FIDESZ Accuses TISZA of Building a One-Party Media System After Media Council Vote

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Csaba Latorcai, a member of the National Assembly for the KDNP (Christian Democratic People’s Party), called the decision-making process regarding the election of members to the Media Council of the National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) and the circumstances surrounding it “outrageous and unacceptable.” According to a statement from FIDESZ, a party-controlled media apparatus is being built without opposition oversight.

He emphasized that this was the second time his party’s candidate, Ferenc Pindroch—whom the specialized committee had previously deemed suitable for the position both professionally and personally—had been voted down. Csaba Latorcai noted that the representative from TISZA had previously stated in the House Committee that the vote on this matter would be a vote of conscience; in contrast, it was now evident that the governing party had “orchestrated” the voting, thereby infringing on the representatives’ freedom to exercise their mandates.

The politician stated:

the KDNP will exercise its right to nominate a new candidate and will not allow the TISZA to make a mockery of democracy.”

In response to a question from MTI, Csaba Latorcai stated that they had selected their nominee for the body through an open competition, so they are “spoiled for choice” with candidates, each better than the last.

In a statement sent to MTI,

FIDESZ commented on the events by saying that “a one-party system is taking shape.”

This is an open admission that democracy, the rule of law, and independent and impartial public media were just as much campaign lies as the 480-forint gasoline price, tax cuts, or immediate wage increases. In reality, a one-party system under TISZA is taking shape, autocracy reigns supreme, and neo-communism is on the horizon. Following the new ÁVH (the Hungarian communist-era secret police organization- editor’s note) and TISZA’s party police, TISZA’s party media is also taking shape, they stated.

Via MTI; Featured photo: MTI/Illyés Tibor

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