By Thousands of protesters gathered outside Hungary’s public media headquarters in Budapest on Saturday, decrying what they call a taxpayer-funded propaganda network operated by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist government.
The demonstration was led by Péter Magyar, Hungary’s rising opposition figure and leader of the TISZA party, which has emerged as a significant challenger to Orbán’s 15-year rule.
“What is happening here in Hungary in 2024, and calling itself ‘public service’ media, is a global scandal,” Magyar told the crowd. “Enough of the nastiness, enough of the lies, enough of the propaganda. Our patience has run out.”
Magyar’s TISZA party, which garnered nearly 30% in recent European Union elections, has vocally criticized Orbán’s media influence. Reporters Without Borders estimates government-aligned business tycoons control about 80% of Hungary’s media market resources.
Demonstrators expressed frustration with perceived media bias. Balázs Tömpe, who traveled hours to attend, called the state media headquarters a “factory of lies.”
Ágnes Gera, a retired teacher, lamented the lack of diverse voices in public media. “It’s very burdensome and unfortunate that the system works this way where the public only hears from one side,” she said.
Magyar demanded the resignation of the public media director and called for opposition politicians to have fair access to state television. He announced plans for another demonstration on October 23, Hungary’s national day commemorating the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising.
