Dismantling Orbánism – scenarios for a new Hungarian media landscape

Background and context

With a record-breaking voter turnout, conservative Péter Magyar and his Tisza party secured a landslide victory in the Hungarian parliamentary elections, ending the 16-year reign of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz. Marked by an authoritarian media policy and a crackdown on independent reporting, Orbán’s era leaves behind not only a distorted media landscape but also a polarised Hungarian public.

The key question now is what obstacles remain to restoring rule of law, the independence of institutions and a pluralistic media sphere as pillars of democracy. The case of Poland's liberal prime minister Donald Tusk and his struggle against institutions staffed with loyalists of the former governing party PiS raises concerns over the speed and extent of political reform in Hungary. Despite Tisza gaining a two-thirds majority in the new parliament – enabling constitutional changes such as amending Orbán’s disputed 2010 media law –, it is unclear whether Magyar will live up to his promises to democratise the media landscape and reshape the way Hungarians consume news content.

At this pivotal moment for Hungary and Europe, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Hungarian media: How will independent outlets recover after years of political and economic pressure? What role will previously government-friendly and state-controlled outlets take up? How might this political shift affect collaboration among journalists across Europe?