Hungary's New Government Begins Overhauling State Media After Orban Defeat

After Peter Magyar's Tisza party secured over 53% of the vote and a two-thirds parliamentary majority, the new government set out to undo the media monopoly built under Viktor Orban's Fidesz rule. A June amendment to the media law dissolved the former MTVA structure, removed Fidesz-appointed officials from the National Media and Communications Authority, and established a non-partisan supervisory board and an independent news agency.

On July 7, all MTVA broadcasts stopped, with M1 displaying a public apology before switching to movies and later relaunching news programs on August 20 with a fresh lineup of journalists from independent outlets. The Culture Ministry has received hundreds of reform proposals, and the appointment of a new board and head of public media is slated for the autumn. Observers note that the shift marks a rare chance to heal the societal divisions fostered by years of state propaganda.