Hungary’s new government has taken promising first steps to restore press freedom after years of state capture under former prime minister Viktor Orbán, but authorities must now move beyond quick fixes to deliver transparent, durable reforms that ensure the media is protected from any and all political interference.
After his Tisza party won a landslide
victory
in April elections, Péter Magyar’s government
pledged to
restore democratic norms, the rule of law, and media freedom following Orbán’s creation of one of the
most sophisticated systems of media capture
ever seen in the European Union.
“Hungary has a historic opportunity not only to repair the damage of the past 16 years, but to build a pluralistic media system that serves the public and cannot be politically captured again. If Péter Magyar’s government succeeds, it could make Hungary a role model for other countries in Europe and beyond seeking to restore freedom of the press. But if the reforms do not go deep enough, or one party’s control is simply replaced by another’s, the opportunity will be squandered,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative.
Magyar’s team have already taken steps to dismantle some of the Orbán-era measures that targeted journalists and placed public service media under political control, addressing several of CPJ’s pre-election
recommendations
.
The new government must now move beyond symbolic steps and institutional quick fixes to deliver durable reforms that align with European Union standards to permanently protect media from all political interference. This process must be transparent and inclusive, with participation from journalists, professional organizations, and civil society.
“Hungary is moving in the right direction but it is too early to declare victory. The government must deliver reforms that are effective, comprehensive and legally sound to create rules and institutions strong enough to protect the press from any and every future government,”
… [more]
