In Hungary, Viktor Orbán takes aim at the media once again

In Hungary, Viktor Orbán's far-right government is continuing its assault on fundamental rights. The latest attack is a bill aimed at fining media and organisations that receive foreign funding and "threaten national sovereignty". In a clear attempt to stifle press freedom, the text, in line with Russia's foreign agent law, would allow for a penalty of up to 25 times the funding received.

In Hungary as well as across the European Union, civil society and independent media organisations are rising up against the Orbán government. This week we republish an appeal signed by nearly one hundred editors-in-chief (and by Voxeurop) calling on European authorities to take up the case and penalise Hungary.

With one year to go before the next parliamentary elections in Hungary, Budapest is stepping up its efforts to bring society to heel. The bill on media transparency follows on from another bill, adopted in March, which bans rallies in support of LGBTQIA+ rights.