Magyar Nemzet on the PM’s speech on foreign policy
Friday, July 19th, 2013A right-wing columnist cautiously suggests that Hungary cannot afford to be at odds with the European Union and should avoid becoming marginalised. READ MORE
Reflections on the EU-Hungary tug of war
Friday, July 12th, 2013A conservative commentator ponders the debate on the Tavares report in the European Parliament and believes that the Hungarian government should show more restraint in its use of the two thirds majority. READ MORE
Parliament rejects Tavares report
Saturday, July 6th, 2013Liberal and left leaning commentators find PM Orbán’s indignation over the EP resolution unfounded and hypocritical, while a Christian Democrat portal suggests the European Right dislikes Mr Orbán because he reminds them of their own cowardice. A pro-government daily finds it ridiculous that a former minister of a Socialist government now poses as a Conservative MEP. READ MORE
Further echoes of the Strasbourg resolution
Friday, July 5th, 2013A pro-government columnist maintains that the Tavares-report was accepted by a narrow margin, and suggests PM Orbán’s speech before the vote may have convinced many MEPs to abstain, rather than vote in favour. A former Hungarian centre-right MP writes in an opposition daily that Orbán is unfit to lead because he tolerates no compromise. READ MORE
EP adopts critical resolution on Hungary
Thursday, July 4th, 2013The main left-wing daily claims the EU cannot do much about Mr Orbán’s domestic policies while the PM reaps applause at home as a champion of independence. Another leftist outlet ridicules Orbán’s notion that the West is in decline and Hungary has brought new solutions to the crisis of advanced societies. A pro-government columnist, on the other hand, points out that members of the EPP defended Orbán in Brussels and sees business interests behind the attacks on him and his policies. READ MORE
Croatia enters the EU
Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013An opposition daily welcomes Croatia’s EU membership as a stabilizing factor in the Balkans, while a liberal commentator warns that Croatia may prove unable to defend its producers from German and Austrian competitors. READ MORE
Council of Europe: close attention rather than monitoring
Thursday, June 27th, 2013A left-wing commentator finds it ironic that in the pan-European institution the Hungarian government should have been saved from humiliation by Moscow. According to his pro-government counterpart, the match ended in a draw, but the tug of war continues. READ MORE
Hungary exits EU excessive deficit procedure
Monday, June 24th, 2013Left-wing columnists fear further austerity measures. A pro-government pundit notes that although the excessive deficit procedure has been lifted, the government should not expect an end to criticism from the EU. A conservative commentator, on the other hand, hopes that Fidesz will call a truce with the EU. READ MORE
Reactions to the Tavares report
Saturday, June 22nd, 2013Left-wing pundits contend that the government is trying to downplay external criticism by labeling its adversaries as biased left-wing partisans. They also hint that as a result of the looming elections in the EU and Hungary, the debates between the country and the EU institutions will probably intensify. READ MORE
Reding accused of plotting against Hungary
Thursday, June 20th, 2013A left-wing commentator dismisses a report in the leading pro-government daily about an alleged EU-scheme to question the legitimacy of the 2014 election, as a classical conspiracy theory. A conservative pundit, on the other hand, suggests that whatever was actually discussed, meetings of top European politicians and the business elite behind closed doors weaken the democratic image of Europe. READ MORE