A centrist blog argues that the award granted to an openly racist journalist reveals the problems with the highly centralised government Prime Minister Orbán has created, as Zoltan Balog, the Minister for Human Resources has to supervise too many areas. READ MORE
Left-wing columnists, echoing European and US concerns, accuse the government of violating basic democratic principles by incorporating in the Basic Law provisions which have been ruled unconstitutional. A right-wing commentator, on the other hand, believes that such worries are groundless and motivated by the opposition parties’ partisan views. READ MORE
An independent-minded conservative columnist envies America, where the election of a President is a great day – and not just for the winner. He cautions against the planned further electoral reforms in Hungary, due to his concern that they would only produce anger and resentment. READ MORE
Online headlines posted in the early morning hours tend to reflect the papers’ ideological leanings. Népszava enthusiastically welcomes the result of the US presidential elections, while the two right-wing national dailies express cautious reservations. READ MORE
A geopolitical analyst, in a comment on the last televised presidential debate in the US, wonders whether Hungary would be better off with a conservative US president who despises state regulation in the economy, but endorses a hard line in foreign policy. READ MORE
A Magyar Nemzet commentator dismisses as absurd the charges levelled by Senator Ben Cardin (Dem) against the Hungarian government. Népszabadság cautions the right wing against branding the senator an enemy of Hungary. READ MORE
Commenting on an exchange of letters between US congressmen and Viktor Orbán on anti-Semitism in Hungary, a pro-government columnist says Fidesz is a victim of anti-Semitic attacks, and is fighting anti-Semitism. The commentator in the largest left wing daily , however, says that if the government really wanted to block anti-Semitic content, it should turn to Internet Service Providers, instead of asking US congressmen to act. READ MORE
A right-wing columnist downplays the importance of Elie Wiesel’s decision to return the highest Hungarian state honour in protest against what he sees as the government’s efforts to restore anti-Semitic icons. A left-wing pundit, on the other hand, believes that the case will receive international attention and further harm the image of the Orbán government. A centrist commentator notes that the previous socialist-liberal coalitions did much less against anti-Semitism than the current Fidesz government. READ MORE
A right wing columnist chastises the US State Department for pronouncing unfounded opinions about Hungary. READ MORE
A left wing commentator welcomes a court decision which upholds the validity of a broadcasting license won by the left-wing talk radio, and cautions the Media Authority against filing an appeal. READ MORE