As Parliament approves the new permanent residence rules, a left-wing commentator accuses the government of trying to increase its base by offering even more voting rights to trans-border Hungarians. The leading pro-government daily accuses the opposition of using trans-border Hungarians as bogeymen again. 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
Three liberal intellectuals question the fairness and legitimacy of the April 8 election. Another liberal commentator suggests that by blaming their defeat purely on allegedly unfair circumstances, the Left could miss an opportunity to revise its strategy. READ MORE
A conservative columnist thinks that former PM Gyurcsány’s proposal to strip non-resident Hungarian citizens of voting rights will mobilize transborder voters – in support of Fidesz. READ MORE
A pro-government analyst wonders if the Left and Liberals in Hungary will label the French election as anti-democratic. A conservative commentator contends that the Hungarian opposition should learn from President Macron if it wants to challenge Fidesz. READ MORE
In a detailed analysis of the Hungarian electoral system, a leading pro-government expert rejects recent accusations that it is undemocratic. READ MORE
A liberal author compares the new movement demanding electoral reform to the Momentum movement supporting Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in Great Britain. READ MORE
As the governing party obstructs the opposition’s call for an extraordinary session on extending postal voting to temporary absentees, commentators debate whether the current rules are discriminatory. READ MORE
The count of votes sent by mail from around the world confirmed on Saturday that the Fidesz-KDNP alliance will retain its two thirds majority in Parliament. A left-wing analysis takes it for granted that the Prime Minister will not refrain from making full use of his overwhelming power in the new National Assembly, while a right-wing analyst suggests that the victors should show moderation. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist accuses the government indirectly of electoral fraud for devising a new electoral law tailor-made to favour Fidesz. The leading left-wing daily, however, also warns against blaming the defeat of the opposition on the new electoral system. A centrist analyst points out that although the new set of rules was somewhat more favourable to Fidesz than the previous ones, with the actual numbers of votes cast for its candidates, the incumbent government would have won under any democratic electoral system. READ MORE