Hungary Takes State TV Off Air as Magyar Launches Overhaul

Hungarian public television temporarily suspended its news broadcasts on Tuesday. The reason is a reform of public media, through which Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s new government aims to create “independent and trustworthy” news coverage.

The main channel, M1, displayed a message on a black screen: “Public media cannot lie. We apologize for having done so for many years”.

Local media had previously reported on the dismissal of several editors at state television and radio. Reuters was unable to independently verify these reports.

These moves follow through on a campaign promise by Magyar, whose party ousted former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz from power in the April elections after 16 years. The new prime minister aims to reform public media, restore the system of checks and balances and fight corruption.

Magyar described the suspension of broadcasts as a “historic day” and announced that the state-run Kossuth Radio had also stopped broadcasting news. Upon taking office, he ordered an immediate review of the operations and funding of public media.

Analysts point out that creating truly balanced public media will be challenging. According to critics, during Viktor Orbán’s administration, these media outlets came under tighter state control. Orbán’s government has rejected these claims, asserting that Hungary meets EU standards regarding media freedom.

(Reuters, bak)