Commentators wonder whether the mass meeting held under the slogan “We don’t like the system” will give birth to a new left wing opposition, or if it was a one-off event. READ MORE
People have no choice but to demonstrate against the authoritarian practices of the present government, Népszabadság believes, while Magyar Nemzet discovered politicians who supported the Gyurcsány government in the crowd at last weekend’s demonstration organised on Facebook. READ MORE
Left and right both accuse each other of appropriating and falsifying the message of the 1956 revolution. Right-wing pundits call for historical justice, while left-wing commentators think the government is abusing the anniversary to vilify the opposition. READ MORE
A right-wing pundit believes the anti-Wall Street movement is here to stay, but is not particularly popular in Hungary, because the Hungarian government is already working to satisfy its demands. READ MORE
The broad Hungarian opposition scene is waiting for a newcomer with the necessary ‘X-factor’ to defeat the governing Fidesz party at the next general elections – writes political analyst Ferenc Kumin. He challenges in his blog a colleague who has spotted possible contenders among the leaders of last weekend’s anti-government demonstrations. (X-factor is a singers’ contest broadcast by a commercial TV-channel.) READ MORE
Left-wing commentators believe that last weekend’s demonstrations were just the beginning of a protest season against government policies, while others suggest that the street actions did not even help the opposition parties. READ MORE
Drawing his conclusions from the Greek crisis, a leading right wing commentator says no nation has the right to live in opulence unless its economy is sound. Hungary, of course, should also learn this lesson.
Thousands protested on Thursday (June 16) against the government’s planned changes to the early retirement system. Right-wing commentators detect political motives behind the protests, while left-wing media interpret the demonstrations as a plea for democracy and the rule of law. Both sides appear to assume that a reasonable compromise is not an option. READ MORE
As public expenditure cuts spark protests among more and more categories of employees, including teachers, doctors, bus drivers and locomotive drivers, a pro-government commentator suspects that the protesting policemen are politically motivated. READ MORE