New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has moved swiftly to reshape the country’s media landscape in what commentators are calling “de-Orbanization.” Magyar’s stated goal: to give citizens “a public service that broadcasts the truth.” The moves signal a dramatic departure from the Viktor Orbán era, during which Hungary’s media became heavily consolidated under government-friendly ownership.
A Ta Nea opinion column drew a pointed parallel with Greece, warning that the “Teflon illusion” — the belief that a government is immune to the consequences of its scandals — is precisely what brought Orbán down at the hands of an ideological ally. The lesson, the columnist argued, should not be lost on other European governments enjoying comfortable poll leads.
