Commenting on the channel’s recent frequent reports on the government’s activities and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s family, János Lázár said a company would treat a country and its citizens this way only if it considers the country a ”colony”.

“This is a most serious issue for the Bertelsmann group and international media companies because RTL Klub has proven that it is a corrupt business,” Lázár said. It brings up the question why RTL Klub had not prepared such reports in the past, he added. Asked whether there is a possibility that the government might introduce a special tax in other areas where extra profits are generated, he said this option would be considered when the 2015 budget is prepared.

The opposition Socialists said Lázár was unsuitable to serve as Hungary’s chief negotiator to the EU because he disregards basic norms of press freedom. Zoltán Lukács, a spokesman for the party said that recent statements made by the government prove that the ad tax was introduced not under budgetary pressure, but only in an effort to hamper the operation of media outlets that criticise the government. RTL Klub said it rejected every report affirming the company had not taken its part of the tax burden.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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