Commentators don’t refrain from political remarks while tens of thousands of volunteers, leading politicians among them, help professionals build temporary defences against the highest water levels the Danube has seen. READ MORE
Commentators and political analysts ponder the prospects of the Hungarian economy and the chances of government projects as the country is likely to soon exit the EU excessive deficit procedure. READ MORE
Right-wing commentators celebrate Hungary’s exit from the EU excessive deficit procedure, which they interpret as an acknowledgment of the government’s performance. Left-wing pundits, on the other hand, believe that the EU pressurized Orbán into submission, and fear that the Hungarian economy will not grow any time soon. READ MORE
A right-wing economist contends that Europe should follow the example of the BRIC countries and help the middle classes kick start economic growth. His left-wing counterpart defends the welfare state and warns against mindless austerity. READ MORE
The leading left liberal daily contends that the government wants to silence its critics by imposing an advertisement tax on media outlets. A right-wing blogger wonders why the government is punishing Hungarian media companies rather then helping them. READ MORE
A left wing daily claims that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is bound to win the sympathy of the voters whether Brussels waives the excessive deficit procedure or not. A pro-government daily suggests that the EU has run out of excuses to keep a punitive measure in place, which in any case had more to do with anger with a country that defies orthodoxy yet remains successful. A business daily focuses on the new taxes to be introduced to meet the deficit target, and maintains that the planned tax on commercials and advertising revenue guarantees further control over the commercial media. READ MORE
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
Commentators unanimously find the protracted tug-of-war between the government and the European Union on constitutional and financial issues harmful, but opinions diverge widely on the causes and the possible solutions. READ MORE
The number one left-wing daily believes the Prime Minister is overstating the importance of the positive first quarter GDP data. For the first time in three years, slight growth has been reported on a quarter on quarter basis. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist warns that Hungary cannot be sure of release from the EU’s excessive deficit procedure, despite all its fiscal zeal. READ MORE