends however that independence from the party line is not an option for the new President. A right-wing editor deems it necessary for Hungary to have a President who will not hinder the governments’ efforts. READ MORE
Most, but not all left-wing commentators believe that the future President of the Republic will play the tune of the government and will therefore not be the kind of balancing factor the head of the state is expected to be. An MEP colleague of Mr Áder says divisions are too deep for anyone to possibly satisfy the expectations of all political sides. READ MORE
By choosing János Áder as his candidate for the presidency, PM Viktor Orbán has shown that he still cares for his one-time co-founders of Fidesz, even if they have sometimes disagreed with him in the past. By implication, he has also accepted the idea that the President will not necessarily support the government on all issues. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist thinks that János Áder as president will be a puppet of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. A right-wing commentator, on the other hand, is convinced that Áder is an ideal candidate, since he has the experience and skills to defend himself and Hungary’s democratic image. READ MORE
While the whole Hungarian political and media scene tries to guess who the next President will be, following Pál Schmitt’s resignation last week, a leading centrist analyst believes that despite some concerns, it would not necessarily be a problem if the choice falls on a party politician. READ MORE