Hungary Drops In Press Freedom Rating
- 22 Apr 2020 12:26 PM
- Hungary Around the Clock
Hungary has dropped two slots from 87 to 89 in the latest media freedom rankings published on Tuesday by international organisation Reporters Without Frontiers.
In explaining the drop, the report cites Hungary’s new emergency powers law, alleging that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is taking advantage of the epidemic to further restrict press freedom.
It notes that under the law, those who spread fake news may be imprisoned for up to five years, adding that the cabinet itself decides what is fake news.
“Making the outlook even gloomier is the fact that the powers entrusted to the prime minister have been accompanied by a hate campaign,” the report adds, as pro-government media organisations have called for the arrest of critical journalists.
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