After the ‘recapture’ of HírTV’ by the government side, left-wing commentators paint a bleak picture of the Hungarian media landscape, while a pro-government author lays the blame at the door of the tycoon who lured conservative journalists into his anti-Orbán offensive and then left them in the lurch. READ MORE
A left-wing analyst believes the government side was led by an emotional need to recapture HírTV from its critics, while a pro-government commentator excoriates the left-liberal demonstrators who protested against the takeover. READ MORE
Left-wing commentators see the takeover of Hungary’s first TV news channel as a sign of mounting authoritarianism, while pro-government newspapers declare that justice has been done. READ MORE
A left-wing pundit describes the former Fidesz party treasurer as an emblematic figure of Hungary’s recent past. He suspects that his media empire may end up in pro-government hands. READ MORE
The highest circulation conservative weekly owned by the media mogul Lajos Simicska closes down after announcing insolvency. The editor ascribes the failure of his weekly to the hostile political environment. READ MORE
As media tycoon Lajos Simicska withdraws from several important outlets, commentators complain that a piece of Hungarian history is disappearing with the daily Magyar Nemzet – unless a political investor manages to save it. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator speculates that in case of a Fidesz defeat in the election, the opposition would eliminate all critical media outlets. A conservative critic of the government thinks that Fidesz overestimates the importance of the media. READ MORE
Left-wing, liberal and conservative critics of the government suggest that the government wants to silence independent and critical media by establishing a new media chamber with specific rules. READ MORE
As the US charge d’affaires and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union express concerns over the freedom of the media, a left-wing commentator accuses the government of trying to suppress critical voices in the media. A pro-government columnist remarks that the most popular media outlets are harsh critics of the government. READ MORE
A pro-government columnist criticizes the US charge d’affaires for accusing the Hungarian government of interfering with the media. A left-wing analyst thinks that Hungarian-US relations are unlikely to improve under the Trump administration. READ MORE