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FM Szijjártó to Blinken: US Should Not Worry about Democracy and Freedom in Hungary Hungary lacks a democratic level of media freedom and is at risk of being heavily influenced by Moscow and Beijing, according to Secretary of State for the United States Anthony Blinken. In an online roundtable discussion with journalists from countries considered to have insufficient levels of media freedom, Blinken believes that Hungary needs a greater diversity of independent voices and opinions. The Biden Administration has made clear its intention of wanting positive relations with Hungary but standing by its commitment to support media freedom and the rule of law. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said that the United States should not worry about democracy and freedom in Hungary. ....
Reporters Without Borders has updated its World Press Freedom Index, ranking Hungary three places lower than last year, and describing the state of Hungary’s media freedom as the EU’s “alternative, repressive model.” Government official Zoltán Kovács reacted to the ranking on Twitter, describing the NGO as a “Soros-funded group” that makes “false, idiotic claims.” The international non-governmental organization, known for highlighting levels of media freedom and criticizing censorship, recently shared its 2021 World Press Freedom Index. Dunja Mijatovic, human rights commissioner of the Council of Europe, said in a memorandum on Tuesday that it was “high time for Hungary to restore journalistic and media freedoms”. In reaction, representatives of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, the justice ministry, and media authority NMHH called the memorandum “biased,” based on “assumption rather than facts.” […]Continue reading ....
Hungarian MEPs were divided in their views on the state of media freedom in Hungary in a European Parliamentary debate on Wednesday, with ruling Fidesz slamming what it calls a “smear campaign” against the government, and the opposition decrying “the end of media plurality” in the country. Addressing the debate on the state of media freedom in Hungary, Poland and Slovenia, Vera Jourová, the European commissioner for justice, consumer protection and equal opportunities, criticised the case of Hungary’s Klubrádió, a commercial broadcaster popular with opposition listeners that went off the air last month after losing an appeal to extend its licence. The commissioner said the radio station would remain silent until the conclusion of a legal procedure. ....
Finance Minister Praises State of Press Freedom in Hungary The freedom of the press is fully guaranteed by Hungarian legislation, media operate on a market basis and the government of Hungary has “neither the right nor the intention to interfere in such matters in any way”, Finance Minister Mihály Varga said in a letter addressed to his Dutch counterpart. In the letter, which Varga posted on Facebook on Thursday, he said he regretted to learn Wopke Hoekstra had told the Dutch daily De Volkskrant that the freedom of the press was restricted in Hungary. Varga said Hungarian media outlets operate on a market basis and everyday experience also showed “that there is real diversity in public debates and in the media in Hungary”. ....