HUNGARY, THE MEDIA AND THE IMF NEGOTIATIONS

4 February 2013

The stalemate between the Hungarian Government and the IMF over the negotiations for a loan facility are regularly cited by the Hungarian media as a prime example of the government’s obduracy in the face of superior knowledge. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Finance Minister, Györgyi Matolcsy are held up by many in the media as being financially illiterate and incapable of understanding the finer points of global finance.

THE UK MEDIA AND COVERAGE OF HUNGARIAN AFFAIRS

4 January 2012

In recent days, a number of prominent UK media outlets, including The Financial Times, Guardian, Economist and the BBC have included articles on the current political situation in Hungary. In essence, the reporting has focused on the increased criticism of the Hungarian government from both inside and outside the country. In some respects, it was reminiscent of the media’s coverage of Hungarian affairs this time last year, particularly when Hungary assumed the Presidency of the EU. The big issue then was the introduction of a new media law – today, the cause is the public demonstrations against a myriad of complaints about either new policies or new laws.

FOREIGN MEDIA CRITICISM OF HUNGARY

30 December 2011

The continuing foreign media criticism of Viktor Orbán and his government shows no sign of abating. This week alone, the Hungarian government has been criticised for introducing legislation which ‘critics’ argue will reduce the independence of the Hungarian Central Bank. It has been accused of silencing a popular radio station. Its attempts to redefine election boundaries are described as a blatant attempt to hang on to power.

Hungary’s Media Law and International Commentary

21 March 2011

On 15th March 2011, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his National Day speech clearly blamed internal political actors in Hungary for instigating and fuelling the ongoing debate on the newly-proposed Hungarian media law. Is he right and if so, what does it tell us?

Like most political rows, the causes are generally complex and multifaceted – the media law debate is no different. However, what should have been an internal Hungarian debate was quickly internationalised by the Left-Liberal community in Hungary. The involvement of the European Union (EU) was eagerly sought and applauded by the Hungarian Government’s political opponents, although Brussels’ intervention was seen by Orbán and Fidesz as political interference. Nobody doubted it was an unmitigated public relations disaster for the authorities in Budapest, particularly as it cast a shadow over the beginning of Hungary’s EU Presidency.