Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in a recent speech, compared critics including journalists to insects that will be eliminated. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its affiliates in Hungary, HPU and MÚOSZ, in demanding an apology from Mr Orbán in the context of a new crackdown on journalists and journalism.
On 15 March, during a political rally in Budapest, the Prime Minister accused journalists of serving the interests of foreign powers and compared them and other groups to insects who would soon be eradicated. He told several thousand supporters that in the coming weeks the government would “dismantle the financial machine that has used corrupt dollars to buy politicians, judges, journalists, pseudo-NGOs, and political activists. We will eliminate the entire shadow army. (…) After today’s celebrations comes the big Easter clean-up, as the bugs have survived the winter.” Similar threats to “clean” the media were made by Mr Orban in the Hungarian Parliament in February.
In a statement, the Hungarian National Association of Journalists (MÚOSZ), condemned the use of language “that undermines human dignity”, and warned that such rhetoric by the Prime Minister could spread. “MÚOSZ calls on the country’s leaders to distance themselves openly and clearly from all statements that evoke the darkest periods of history, and from those that describe people or groups of people as insects, worms or rats. Hate speech is a crime. The Prime Minister is bound by his oath to serve all Hungarians. He cannot call anyone an insect. (…) Language is a dangerous weapon, and abusing it is not a mistake, but a crime”.
In recent weeks, Orbán and his ruling Fidesz party have stepped up their criticism and unfounded accusations against the media operating in Hungary that receive any form of foreign grant or funding. The Hungarian authorities are considering adopting a law “to protect national sovereignty” that could serve as a pretext for cracking down on independent media that receive foreign funding.
On 26 February, MÚOSZ issued a joint statement to condemn the use of defamatory and denigrating campaigns, the use of repressive tools, and even the use of the law to portray newsrooms that operate on the basis of international calls for tender as serving ‘foreign interests’.
“We solemnly call on the European Union to take the necessary measures and sanctions against Hungary and all other governments that are pursuing a policy of dismantling the rule of law, as is the case in Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia,” said EFJ President Maja Sever. “It is no longer just a question of defending press freedom and pluralism, but of defending democracy wherever it is in danger”.
Source: EFJ
