Declaring War on the 'Propaganda Machine'

Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect, Péter Magyar, has made a bold promise to suspend state media news coverage as soon as his government takes office in mid-May. He described the current state media as a propaganda machine (a system used to spread biased or misleading information to control public opinion), accusing it of spreading fear and lies rather than serving the public.

Magyar’s landslide victory on Sunday ended the 16-year rule of Viktor Orbán. In his first interviews with state radio and television in 18 months, Magyar confronted the outlets, comparing their reporting style to that of North Korea and Nazi-era Germany.

Restoring the Truth to Public Service

Magyar emphasized that his primary goal is to ensure that Hungarian citizens have access to unbiased information. He plans to implement structural changes to ensure media independence.

"Every Hungarian deserves a public service media that broadcasts the truth. We will suspend news services until its public service character is restored."
  • New Press Laws: Legally mandating fairness and objectivity in reporting.
  • Independent Media Authority: Creating a watchdog group that is not controlled by political loyalists.
  • Temporary Suspension: Halting state news broadcasts as a "reset" button for the national media landscape.

Dismantling 'Illiberal Democracy'

This move is seen as a direct attack on the illiberal democracy (a system where elections take place but citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise real power) established by Viktor Orbán. For years, international observers have warned that nearly 80% of Hungary's media was controlled by Orbán’s allies.

The Road Ahead and Global Reactions

Magyar is also challenging the existing power structure by calling for the resignation of President Tamás Sulyok, an Orbán supporter. Magyar argued that Sulyok is "unworthy of embodying the unity of the Hungarian nation."

Interestingly, Donald Trump, a long-time ally of Orbán, commented on the election results by saying he thinks the new leader will "do a good job." This comes despite the fact that both Trump and his Vice President-elect, JD Vance, had heavily endorsed Orbán just days before the election, highlighting a potential shift in international diplomatic dynamics.