Commenting on Saturday’s large pro-government march in Budapest, a left-wing commentator recognises that government supporters are good at organising “revolutions”. Right wing analysts express diverging views on what Hungary’s attitude should be towards international investors and the European Union. READ MORE
A right-wing political analyst suggests that the unprecedented Western pressure on the Hungarian government is due to diverging but equally legitimate models of democracy. He warns that attacks against Hungary might lead to disillusionment with the European Union. READ MORE
A leading right-wing commentator acknowledges that former PM Gordon Bajnai has published a remarkable analysis, but reminds him of his own role in plunging Hungary deep into debt. READ MORE
Népszabadság believes Hungary’s chief IMF negotiator will just have to sign the draft he will be shown in Washington, no matter what the conditions are. Magyar Nemzet contends however that the government should not just listen to what the IMF wants. READ MORE
Left and right wing commentators agree that the Hungarian government has no choice but to reach an agreement with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. While Népszabadság and Népszava urge the cabinet to return to European norms, both Magyar Nemzet and Magyar Hírlap believe that there is no need to crawl on all fours to the lenders. READ MORE
The Forint stopped sinking on Thursday after a soothing statement by the Hungarian IMF negotiator. Prior to that statement, commentators from both right and left warned that the government should be more cooperative with the EU and the IMF in order to restore the confidence of international investors. READ MORE
All commentators agree that 2012 will be even tougher than 2010. But they disagree on the reasons, and on the best policy to follow. READ MORE
Népszabadság thinks the government may put the badly needed IMF credit line at risk, rather than complying with Western demands. Magyar Nemzet, on the other hand, argues that the Hungarian economy would be in good shape had it not been for the IMF-loans taken out by the former Socialist government. READ MORE
A popular political analyst suspects that Mr Barroso’s “ultimatum” to Viktor Orbán may be part of a plan to topple the Hungarian Prime Minister. READ MORE
A veteran left-wing commentator believes Mr Orbán’s government cannot afford to ignore Washington’s concerns over its swift constitutional reforms, if it wants the IMF to open a new credit line for Hungary. READ MORE