In their first post-new-year’s-day analyses of the electoral landscape, most columnists consider Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party the likely winner of the next elections, although a left-wing commentator suspects that the opposition constituency is underrepresented by the opinion polls. READ MORE
A new centrist internet opinion site thinks Ferenc Gyurcsány is unlikely to be welcomed in the opposition alliance although he does offer a clear liberal vision. The leading left-wing daily agrees: Gyurcsány does not seem to understand that the Socialists never back down under external pressure. READ MORE
The leading left-wing daily writes that although the opposition candidate won the Fót municipal by-election, the turnout indicates a complete loss of voter confidence rather than a victory for the opposition. READ MORE
A pro-government daily describes Socialist Party chairman Attila Mesterházy as a leader who is unable to get rid of “the shades of the past”, including two of his predecessors, as well as Mr Gyurcsány and Mr Bajnai. READ MORE
Right-wing commentators concentrate their fire on Bajnai and Gyurcsány, and tend to consider Mesterházy as the victim of the aforementioned. Left wing analysts have begun to voice serious doubts about whether the Socialists and their allies are in a position to even successfully wage a campaign. READ MORE
A leading pro-government commentator condemns liberal opinion leaders for claiming a political role after having ruined both their own party, and the MSZP. READ MORE
Commentators on both the left and the right wonder if the MSZP intends to re-open negotiations with the Democratic Coalition after a Socialist luminary said that former PM Gyurcsány’s party cannot be left out of an anti-Orbán electoral coalition. READ MORE
A centrist analyst would not rule out the defeat of Fidesz at the next elections, but suggests that the opposition parties have their eyes on 2018 instead, and fight each other in the meantime for control over the Socialist constituency. READ MORE
Left-wing analysts fear fatal consequences for the left after the mutual recriminations during and after the joint opposition rally on October 23rd . Right-wing commentators say the reason is that the Left has nothing to say about the main problems of our age. READ MORE
Commentators agree that Mr. Gyurcsány’s harsh criticism of his potential left-wing allies weakens the left and its chances of defeating Fidesz at the 2014 election. READ MORE