Hungary passes law dismantling Orban's public media system

Hungary passes new media law dismantling previous public broadcaster

The Hungarian parliament has approved amendments to the media law with support from the Tisza party and Mi Hazánk and opposition from Fidesz-KDNP. The legislation aims to overhaul the media system established under the previous government. Under the changes, the mandates of members of the Media Council of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), the board of trustees of the Public Service Foundation, and the current senior executives of Duna Media Service and the Media Services Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) will be terminated. Duna Media Service and MTVA will be dissolved and replaced by two new entities: Hungarian Radio and Television Nonprofit Ltd. and the Hungarian News Agency Nonprofit Ltd. The law also provides for the appointment of new leaders through open competitions and establishes an Independent Public Media Board to oversee the independence and financial management of public media. The board will comprise three members nominated by the governing parties, three by opposition parties, and three by media-sector professional organisations. A new Press Fund, managed by the NMHH, will also be created to support independent media outlets.

The proposal, submitted by Tisza lawmakers, prompted sharp debate in parliament. Tisza MPs criticised public media, comparing its operations to North Korean and Russian editorial practices, while Tisza MP Ervin Nagy read out the names of artists and public figures he said had been blacklisted under Fidesz. Fidesz lawmakers defended the broadcaster and criticised the reform process for proceeding without public consultation. The Hungarian National Media Association raised similar concerns.

Orbán could be investigated over raid on Ukrainian convoy, lawyer says

Hungary's prosecutors have questioned the former head of the country's anti-terrorism unit, János Hajdu, over a police raid on a cash convoy carrying money and gold to Ukraine, while the lawyer representing seven Ukrainians detained during the operation has argued that former prime minister Viktor Orbán should also be investigated and taken into custody over his alleged role in the case. In early March, two vans transporting a large quantity of cash and gold from Vienna to Oschadbank's headquarters in Kyiv were stopped near Budapest. The crew was detained, questioned, and expelled from Hungary, and the valuables were confiscated. Hajdu, who is suspected of issuing the orders that led to the allegedly unlawful detention of the Ukrainians, was questioned on Tuesday but was not detained. Lawyer Lóránt Horváth, who represents Oschadbank and the seven Ukrainians, said those responsible for the operation should have been taken into custody.

Last week, 444 published a leaked document from the prosecutor's office identifying four officials involved in the decision-making behind the raid: Orbán, former state secretary Örs Farkas, former deputy head of Hungary's tax authority Tamás Demeter, and Hajdu. Horváth said the four should all have been treated as suspects because they could influence witnesses, destroy evidence, or flee. He said Hajdu was being investigated on suspicion of unlawful detention, torture and malicious intent, while more serious charges, including terrorism, had not been ruled out. After his questioning, Hajdu was appointed by Orbán as Fidesz's security chief, but was dismissed by PM Péter Magyar following the party's election defeat. Horváth said he believed Hajdu was unlikely to make incriminating statements about Orbán, while prosecutors have denied any political involvement in the case. Orbán said in June that "Everything was done in accordance with the law."

Hungarians are hopeful about the future, new EU survey shows

According to the European Parliament’s new Eurobarometer survey, Hungarians are the most optimistic citizens in the EU about the future, with significantly more respondents viewing both Hungary’s prospects and the European Union as a source of stability than six months earlier. The representative survey was conducted between 9 April and 1 May across the bloc, with fieldwork in Hungary taking place immediately after the general election. While uncertainty remained the most commonly reported feeling across the EU, cited by 44% of respondents, 57% of Hungarians said they felt hopeful, the highest proportion among all 27 member states. Hungarians also reported lower levels of uncertainty, helplessness, and anxiety than the EU average, while confidence, happiness, and determination were more common.

Seventy-three percent of Hungarians said they were optimistic about the country’s future, up 16 percentage points from six months earlier and well above the EU average of 59%. Optimism about the EU also increased, rising to 69% from 64%, while 80% expressed confidence about their own and their family’s future. Eighty percent of Hungarians described the EU as a source of stability, a 14-point increase compared with six months earlier. While 59% said they wanted the EU to play a greater role in protecting citizens against global crises and security risks, this remained below the EU average. Unlike most member states, where defence and security topped the list of priorities for the EU, Hungarian respondents most frequently identified energy independence, resources, and infrastructure as the EU's main tasks.