A pro-government columnist ridicules the explanations of the Mayor of Budapest about the donations his organisation received in foreign currencies in the runup to last year’s general elections. READ MORE
As the Hungarian police launch an investigation into the funding of Péter Márki-Zay’s campaign in the April election, a pro-government pundit accuses the opposition of serving foreign interests. A left-wing columnist retorts that pro-government NGOs use public funding all the time to promote the government’s messages. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist claims that by receiving several hundred million Forints in campaign donations from a US foundation, the opposition frontrunner in the April election became a puppet of his foreign supporters. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist finds opposition criticism of the amendments proposed to the electoral law groundless and even absurd, arguing that the proposal targeting tiny pseudo-parties. A liberal commentator agrees that the proposed changes are not all unfavourable for the opposition, but nonetheless deems it problematic that the government tables such important policy reforms under the coronavirus emergency. READ MORE
As Jobbik is brought to the brink of insolvency by fines meted out for illegal campaign financing, two pro-government outlets accuse Jobbik’s leadership of selling out it principles – and incompetence, to boot. READ MORE
A liberal commentator suspects a trap, as Minister of National Economy Mihály Varga offers a possibility for the deferred payment of fees levied on opposition parties found guilty of illicit campaign financing. A pro-government columnist dismisses similar criticism by opposition parties. READ MORE
As the government tries to push its ban on political posters outside electoral campaigns through Parliament, a left-wing commentator claims that if successful, this would deprive opposition parties of one of their few remaining tools to reach a wider public. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator accuses opposition parties of corruption after opposition MPs rejected the government’s amendments to the political campaign law. Magyar Nemzet’s columnist, on the other hand, thinks that the government wants to silence the opposition. READ MORE
One week before the municipal elections, commentators see critical signs on both sides of the dividing line between mainstream parties. But they disagree on the nature of the political model being shaped by a majority which is increasingly left without a powerful opposition. READ MORE
Commentators are less than convinced about the explanations offered by the MSZP about the undeclared assets of a leading Socialist. Left-wing pundits, however, are calling for similar investigations of right-wing politicians’ wealth as well as more transparent campaign regulations. READ MORE