A liberal analyst says the greatest problem Fidesz faces in the upcoming campaign is how to handle hundreds of thousands of voters with forex mortgages who can no longer be won over with expressions of sympathy and solidarity. A left-leaning commentator disagrees and foresees further verbal manoeuvring to appease angry mortgage holders. READ MORE
A popular political scientist believes it is too early to forecast the outcome of next year’ elections, although the moderate right wing is far ahead in the polls. READ MORE
The traditional open-air March 15 rallies on Hungary’s national holiday were cancelled due to the exceptional meteorological conditions, but nothing prevented the dailies from fighting their usual opinion duels on the anniversary. READ MORE
Right-wing columnists condemn the Socialist Party for using the images of famous Hungarians for propaganda purposes, while left-wing commentators accuse the government of trying to control the way past Hungarian luminaries can be used. READ MORE
Although the next election is scheduled for the spring of 2014, most observers believe the campaign is already underway. PM Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP alliance leads the polls, but analysts do not rule out an opposition victory. READ MORE
A left-wing analyst thinks the electoral system introduced by the government will probably make it impossible for the opposition to win. A pro-government columnist, however, fears that the left wing may win over the majority, in a long-running “hate campaign.” READ MORE
While right-leaning columnists ridicule the Socialists for their new-found enthusiasm for Hungarian minorities abroad, journalists on the left suggest that Fidesz may have lost hope of gaining all minority Hungarian votes. A Hungarian analyst in Romania warns Hungary’s political élite against patronising attitudes. READ MORE
A right-wing pundit thinks Hungary must prepare for a bitter electoral campaign in 2014, as Ron Werber, “the professional troublemaker” has been contracted again by the Socialist Party. READ MORE