Analysis
International Relations
Prague’s Election Looms Large Over Central Europe’s Security Fate
2 October 2025
Hungarian journalist Péter Erdélyi explains why Reporters Without Borders exaggerated the situation in his country but also lists Orbán’s worst offences on media freedom.
Viktor Orbán’s government has clearly the worst image among EU countries when it comes to freedom of the press, its relationship to open civil society and respect for academic freedom.
The Hungarian Prime Minister has long played the role of a fighter against liberal democracy. During his era, independent media almost ceased to function — whether we are talking about television, radio or newspapers. In recent years, Orbán’s regime has also focused on popular websites, such as Index.hu.
But when Reporters Without Borders (RSF) compared Orbán to dictators such as Bashar Assad, Vladimir Putin and Iranian leader Ali Khamenei or Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus in their report Press Freedom Predators, it provoked contradictory reactions.
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