A pro-government analyst believes that with its response to the refugee crisis the government has consolidated its ruling position for a long time to come, while the opposition doesn’t seem to have the stamina to become a real alternative in the foreseeable future. READ MORE
An agreement with Germany and Austria has allowed Hungary to transfer asylum seekers to the Austrian border. Weeklies and dailies ponder the implications of the crisis and the prospect of its resolution. READ MORE
One centrist and one pro-government analyst agree that Fidesz seems to have stabilized its electoral support by putting migration in the focus of its rhetoric. They also wonder if potential Jobbik-LMP cooperation could overcome the Left-Right division, and thereby challenge both Fidesz and the left-wing opposition by 2018, the next election year. READ MORE
As a former far-right leader is suspected of trafficking illegal migrants, the leading left-wing daily accuses the Right of fomenting xenophobia. A conservative columnist on the other hand thinks that Jobbik may have benefitted financially from illegal migration. READ MORE
A conservative columnist, commenting on a recent survey, warns that university students are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the mainstream Left and Right, and are turning to more radical parties. READ MORE
Commentators on both Left and Right make fun of promises of increases in welfare payments by left-wing and far-right parties. READ MORE
Ever since party leader Gábor Vona set out to re-brand Jobbik as a relatively moderate party refraining from racism – a process which began at the end of 2013 and has recently accelerated – commentators have pondered whether or not the change is genuine or just a face lift. And most importantly, whether Jobbik has a real chance of winning the next parliamentary elections in three years’ time. READ MORE
As Jobbik leader Gábor Vona promises to prune out racist elements from his party, columnists wonder if Jobbik can be transformed into a moderate party without losing the support of its radical core. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator dismisses the interpretation that Jobbik’s success in Tapolca was an indication of the radicalisation of Hungarian voters. In unison with other left-wing and conservative columnists, he also calls on the Left to abandon liberal ideology for a social democratic vision in order to challenge Jobbik.
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In the Tapolca by-election on Sunday, Jobbik candidate Lajos Rig won the nationalist party’s first ever seat in an individual constituency. Commentators across the political spectrum now consider Jobbik a potential challenger to Fidesz. READ MORE