A pro-government pundit rejects Armenian accusations in connection with the “axe murderer affair,” and suggests that they are due to Armenia’s own problems rather than Hungary’s behaviour. READ MORE
The dominant themes in Hungarian politics last week, the extradition of the Azeri murderer and the Prime Minister’s stance on the IMF talks are interpreted along political lines: commentators on the left call Orbán names including “traitor” and “liar”, while the premier’s supporters argue that critics on the left have no national feelings at all. READ MORE
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s announcement of a cooperation plan with neighbouring countries is dismissed by left and liberal commentators as arrogant and unrealistic, while Magyar Nemzet defends it as an important initiative. READ MORE
Commentators argue that the left-of-centre opposition in Hungary is fragmented, and despite some hopes to the contrary, LMP and MSZP remain unlikely allies. Civic organizations offer no alternatives. They have also failed to perform well in condemning the diplomatic blunder caused by the transfer of a convicted Azeri murderer to his home country. (See BudaPost, September 1 through 5) READ MORE
Népszabadság, the leading opposition daily publishes the third front page editorial in a row accusing the government of immoral behaviour and calling for heads to roll, while the extreme right Jobbik leader lectures the government on foreign policy. Independent analysts warn that Hungary has become laughing stock without any tangible results in the balance. READ MORE
Commentators argue over the moral and political implications of what critics consider a diplomatic blunder. Right-wing pundits accuse Western critics of hypocrisy, while Népszabadság finds the official protest from the government hardly credible. READ MORE
Most commentators deplore the decision of the Hungarian government to transfer Ramil Sahib Safarov to Azerbaijan to serve his life sentence for the killing of an Armenian man in Budapest in 2004. Analysts believe Hungary should have suspected that despite Azeri assurances to the contrary, the man would be released upon his arrival in Baku. READ MORE