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Fresh Allegations: Is Media Independence Being Stamped Out in Hungary?

• 17 Mar 2023 9:34 AM

The head of Hungary’s media authority, Anás Koltay, has dismissed an article by Hungarian daily Népszava claiming that a delegation of MEPs that recently visited Budapest had concluded in a report that media independence was being stamped out in the country.

The National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) head said that Népszava was professionally obliged to contact him and give him the opportunity to express his point of view before publishing the article, but had failed to live up to “generally recognised professional standards of media ethics”.

Koltay said it was ironic that the delegation had sought to promote a free and independent media while selectively leaking parts of its report, resulting in “the unscrupulous distortion of facts”.

Koltay said he could not comment on the content of the report itself because he had not received it. “I trust the material will officially reach us sooner or later,” he said.

“I wonder if these methods are among the means that the EP delegation wants to use to strengthen media freedom and independence. It is worrying,” he added.

Koltay also rejected an allegation in the newspaper’s report that he had asked the delegation not to visit Hungary in the future.

“On the contrary, I would encourage them to visit as often as possible in the hope that this may advance mutual understanding.”

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