An economist writing on Hungary’s leading independent business site calls for immediate intervention by the government and national bank to stimulate the economy and mitigate the economic shocks resulting from the coronavirus emergency. READ MORE
A pro-government and a liberal pundit both call for national unity and solidarity – and accuse the other political camp of undermining trust. READ MORE
The weeklies went to print before the Prime Minister’s announcement on Friday evening of a heightened state of emergency and the closure of all schools. All commentators write gravely about the virus, although not without political overtones. READ MORE
As the number of those infected rises steadily, with 19 confirmed cases in Hungary, commentators on both sides of the political frontline accuse the other of exploiting the pandemic for their own purposes. READ MORE
As the government gives special powers to the authorities to combat the coronavirus pandemic, closing down universities and introducing strict border controls, pro and anti-government think-tanks clash on Facebook over the legitimacy of the ‘special legal order’ declared on Wednesday. READ MORE
A liberal economist thinks closing schools would be a useful step to slow down the spread of an epidemic and thus help the health service cope with the disease. READ MORE
As the number of confirmed coronavirus patients in Hungary grows, pundits across the political spectrum ponder the broader social and political implications of the epidemic. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist finds the Greek reaction to thousands of asylum-seekers trying to cross its borders brutal but understandable. A left-wing pundit suspects that the Hungarian government cannot protect the country either from illegal migration or from the coronavirus. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator finds the government’s coronavirus emergency plans wanting. A pro-government columnist welcomes the government’s decision to temporarily suspend entry to two Transit Zones on the Hungary-Serbia border, as one of a series of measures to reduce the risk of coronavirus entering the country. READ MORE
The left-wing national daily criticises the government for leaving rural doctors without protective masks and disinfectants to prevent the virus from spreading. The main pro-government daily condemns social media platforms for spreading panic. READ MORE