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Hungary's top tabloid sold to company close to Orban - DW - 10/31/2025

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, October 31st 2025 at 11:51 GMT by dw
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Hungary’s most widely read tabloid, long a staple of the nation’s print media landscape, has changed hands, selling to a company that is closely linked to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party. The transfer, completed in late‑June 2024, raises fresh concerns about media pluralism in a country that has already seen a steady erosion of press freedom over the past decade.

The tabloid in question, Népszabadság, has a history that stretches back to the 1920s, evolving from a left‑leaning daily into a popular, sensationalist outlet that consistently tops circulation charts. It has historically served as a voice for opposition politics, offering a counterpoint to the state‑controlled media and to Fidesz‑aligned outlets such as Magyar Hírlap and Magyar Nemzet. In the last few years, however, the paper’s editorial independence has come under increasing pressure, as owners and journalists alike have reported a tightening of editorial guidelines and a shift toward more pro‑government narratives.

The sale was brokered by Népszabadság Kft., a holding company whose majority shareholder is László Szabó, a businessman who has maintained a close relationship with Fidesz officials for over a decade. Szabó’s background in the media industry includes stakes in several radio stations and a long‑running partnership with the Szabó Group, which also owns the influential television channel TV2. According to a statement released by Népszabadság Kft. on the day of the transaction, the company will invest €12 million into modernizing the tabloid’s digital infrastructure and expanding its regional bureaus.

Opposition lawmakers reacted sharply. In a statement issued by the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF), opposition MP Béla Kovács warned that the move could “signal the end of truly independent journalism in Hungary.” “Our democratic institutions are already weakened by the erosion of civil society, and now the state’s influence over the most popular print outlet is expanding,” he said. The European Union’s Commissioner for Justice, Thierry Breton, also weighed in on the matter, describing the transaction as “a worrying step in the continued consolidation of media under state influence.”

The new owners’ connection to Orban is not merely a matter of business networking; it is rooted in the broader context of Hungary’s media reforms. In 2018, the government passed the “Law for the Protection of the Public Interest” which granted the state a 51 % stake in Magyar Hírlap and gave the ministerial office veto power over the publication’s editorial policies. The law was widely condemned by press freedom watchdogs and the EU as a direct threat to the independence of the press. Critics argue that the recent sale of Népszabadság is part of a wider strategy to bring all major media outlets under the influence of government allies.

While the tabloid’s editorial board has pledged to maintain “the core values of the newspaper,” a number of senior journalists have announced plans to leave the organization in protest. In an interview with the Budapest Times, former editor‑in‑chief Ágnes Varga said, “We have always been the voice of dissent in a press environment that is increasingly controlled. The sale undermines that legacy.” She added that she would be “looking for new ways to contribute to a free press.”

The sale also has implications for the tabloid’s financial viability. Népszabadság has long struggled with declining print revenue, prompting a shift toward digital platforms. Under the new ownership, the paper will double its investment in an online news portal and expand its presence on social media, aiming to capture a younger demographic that has historically favored digital over print. The company’s CEO, Tamás Farkas, stated that the tabloid’s circulation will continue to be published weekly, but the focus will shift to “a multimedia experience that blends investigative journalism with sensational headlines.”

Beyond the national arena, the transaction has attracted attention from international observers. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a brief statement calling for “transparency in the ownership of media outlets” and urged the European Commission to monitor the sale closely. In an interview with the European Press Initiative, RSF’s Director of the Hungarian Office, László László, emphasized that “the press is not a commodity; it is the cornerstone of democracy.”

The sale of Népszabadság also follows a pattern of consolidation within Hungarian media. In 2022, the government facilitated the merger of Magyar Hírlap and Magyar Nemzet under state control, a move that was widely criticized as a step toward a state‑owned media monopoly. The most recent transfer adds another piece to the puzzle: a popular tabloid that previously served as an outlet for opposition voices now falls under the umbrella of a firm with strong ties to the ruling party.

The final legal paperwork for the sale was filed with the Hungarian Companies Register on 21 June. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the month, subject to standard regulatory approvals. If approved, Népszabadság will become the fourth major newspaper in Hungary owned by a company with demonstrable links to Fidesz.

As the country’s media landscape continues to shift, the future of Népszabadság remains uncertain. Whether it can preserve its editorial independence under new ownership, or whether it will become yet another instrument of the state, will be closely watched by journalists, civil‑society groups, and international observers alike. The outcome will likely serve as a barometer for the health of press freedom in Hungary, a country that has already seen its media freedoms repeatedly tested under the current administration.