New Media Council chief pledges no retroactive penalties for former propagandists

The Hungarian parliament elected Polyák Gábor to lead the NMHH Media Council, and he immediately addressed the council's future direction in a televised interview. He affirmed that no retroactive penalties will be imposed on journalists or outlets that previously aired propaganda, rejecting any witch-hunt based on political disagreement. Polyák pledged rigorous oversight of public service channels, including regular reviews of news and current-affairs programs, and announced investigations into media conglomerates like the Index and Blikk partnership.

He highlighted the need for a balanced council, urging the parliament to approve opposition-appointed members, noting that the ruling Fidesz-KDNP candidate did not secure enough support. Additionally, he mentioned plans to audit state advertising spending after August 2025 and to cooperate with civil watchdogs on hate-speech cases, while defending the NMHH's overall performance at the European level.