Berlin, April 8, 2026—Ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections on April 12, the Committee to Protect Journalists is calling on all political parties to commit to restoring press freedom, starting with 10 priority issues.
Hungary’s media landscape has declined severely in the last 16 years under the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. His ruling Fidesz party — which faces a serious challen...
The CPJ’s call for press freedom reforms in Hungary presents a strong case for addressing systemic media capture under Orbán’s government. The narrative highlights the erosion of journalistic independence through state control, surveillance, and legal harassment, framing these issues as urgent democratic concerns. The proposed reforms—such as dismantling the Sovereignty Protection Office and ending smear campaigns—are concrete steps toward aligning Hungary with EU media freedom standards. Howeve...