Twenty years after the fall of the Communist regime, politics in Hungary has come a full circle. It has virtually abolished freedom of the press and also assumed presidency of the European Union (EU).
The new media law passed on December 21 by the Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz), which enjoys a two-thirds majority in parliament, accords the government sweeping powers to monitor the press. Ironically, Hungary also marked its metamorphosis from being a mere satellite State of the erstwhile USSR into democratic republic as it assumed the presidency of the European Union on Saturday.
In terms of upholding democratic values, Hungary has already started on the wrong foot, sending out wrong signals. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's rightwing Fidesz party has decided to constitute a National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH), whose five members will not only have a right of oversight but also the authority to impose heavy fines (of up to 700,000 euros for a TV station and 89,000 euros for an online publication) for content that is “not politically balanced” or “violates human dignity,” according to Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF).
The powers being vested with the NMHH are sweeping by any standards. It can not only punish offences against religion and the State, journalists will have to perforce reveal their sources when national security is involved.
All Media Council members belong to the Fidesz party. The council is supposed to enforce “balance” but it will have no opposition representatives. “The concept of ‘correct news balance’ introduced by this law has no place in the vocabulary of a European Union member country. It is clearly always possible to debate or question the professional ethics of news media but any attempt to legislate on media ethics in such a vague way and disregarding the principles enshrined in the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights is completely unacceptable,” RSF said in a statement.
Fines can also be imposed for “unbalanced” news reporting. None of these terms, according to Amnesty International, are clearly defined in the law and their interpretation is left to the NMHH. The NMHH also has the power to shut down news outlets.
“The breadth of the restrictions on media content, the lack of clear guidelines for journalists and editors, and the strong powers of the new regulatory body all risk having a chilling effect on the freedom of expression in Hungary,” John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Deputy Programme Director, said in a statement.
Amnesty says that given the backdrop of Hungary taking over the EU presidency, this law is out of step with European and international human rights standards.
South and East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) Secretary General Oliver Vujovic echoed similar sentiments. "Hungary has a vital role in the EU. The Hungarian Government is due to take over the presidency of the European Union and the country should be a positive example of developments in all areas, including media. The fact that the new law was passed very fast, without a wide, open discussion between media professionals, and that some elements of the new regulation have been criticised by media professionals, is a cause for concern,” he said.
