Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar announced plans to temporarily halt news broadcasts on the state broadcaster, alleging consistent misinformation.
Magyar’s Media Blackout and Return to Public Broadcasting
Peter Magyar last appeared on Hungarian public media in September 2024 and was absent from broadcasts during the recent election campaign, claiming he was not invited. He was able to appear on M1 television on Wednesday, April 15th, following a visit to Kossuth Radio, where he addressed his previous lack of access.
The interviewer asserted that Magyar had been repeatedly invited, a claim he refuted.
Call for Media Revolution
Magyar emphasized the need for three million votes to allow the leader of the strongest opposition party back into the media landscape. He announced his intention to initiate a revolution in public media.
Magyar stated that the “television continues to lie” and that “questions are still written by propaganda,” as noted by political scientist Dr. Dominik Héjj. He pledged to enact a new media law, establish a new media oversight body, and ensure press freedom upon taking office.
Suspension of News Broadcasts Planned
Magyar declared that one of his first actions in office would be to suspend news broadcasts from what he termed a “factory of lies.” He clarified that this was not motivated by revenge or personal retribution.
“This is not about me, but about the fact that every person deserves public media that tells the truth,” he stated.
Hungarian Election Results
The TISZA party secured a constitutional majority in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, winning 136 seats in the 199-seat National Assembly. The Fidesz-KDNP coalition, led by Viktor Orbán, received 57 seats, while the far-right Mi Hazánk party won six.
A repeat vote has been ordered in one single-member district, and votes cast by mail and from abroad are still being counted.
Meeting with the President and Allegations of Document Destruction
Magyar previously reiterated his call to President Tamás Sulyok to convene the inaugural session of the National Assembly as soon as possible on Kossuth Radio. He is scheduled to meet with the President on Wednesday at 10:00 AM.
The Tisza party leader also accused the outgoing authorities of destroying documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, claiming to possess recordings confirming these allegations.
