Mixed views on ‘Orbánomics’

Three years after Viktor Orbán took office as Hungary’s Prime Minister on May 29, 2010, Magyar Hirlap publishes a positive evaluation of his economic initiatives, arguing that his “unorthodox measures are effective”. According to the right-wing daily —

… the conservative government inherited "an economy in ruins", but Hungary is now on track to build a successful economic model [...] To avoid austerity measures, it has introduced a large number of new taxes, notably targeting multinationals which, until now, were making vast profits. [...] What is more, public debt has been significantly reduced in spite of the crisis.

For its part, Népszava deplores the "Fidesz party's frantic rush since taking power." The left-wing daily lists the measures that have marked "Orbánist governance", some of which are "contrary to the original Fidesz programme" —

… damaged relations with European Union, burgeoning unemployment [11.2 per cent of the workforce], the injustice of the flat rate for income tax, VAT raised to 27 per cent (the highest rate in Europe), cuts to public spending on health care, anti-constitutional laws...