Media News - Friday, February 03, 2012

“Hungary’s public broadcasters violate European principles”

The 2010 overhaul of Hungary’s media laws set a dangerous precedent in Europe, the South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO) has said in a statement. Instead of guaranteeing press freedom in an EU member country, they seem to guarantee press freedom for the governing party at the expense of the right of the public to free information, the Vienna-based affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI) said. The organization expresses concern at the state appropriation of the Hungarian media landscape. The Hungarian Media and Telecommunication Authority and its Media Council are controlled by the parliament in which the governing party, Fidesz, has a majority. Although the law prescribes a two-thirds majority of votes in parliament for the council members to be elected, all four members were nominated by Fidesz. The legal procedure was respected but Fidesz controls two thirds of parliament seats in the parliament and can easily choose its candidates. The political independence of the Chairperson of the Media Council is not guaranteed. SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I urge the international organizations to do everything they can in order to underscore that people in Hungary have the same right to information and professional public service as in the rest of Europe, and to guarantee that right.” (B 92)

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