A young alternative left-wing activist accuses the main left-wing parties of betraying Social Democratic principles. He recommends that they adopt the values of the Western anti-capitalist left, rather than sticking to what he calls their current ‘neoliberal’ principles. READ MORE
Left-wing and liberal commentators ponder the chances of Together 2014 after its failure to unite the opposition parties. Will it eventually split? And does Gordon Bajnai still stand any chance of becoming Orbán’s challenger at the next election? READ MORE
Columnists commenting on Sunday’s anti-Nazi demonstration wonder if the presence of both left and right-wing politicians is a harbinger of a new consensus to reject anti-Semitism. Both pro-government and left-wing pundits are skeptical about the possibility and the desirability of finding such common ground. READ MORE
Szombat (Sabbat) magazine welcomes the presence of Fidesz floor leader Antal Rogán at the demonstration organised in the wake of another anti-Semitic Speech by a far-right MP. (See BudaPost, November 28, 29, and December 1.) The Jewish magazine deplores the fact that some left-liberal authors oppose Mr Rogán’s presence. READ MORE
A columnist writing in Hungary’s main left-leaning daily believes that Ferenc Gyurcsány will soon have to make a hard decision and step back, since his presence may weaken the chances of a wide left-wing coalition which will attempt to replace the Orbán government at the 2014 election. READ MORE
A libertarian columnist thinks the opposition is not ready to introduce measures that would save the country. Therefore Bajnai will be their hostage. A centrist analyst says Bajnai has no other choice than to take the opportunity of an opposition rally to present himself. A former Free Democrat party chairman thinks the opposition has little time left to agree on a joint strategy and leading faces. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist argues that with former Prime Minister Bajnai on the stage, anti-government demonstrators may draw the crowds, but pure hatred does not equal a political alternative. A left-of-centre journalist celebrates an occasion on which anti-Fidesz forces start to coalesce around a single candidate. READ MORE
A liberal commentator worries that a two-party system is solidifying, with the MSZP as the counterpart of Fidesz, and both wanting basically the same thing: popular measures, at whatever cost. READ MORE
Commenting on the re-election of the LMP floor leader, and the party’s decision not to join anti-Jobbik demonstrations, left-wing pundits wonder if the green party will and can maintain its centrist image. READ MORE
A conservative pundit predicts that in the next 18 months left until the 2014 election, both the Socialists and far-right Jobbik will launch a fierce and aggressive campaign against the governing centre-right party in order to mobilize undecided voters. A left-wing intellectual believes that anti-government civil rallies have been a disappointment. READ MORE