Commentators on Left and Right ponder the broader implications of Hungary’s opposition to EU sanctions on Russian oil and Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist lambasts the EU for proposing sanctions against the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. A conservative critic, on the other hand, accuses the government of whitewashing Putin’s regime. READ MORE
Pro-government as well as left-wing and liberal commentators agree that the 6th round of EU sanctions against Russia represents a victory for Prime Minister Orbán. They disagree, however, on whether the agreement serves Hungary’s long-term interests. READ MORE
In a first swift reaction to news of an agreement on the partial ban of Russian oil by the EU, a conservative pundit praises the Hungarian government for defending Hungarian interests and securing cheap oil for the country. READ MORE
A centrist pundit quotes two European political experts to suggest that, despite the decline of centre-right parties, traditionalist right-wing conservatives have not yet become more powerful, and even the creation of a new right-wing alliance is proving more difficult than expected. READ MORE
After the swearing-in of the new Cabinet ministers last week, the weeklies try to make sense of the new composition of Prime Minister Orbán’s government. Two left-wing weeklies lament the sad state of the opposition. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist believes the new exceptional powers under which the new taxes will be levied are motivated by an insatiable appetite for power, while his pro-government counterpart sees them as an attempt to serve social justice. READ MORE
A liberal weekly believes the special powers will be used to take swift measures of the kind used by the government during the Covid pandemic emergency. READ MORE
Opposition-leaning weeklies accuse the government of conniving with Moscow, by rejecting the proposed ban on importing Russian crude oil without significant compensation from the European Union. Pro-government commentators, on the other hand, argue that Hungary’s position is dictated by plain common sense. READ MORE
A liberal commentator notes that the American Conservative Conference in Budapest has been ‘snubbed’ by high profile American personalities, while a pro-government columnist welcomes PM Orbán’s 12-point roadmap for conservatives to overcome liberals. READ MORE