After the ‘recapture’ of HírTV’ by the government side, left-wing commentators paint a bleak picture of the Hungarian media landscape, while a pro-government author lays the blame at the door of the tycoon who lured conservative journalists into his anti-Orbán offensive and then left them in the lurch. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators see the takeover of Hungary’s first TV news channel as a sign of mounting authoritarianism, while pro-government newspapers declare that justice has been done. READ MORE
A left-wing pundit describes the former Fidesz party treasurer as an emblematic figure of Hungary’s recent past. He suspects that his media empire may end up in pro-government hands. READ MORE
The highest circulation conservative weekly owned by the media mogul Lajos Simicska closes down after announcing insolvency. The editor ascribes the failure of his weekly to the hostile political environment. READ MORE
As media tycoon Lajos Simicska withdraws from several important outlets, commentators complain that a piece of Hungarian history is disappearing with the daily Magyar Nemzet – unless a political investor manages to save it. READ MORE
A liberal commentator suggests that widespread speculation about Lajos Simicska holding a decisive trump card against the government that he would put on the table to cause devastating damage to PM Orbán before the election, was a case of wishful thinking. READ MORE
As the Jobbik party stands accused of illicit campaign financing, columnists on Left and Right ponder the impact of its billboard-financing controversy on party politics and electoral chances. READ MORE
As the media mogul Lajos Simicska continues his war on Prime Minister Orbán, a pro-government commentator accuses the Left of applying double standards. A left-wing columnist wonders whether Mr Simicska has information on secret Fidesz deals. READ MORE
As the government tries to push its ban on political posters outside electoral campaigns through Parliament, a left-wing commentator claims that if successful, this would deprive opposition parties of one of their few remaining tools to reach a wider public. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator accuses opposition parties of corruption after opposition MPs rejected the government’s amendments to the political campaign law. Magyar Nemzet’s columnist, on the other hand, thinks that the government wants to silence the opposition. READ MORE