Key facts
- Hungarian public media outlets have suspended broadcasting following a change in government.
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated the move aims to dismantle Viktor Orbán's control over information.
- Kossuth radio and M1 television, key public broadcasters, halted transmissions.
- The new administration has also replaced management at private media outlets previously aligned with Orbán.
- Magyar's party secured a two-thirds majority in parliament on a promise of 'regime change'.
Hungarian public media outlets, previously seen as mouthpieces for Viktor Orbán's government, have suspended broadcasting. Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who ousted Orbán in a recent landslide election, announced the move, hailing it as the end of propaganda and the beginning of reforms to create an independent and trustworthy public media.
Key broadcasters like Kossuth radio and M1 television ceased transmissions, with M1 showing a message stating, "Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long. Public media now will be reformed so it will be independent and trustworthy. Our news programme is currently suspended. Stay tuned!" Kossuth radio was reportedly broadcasting classical music, and the websites for both outlets were down.
Magyar's Tisza party secured a significant majority in parliament on a platform of "regime change" and a break from the Orbán era. Following the election, Magyar ordered a review of public service media and its financing. The suspension of broadcasters followed the replacement of management at state TV and radio. The new administration has also targeted private media outlets linked to Orbán-allied business figures, with changes occurring at TV2, a major private broadcaster.
Under Orbán's 16-year rule, state media was systematically transformed into government propaganda tools. Hungary's press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders significantly declined during this period. Orbán, in response to the media shake-up, posted on social media suggesting viewers watch Hír TV, a channel linked to his Fidesz party, for "the truth."