Hungary’s election winner, Peter Magyar, has announced plans to suspend news broadcasts on state-owned media outlets until what he described as fair and unbiased coverage can be guaranteed.
Magyar made the declaration on Monday, a day after his Tisza Party secured a sweeping victory in national elections, marking a major political shift in the country.
According to him, the decision forms part of broader efforts by his incoming administration to restore credibility and public trust in state institutions, particularly in the media sector, which has faced longstanding criticism over alleged bias and lack of independence.
He stated that halting news programming temporarily would create room for reforms aimed at ensuring balanced reporting, professional standards, and editorial independence within publicly funded media organisations.
Magyar emphasised that the move was not intended to suppress information but to reset the system and rebuild a media landscape that serves the public interest rather than political influence.
His party’s landslide win on Sunday has been widely interpreted as a mandate for institutional reforms, with media independence emerging as one of the key issues during the campaign.
Further details on the timeline and structure of the proposed reforms are expected to be outlined by the new government in the coming days.
Erizia Rubyjeana
