PM Viktor Orbán’s Christmas interview in the main pro-government daily, Magyar Nemzet sparks rather different reactions from each side of the political spectrum. Left wing Népszabadság believes that cabinet policy will lead the country to an “unforeseeable future”, while right wing Magyar Hírlap questions the value of hard-headedness in tough times. READ MORE
Right-wing commentators attribute the downgrade of Hungary’s sovereign debt by Standard and Poor’s to the deepening crisis of the Eurozone. According to left-wing pundits it just reflects the failure of the Orbán government’s unorthodox economic strategy. A moderate conservative observer cautions against an overly independent policy line. READ MORE
A popular political analyst suspects that Mr Barroso’s “ultimatum” to Viktor Orbán may be part of a plan to topple the Hungarian Prime Minister. READ MORE
Népszabadság believes Mr Barroso has “sent the silk cord” to PM Viktor Orbán, while Magyar Nemzet compares the current pressure from Washington and Brussels to post-war Soviet interference. READ MORE
The government’s tough and uncompromising determination has successfully convinced the banks that they have to do more to help indebted Hungarians, struggling to service their loans in foreign currencies, a pro-government commentator believes. READ MORE
As Western governments hesitate about how to deal with Viktor Orbán’s government, a Hungarian EU-expert believes that there is still no real alternative to him, as the opposition parties have so far failed to produce a serious contender for his post. READ MORE
A left-wing pundit criticises the Prime Minister for not admitting the failure of his economic strategy. Right-wing journalists welcome cautious deliberation and blame the opposition parties for their “irresponsible and partisan” attacks. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators condemn Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for refusing to join the new fiscal deal of the European Union. A right-wing columnist thanks Prime Minister David Cameron of Great Britain for rejecting the package and thus winning time and space for others to ponder what to do. READ MORE
Calls for the Minister of the Economy to resign are becoming more frequent, and are discussed by commentators from both sides of the political spectrum. A left wing columnist accuses PM Viktor Orbán of whipping up hatred, and calls upon moderate Fidesz politicians to intervene. His right wing counterpart favours a government compromise between employers and employees, rather than between the government and its opponents. READ MORE
Left wing papers call for PM Viktor Orbán and National Economy Minister György Matolcsy to resign after Moody’s downgraded Hungary to junk status. There are striking differences of interpretation, meanwhile, between the two pro-government dailies. READ MORE