Commenting on the breakdown of the negotiations among left-wing parties, commentators suggest that the absence of a broad left-wing coalition plays into the hands of Fidesz. READ MORE
A liberal commentator argues that the Socialists, after coming to an agreement with Gordon Bajnai, are much less eager to grant Gyurcsány the positions he has asked for, while a conservative columnist points out that even if opposition forces come to an agreement regarding their candidate for PM, they still have no political programme for the voters. An independent centrist analyst says that despite naive hopes to the contrary, new faces are unlikely to emerge on the Hungarian political scene in the near future and the political elite is here to stay. READ MORE
A pro-Gyurcsány commentator accuses opposition forces of excluding his party from the alliance, while a pro-government daily claims Gordon Bajnai’s plan is to embrace Gyurcsány once he becomes prime minister. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators hope the agreement will put an end to destructive rivalry within the Left; liberal pundits are sceptical; professional analysts think Bajnai must now prove his ability to attract undecided voters if he wants the alliance to have a chance, while pro-government columnists are divided on whether or not the government can now lean back and consider next year’s election a mere formality. READ MORE
In their first reactions to the agreement suddenly clinched by opposition leaders after a painful clash last week (see BudaPost, August 26 and 27), left-wing commentators are cautiously optimistic about the chances of the new alliance. READ MORE
After Saturday’s twin commentary on the subject, Népszabadság devotes an editorial, four opinion pieces and two online commentaries to the failure of the two main left-wing leaders to agree on how to choose a joint candidate for Prime Minister for next year’s elections. READ MORE
Commentators and analysts ponder whether a left-wing election alliance is still possible after negotiations between the MSZP and Together 2014 stalled and a bitter dispute erupted between the party leaders. READ MORE
A centrist commentator notes that PM Orbán is surprisingly unaware of how awful the lavish support his government has provided to Felcsút – his hometown – looks to most citizens, while a left-wing analyst says Bajnai’s problem is his lack of political awareness. READ MORE
Commentators agree that justice has been done, but the investigation was too slow and the secret services could have prevented some of the racist and murderous attacks. There is no consensus, however, about the reasons behind the authorities’ poor performance. READ MORE
A centrist political scientist believes that whoever wins next year’s elections, the outcome will be catastrophic, and a catastrophe is perhaps what Hungary needs to find the right path. A moderate conservative columnist suggests it will be extremely difficult to forge a united left-wing opposition before the elections. READ MORE