A pro-government columnist writes that Cyprus is yet another example of how the EU-IMF pair wrecks vulnerable countries, while centrist commentators claim Cyprus is a special geopolitical case and is unlikely to serve as a precedent. READ MORE
The authorities were at least one day late in reacting to the exceptional snowstorm and a left-wing commentator thinks the reason was that PM Viktor Orbán was busy fending off growing discontent with Hungary’s constitutional amendments among European allies. READ MORE
Left-wing columnists, echoing European and US concerns, accuse the government of violating basic democratic principles by incorporating in the Basic Law provisions which have been ruled unconstitutional. A right-wing commentator, on the other hand, believes that such worries are groundless and motivated by the opposition parties’ partisan views. READ MORE
An independent political analyst suggests that the low popularity ratings of the EU are due primarily to the recession, but in Hungary, the government’s rhetoric is also a factor. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators accuse the Prime Minister of painting too rosy a picture of his government’s performance, while pro-government columnists contend that he was rather exact in his explanation of the reasons behind his choice of path. READ MORE
Commentators from across the political spectrum agree that the government has managed to increase the sum originally allocated to Hungary in the 2014-2020 EU budget. They also agree however that more effective EU integration would require far more money. READ MORE
Népszava’s commentator dismisses PM Orbán’s foreign policy as inconsistent and opportunistic, while Magyar Nemzet welcomes a new, pragmatic approach to Hungarian-Russian relations. READ MORE
The two leading dailies carry diametrically opposing assessments of the results of PM Viktor Orbán’s visit to Brussels. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist welcomes the new budget but warns that the deficit target may not be easy to meet. READ MORE
The leading pro-government daily welcomes the failure of the EU summit as a sign of democracy and good news for Hungary, while its left-wing counterpart accuses PM Orbán of selfishness. An influential economist says that although the EU’s growth forecasts are biased against Hungary, the government has to make efforts to convince Brussels anyway. An independent centrist outlet suspects that once the EU lifts the excessive deficit procedure the government will be free to start spreading money around immediately before the 2014 elections. READ MORE