Budapest also welcomed the fact that the European Union will review its Media Act, saying it was confident that the law complies with EU standards in all respects.
Under the law, which took effect on Jan. 1, a new media authority dominated by appointees of the ruling Fidesz party will oversee all public news production. The body can also levy big fines on private media, which are required to be “balanced.”
In a statement the Public Administration and Justice Ministry issued a point-by-point rebuttal of criticism of the law made by other EU governments and Western media.
“A common trait of the opinions expressed by the media is that they apparently lack in-depth knowledge of the Act’s text,” the ministry said.
“Instead of formulating specific criticisms, they are a collection of unfounded, at times outright absurd accusations. The Hungarian government remains committed to freedom of the press, and in no way wishes to stifle the opposition’s views.” The law has been criticized by left-leaning Hungarian media as well as the governments of Germany, Britain and Luxembourg just as the central European country took over at the helm of the EU for the next six months.
