Hungarian Opinion: Standard & Poor’s Upgrades Hungary

  • 19 Feb 2019 8:36 AM
  • BudaPost
Hungarian Opinion: Standard & Poor’s Upgrades Hungary
A pro-government commentator interprets Hungary’s upgrade as acknowledgement of the government’s good performance. His left-wing counterpart downplays the importance of the credit rating.

On Friday, Standard & Poor’s Global Rating Agency upgraded the Hungarian sovereign rating to BBB with a ’stable’ outlook.

Magyar Nemzet’s Gergely Kiss contends that S&P’s decision has been due for a long time.

The pro-government columnist hopes that other credit rating companies will soon follow suit, and Hungary will have access to even cheaper loans.

Kiss underscores that in its report, S&P sees Hungarian growth as firm, and the country’s economy as crisis resilient.

By this, the credit rating company has acknowledged that the government is doing a good job, Kiss writes.

In a passing comment, Kiss adds that external shocks like Brexit or a trade war between China and the US may compel the Hungarian government to introduce another wave of policies to sustain fast growth.

In Népszava, Miklós Bonta downplays the importance of S&P’s upgrade.

The left-wing commentator explains the credit rating company’s decision by suggesting that S&P has realized that the EU is unlikely to punish Hungary by cutting funding in retaliation for what Bonta sees as widespread corruption or ‘the daily violation of the rule of law’.

Bonta adds that Hungary has never defaulted on its public debt, and thus credit rating companies do not matter much after all.

This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. 
Click here to Share Your Story 

  • How does this content make you feel?

XpatLoop Media Partner

BudaPost

Launched in May 2011 to provide a balanced picture of matters covered in Hungary’s national press. Their aim is to make it easier for English-speakers to understand where this country is now and where it’s heading according to the full spectrum of media opinions.