Orbán robs Hungary of its freedom

In protest at the plans to tighten Hungary's media law as of January 1, 2011, the current edition of the weekly Magyar Narancs is being published with an empty front page. By taking total control of the media the right-wing conservative government is restricting Hungary's freedom, the left-liberal paper writes: "The government majority and the vast propaganda machinery that serves the government have decided that it is right for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his cronies to decide everything in this country. ... That's what happens in the aggressive, expansive phase of dictatorships. ... But we're not talking here about just us, the journalists, the press: not only we are in danger, but also the opposition parties that without an independent press can only count on the public media - which, however, are also under the control of the government now. ... This law would not just deprive the media of its freedom but everyone who lives in this country. ... Those who want to take away our freedom are not doing it out of dilettantism or miscomprehension. This move has long been in planning."

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