A bad start to EU presidency

Hungary could hardly have chosen a worse way to launch into its EU Council presidency, writes the liberal daily La Stampa commenting on the country's restrictive new media law: "In normal times it would have been simply an objectionable law, but coming nine days before the begin of Hungary's first EU Council presidency it is at best a worrying start. ... Bursting with pride, Foreign Minister János Martonyi has announced in Brussels Hungary's ambition to enter the EU arena as 'the torero and not the bull', to contribute to the establishment of a 'humane Europe'. This intention isn't very compatible with legislation law that is already been branded a gag law. ... The criterion of 'damaging to public interests' is alarming because it is a vague and very generalised formulation. Even to write that this is a gag law could harm the interests of Hungary."

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