Commenting on the government’s foreign affairs strategy, most left-wing and liberal commentators accuse PM Orbán of selling out to Moscow. Right-wing pundits, on the other hand, defend what they see as the government’s pragmatic and balanced foreign affairs vision. Some moderate analysts castigate mindless exaggerations and ideologically motivated approaches on both sides. READ MORE
Left-wing and liberal columnists accuse PM Orbán of assisting Russian President Putin in his geopolitical tricks. A pro-government pundit contends that Hungary, like Europe, needs to maintain good relations with Russia for pragmatic reasons. READ MORE
As the government completes the Paks nuclear deal agreement, the leading left-wing daily demands more transparency. A conservative analyst claims that only nuclear power plants can provide the cheap energy Hungary needs. READ MORE
Commentators on both the left and the right agree that Moscow’s decision to scrap the South Stream pipeline project will weaken Europe and Hungary in terms of safe energy supply. READ MORE
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s speech in Berlin and his meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, a left-wing columnist believes that Mr Orbán’s vision is too conservative even for German Christian Democrats. Right-wing commentators, on the other hand, contend that the German government regards Hungary as an important and reliable economic and geopolitical ally. READ MORE
The leading left-wing daily speculates that the Paks nuclear plant construction deal with Russia serves only the interests of Moscow and entrepreneurs allied to Fidesz. Pro-government pundits, on the other hand, consider the agreement beneficial for the country, and accuse left-wing politicians of having used the Paks nuclear plant in the past to finance their own party and private business. READ MORE
Pro-government commentators welcome the nuclear deal between Hungary and Russia, and argue that it will serve the Hungarian national interest. Left-wing columnists, on the other hand, criticize the lack of transparency and the increased dependence on the Russian energy infrastructure which the agreement will cause. READ MORE
As the Hungarian state run energy company reaches agreement with Gazprom on plans for the South Stream pipeline, a leading left-wing daily contends that, in the dispute over the pipeline, PM Orbán has to find a delicate balance between Russia and the EU. READ MORE
As the Hungarian government joins the dispute between Croatia and the MOL oil company, left-wing and centrist commentators believe that the Orbán government could defend the national interest abroad only by completely contradicting its own rhetoric against foreign investors present in the Hungarian energy sector. READ MORE