In the piece headlined “the Putinization of Hungary?” the newspaper writes that Fidesz has “proceeded to take over or attack the authority of every institution it did not control, including the presidency, the Supreme Court and the state audit office,” adding that the central bank is also under threat.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has passed two media laws, the item continues, that will make Hungary’s press freedom situation similar to that of Russia or Belarus. One of these guarantees Fidesz control over the state-run television and other public media, while the other, passed last week, establishes a strong media council that may issue large fines for news coverage it considers “unbalanced” or offensive to “human dignity”. The editorial points out that all five members of the council will be Fidesz appointees.

Suggesting that some EU governments have remained silent on the issue for fear of stirring up another crisis in the EU, the Post says this would be the wrong approach, as the EU cannot afford to see one of its members ignore basic freedoms without consequences.

The item concludes that the EU and the US should threaten to boycott or relocate the EU’s Eastern Partnership meeting to be held in Hungary in May unless Orbán curbs his concentration of power and amends the media legislation."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock.

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