An Embattled Position

A leaked European Commission audit and the Czech Supreme State Attorney’ decision to reopen an investigation have brought Prime Minister Andrej Babiš under renewed fire. New protests are certain to take place in Prague, in anticipation of the official publication of the Commission’s audit.

Systemic dismantling of Hungarian media

This week, an international coalition of journalists and investigative reporters published its findings of a joint mission to Hungary to gather evidence about the situation of media freedom and pluralism. The initial report, based on interviews with a wide range of journalists, the spokesman of the Hungarian government and the recently elected mayor of Budapest, revealed major failings to protect media independence. The international coalition particularly criticised the government’s attempts to silence the critical press, introduce content control and the construction of a pro-government media empire.

Among its findings, the team noted a heavy concentration in media ownership, either directly in the hands of the government or through pro-government investors. This confirms earlier reporting that Hungarian media serve as an instrument of influence over the public rather than holding the government to account.