Hungary’s incoming prime minister Peter Magyar has pledged to suspend state media broadcasts and introduce sweeping reforms aimed at reshaping the country’s media landscape following his decisive election victory.
Speaking to state radio Kossuth, Magyar said his government would move quickly to adopt a new media law, establish an independent media authority and safeguard press freedom once it assumes office.
“Every Hungarian deserves a public media service that tells the truth,” he said.
His Tisza party, whose name translates as Respect and Freedom, secured a landslide win in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, bringing an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule.
Magyar’s proposed measures signal a sharp break from the previous administration, which faced sustained criticism from European institutions and media watchdogs over the concentration of media ownership and political influence on public broadcasting.
Media reform is expected to form part of a broader policy shift as the new government seeks to restore institutional checks and rebuild trust with European Union partners.
Alongside the planned overhaul, Magyar said immediate priorities would include talks with the leadership of oil and gas group MOL, stressing that ensuring stable fuel supplies would be critical in the coming weeks.
The timeline for implementing the reforms remains unclear, but the scale of the proposed changes points to a rapid restructuring of Hungary’s media system under the new administration.
Source: CNA