Liberal commentators accuse Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of co-opting the rhetoric of the radical nationalist Jobbik party, by calling for the death penalty to be ‘kept on the agenda’. A pro-party government lawyer believes that the government cannot simply ignore the ‘majority view’ which he believes would support its reintroduction. READ MORE
The leading left-wing daily accuses the government of trying to restore its popularity by fomenting xenophobic hatred. A pro-government columnist calls for a two track approach: to help poor conflict torn countries while simultaneously closing Europe’s borders to halt immigration. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators lambast PM Orbán’s comments about ‘ancient ties’ between Kazakhs and Hungarians as opposed to Hungary’s place in the European Union “where we are politically equal but genealogically different”. READ MORE
Following comments by PM Orbán on a strong of brokerage bankruptcies, a left-wing columnist suggests that the government should step down. A conservative analyst contends that the scandal may increase anti-establishment sentiments. READ MORE
As the owner of the insolvent brokerage firm is taken into police custody, the leading left-wing daily contends that the authorities, by hesitating to take action in time, assisted Quaestor’s CEO in syphoning money off from the company. A pro-government commentator believes that the government was right to save public assets deposited in Quaestor. READ MORE
The leading left-wing daily accuses the government of using insider information to save public assets from brokerage houses which have filed for bankruptcy. A conservative economist welcomes the government’s proposal to use the private assets of the owners of brokerages to compensate investors in case of insolvency. READ MORE
As Hungary celebrates the anniversary of the 1848 revolution, commentators both on Right and Left call for national unity and accuse each other of further polarizing the nation. READ MORE
Left-wing magazines point out how damaging the charge levelled against the Prime Minister by his former close ally is. Liberal pundits think the uncertainty about former real or imagined police informants should have been settled long time ago by publishing all Communist secret service files, while right-wing commentators call Mr Simicska’s allegations sheer slander. READ MORE
Commentators are predominantly sceptical about the allegation that PM Orbán was recruited by the communist secret services during his military service in 1982. READ MORE