Ukraine war becomes election weapon

Hungary's state broadcaster M1 debuted a program called Horrors of War in February 2026, showing graphic images of Ukraine's destruction. It aired just two months before elections as Viktor Orban campaigned to keep Hungary out of the conflict.

“Forced conscription, families torn apart, poverty, and countless victims.”

Orban's 16-year grip on media

When Viktor Orban returned to power in 2010, he seized Hungary's public broadcasting network and merged separate radio, TV, and news outlets into a single state-controlled entity called MTVA, firing about one-third of the workforce.

Fidesz controlled 80 percent of media

Fidesz-friendly businesspeople obtained control over approximately 80 percent of Hungary's media landscape through discriminatory state advertising allocation, while independent outlets became financially starved.

Public broadcaster became propaganda tool

By the mid-2010s, M1 showed images of refugees allegedly storming borders, smeared opposition candidates, and exaggerated Orban's achievements. Government ministries instructed journalists on how to cover news events.

M1 compared to Breitbart

Peter Kreko, director of Political Capital research institute, likened M1 under Orban to Breitbart, saying the broadcaster didn't even attempt to feign objectivity in its coverage.

“They didn't even attempt to feign objectivity.”

Opposition got no airtime

None of the state-run TV or radio channels granted Peter Magyar an interview ahead of the 2026 election. State outlets portrayed him as a pro-war crook working with Kyiv.

Journalist fired for editorial independence

Istvan Pataki, hired at hirado.hu in February 2025, was instructed not to report on opposition protests and told which foreign leaders not to criticize. He was fired in July 2025 with no official reason.

Magyar wins historic election victory

On April 12, 2026, political novice Peter Magyar unseated Orban. His Tisza party obtained a historic majority of the vote and two-thirds of parliamentary seats.

Magyar promises radical media change

In his first M1 interview since 2024, Magyar said, "We will cease this fake news service." His culture minister pledged that public media would serve the population, not political interests.

“We will cease this fake news service.”

New media law dismantles old system

In June 2026, Tisza passed a media law amendment establishing a nonpartisan supervisory board, an independent news agency, and a transparent process for choosing public broadcasters' leadership.

All broadcasts halt for transformation

On July 7, 2026, all MTVA broadcasts ceased abruptly. M1 displayed a message: "The public media shouldn't lie. We apologize for still doing that for many years."

“The public media shouldn't lie. We apologize for still doing that for many years.”

News resumes with new presenters

On August 20, news programs on M1 finally resumed with a new design and fresh presenters, including journalists from independent and local outlets around the country.

Propaganda caused measurable damage

Peter Kreko said the information autocracy caused destruction unseen elsewhere in the EU. Fearmongering campaigns had immediate, measurable impact on public opinion and family relationships.

Propaganda fractured families

One woman's mother became so radicalized by daily state broadcaster viewing that she broke off contact with her children. The constant fearmongering pushed her into what her daughter described as a psychosis.

“They chased her into a psychosis.”

Magyar has unprecedented mandate

Tisza received over 53 percent of the vote, more than any party in Hungary's history. An estimated 70 percent of Hungarians now support Magyar's party, giving him rare political capital to reform media.

Healing begins for long-time Fidesz voter

Aniko Rakosy, a 78-year-old lifelong Fidesz supporter, said she felt constantly worried before the election. Since the broadcast halt, she said, "I have become so much calmer."

“I have become so much calmer.”

Hungary could model media recovery

If Magyar's government succeeds in restoring independent journalism and healing fractured relationships, Hungary could serve as an example for other democracies recovering from state media capture.

Genuine healing will take time

The complete media makeover is still in progress. The Culture Ministry has received over a hundred reform suggestions from civil-society organizations, with new board members to be nominated in autumn.