Hungary: Magyar after a month in office
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has been in office for one month now. In that time he has made numerous official visits abroad, set a new course in international policy and met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, among others. Commentators look at the progress and the obstacles.
Back at the negotiating table
Népszava takes a positive view of Magyar’s numerous trips abroad:
“The prime minister is holding talks, seeking allies and making his presence felt wherever key issues affecting Europe are being decided. ... Hungary is no longer observing EU developments from the sidelines, but is striving to help shape them. ... In this context, the current meetings signal a genuine political and psychological turning point. Not because all the disputes between Budapest and the European states have ended. The significance lies in the fact that the country has returned to the negotiating table.”
Even Tisza can’t make money appear by magic
Facing up to the realities of the budget could be an unpleasant experience, political scientist Attila Tibor Nagy writes in Index:
“The problem looms like a dark cloud on the horizon: sooner or later the system of state-subsidised fuel prices will have to be brought to an end (or at least overhauled). ... The government has begun reviewing this year's budget, and in the autumn next year's tax laws and the budget for the following year will also have to be negotiated – and then at the latest, many will realise even the Tisza government cannot meet all the (albeit justified) demands.”