HUNGARY’S CONSERVATIVE government says it will change a controversial new media law if necessary, after coming under strong domestic and international pressure from critics who say it will muzzle the press.
The new law gives a new media council power to levy large fines on any publication, website or broadcaster that it deems to have breached guidelines on fair reporting and decency.
The council solely consists of supporters of the ruling Fidesz party, the fines it imposes must be paid before any appeal is lodged and it will have the power to force reporters to reveal their sources in matters deemed to involve national security or public safety.
The law’s opponents say the council is not politically independent and will do the government’s bidding, and complain that the new rules punishing reports that are “not balanced”, “cause offence” or hurt “human dignity” are so vague as to be open to abuse. The potential fines are also so large that they could drive many of Hungary’s media outlets into bankruptcy.
“If the [media council] applies it in a wrong way or there are problems, then as a result of objections parliament will change this law, you should not have any doubts,” said senior Fidesz member Janos Lazar.
“Our aim is not to wage a war against the Hungarian press, as the conservative side has always lost that in the past 20 years . . . but to try to regulate issues which have not been regulated so far in order to improve . . . the media in Hungary.” The new law has prompted a flurry of negative reaction around Europe, and was seen as the latest Fidesz move to concentrate power in its hands. Since taking power in May it has already tinkered with the constitution, stripped powers from the constitutional court and disbanded an independent budgetary council that monitored government spending.
Germany’s government was quick to raise concerns about the media law and yesterday its top diplomat addressed his misgivings to Budapest, as it prepares to take on the rotating presidency of the EU next month.
“Foreign minister Guido Westerwelle telephoned Hungarian counterpart Janos Martonyi this morning. In a friendly atmosphere, they discussed possibilities of a change to the Hungarian media law,” a German statement said.
Earlier this week, Luxembourg’s foreign minister Jean Asselborn said the law “raises the question whether such a country is worthy of leading the EU”.