Hungary: Orban government's control of media worries UN

The Hungarian government of Viktor Orban exercises a virtual monopoly on information in the country.

© AFP - ATTILA KISBENEDEK

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Visiting the country, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression, said she was very concerned about the bringing of the media under the government of Viktor Orban.

She is worried about the impact on the next legislative elections in spring 2022.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Budapest,

Florence La Bruyère

Viktor Orban's government dominates the media landscape to such an extent that the upcoming parliamentary elections may not be fair.

This is the observation made by Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur, after a week of official visit to the country during which she met representatives of the government, but also human rights activists, academics and journalists.

Today, almost 80% of the Hungarian media are pro-government.

The government has brought public broadcasting to a halt, and it has had friends shut down or buy out the last independent media outlets.

► 

To read also: Hungary: the first independent radio in the country deprived of antenna

Information almost monopoly

Result: the Orban government has a virtual monopoly.

However, " 

in a democracy, there can be no information monopoly

 ", declares Irene Khan.

She also denounces the fact that the pro-government media are used to launch hate campaigns against those who criticize the executive.

" 

It's a toxic environment, deliberately created by political leaders to sow hatred and divide society,

 " observes Irene Khan.

According to the UN rapporteur, who only has the power of recommendation, the European Union and its member states should urge the Hungarian government to respect freedom of information. 

► 

Also to listen: Illiberal information management in Central Europe

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Hungary

  • Viktor Orban

  • Freedom of press