A centrist commentator notes that PM Orbán is surprisingly unaware of how awful the lavish support his government has provided to Felcsút – his hometown – looks to most citizens, while a left-wing analyst says Bajnai’s problem is his lack of political awareness. READ MORE
Commenting on the first round of talks between MSZP leader Attila Mesterházy and his rival and ally, Gordon Bajnai, analysts agree that their alliance is likely to prove an uphill battle until next year’s elections.
A centrist analyst contends that Gordon Bajnai has failed to line the MSZP up behind him, and now the MSZP has the upper hand. A left-wing columnist believes that it is close to impossible to bring the two opposition parties under the same roof. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator suggests that, weak as the left-wing opposition may seem, it would be too early to take its defeat at next year’s elections for granted. READ MORE
An independent conservative commentator condemns the organiser of an informal left-liberal meeting for expelling two critical journalists and suggests that the left-liberal élite represented there is doomed to failure. Népszabadság believes, however that such people are the only team who stand a chance of defeating the governing right wing at the next elections. READ MORE
On the eve of a new round of left wing opposition talks, a left-wing analyst argues that the two major competing leaders should find a quick compromise. A libertarian commentator describes Mesterházy and Bajnai as locked in a power-struggle, predicting that Bajnai”s best offer, to have joint candidates in individual constituencies but run on separate national tickets, will only show which of the two is the worse candidate. READ MORE
The leading right-wing daily paints a desolate picture of the state of the left wing opposition – less than one year before the next elections. READ MORE
A leading left wing commentator does not dismiss the story that former Prime Minister Gyurcsány’s 2006 “lie speech” was leaked by three leading MSZP politicians, but thinks that regardless of who it was, the speech itself has left an unhealing wound on Hungary’s left wing. A right-wing columnist suggests the story is untrue and the tip-off must have come from Mr Gyurcsány. READ MORE
An opposition paper reacts with cautious optimism to the MSZP-Together 2014 negotiations, while a pro-government daily finds efforts to patch together an alliance unconvincing. READ MORE
Galamus fears Gordon Bajnai is losing his chance to become PM Orbán’s challenger at next year’s elections. READ MORE