A business analyst who has been sceptical until now of the government’s maths on the financial viability of the new nuclear blocks to be built at Paks, now believes that the project might become profitable as a result of the unexpected but steady rise in international electricity prices. Construction is due to begin this year. READ MORE
A left-wing columnist lambasts the government after it was announced that the first Paks loan drawdown has been repaid. A liberal pundit, on the other hand, claims that the government’s decision is reasonable, and that the Russian loan may at some point become a favorable option for Hungary again. READ MORE
Pro-government commentators argue that Hungary has won a valuable ally in the new Austrian government in its feud with Brussels, while an alt-left blogger thinks the Prime Minister will leave Hungarian guest-workers in the lurch as Austria plans to cut their family allowances. READ MORE
A leading left-liberal commentator accuses left-wing parties of sharing responsibility for ‘setting Fidesz rule in concrete’. READ MORE
Commenting on the Russian President’s short visit to Hungary, a left-wing columnist fears that the government wants to make Hungary part of the illiberal East. A conservative and a centrist pundit dismiss such fears, but also caution against too strong ties with Russia. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist hopes that the Paks nuclear plant project will not be submitted to a referendum. A left-wing commentator finds it sad that the Left, which initially was in favour of the new plant, now uses it for ‘fear mongering’. READ MORE
A pro-government author dismisses objections by environmentalists to Hungary’s nuclear power station project and suggests that the two new reactors will be financially viable and will not leave Hungary dependent on Russia. READ MORE
Commenting on PM Orbán’s meeting with Russian President Putin, left-wing analysts suspect that Putin wants to use Hungarian support to lift EU sanctions. Pro-government columnists, on the other hand, think that PM Orbán pursued pragmatic Hungarian interests in Moscow. READ MORE
Twelve days before Prime Minister Victor Orbán’s visit to Moscow, a left-wing commentator suspects that both governments may have reasons to slow down the preparations for the planned extension of Hungary’s nuclear power station. READ MORE
While the government prepares its answers to the objections raised by the European Commission, analysts see another and even heavier infringement procedure brewing in Brussels in connection with the extension of Hungary’s nuclear power station. READ MORE