In its first comment on the Prime Minister’s remark cautioning Germany “not to send the tanks in again”, the leading left-wing daily thinks Mr Orbán hurt Chancellor Merkel in her re-election-campaign, by providing the German Social-Democrats with arguments against her, for “cherishing such a snake in her bosom”. READ MORE
A left wing columnist calls on the Prime Minister to apologise for his latest remark on German criticism of constitutional changes in Hungary. A centrist commentator suspects that the real cause behind the divergence of views is Mr Orbán’s scepticism towards Ms Merkel’s vision of a federal European Union. A right-wing pundit blames western media outlets for spreading lies about Hungary. READ MORE
A pro-government journalist calls the Romanian response to Hungary’s innocent symbolic gesture aggressive and unreasonable. A left-wing daily on the other hand accuses the government of insensitivity to the delicate problems of beyond-border Hungarian minorities in Romania. 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
Hungary’s national dailies offer diametrically opposed interpretations of Tuesday’s meeting between PM Viktor Orbán and US ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis. Left wing newspapers believe the Hungarian government was severely criticised for what they term its undemocratic tendencies, while pro-government commentators suggest that no words of censure were uttered. READ MORE
Regardless of their political affiliations, commentators appreciate the diplomatic performance of Hungary during the six months of the EU presidency, but this professional success story does not silence the usual controversies over the government’s democratic legitimacy. READ MORE