The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been accused of illegally allocating over one billion euros in subsidies to pro-government media outlets, fueling concerns that state support is being used to strengthen the power of the Hungarian leader.
Two Hungarian media outlets – Magyar hang (Hungarian Voice) and another that requested anonymity – plan to file a complaint with the European Commission over the illegal subsidies granted to certain media, as reported by Financial Times.
These media outlets claim that advertising between 2015 and 2023 was directed towards pro-Orbán newspapers, TV stations, and online platforms to secure support for the ruling party and suppress critical journalism.
Orbán, the most pro-Russian leader in the EU, has been at odds with the Union for years over the rule of law. Brussels has repeatedly frozen and reinstated funds, and EU courts have ruled against Orbán’s moves to limit the independence of the judiciary, media, and education systems.
Prime Minister Orbán has previously used EU funds to reward political allies, and he has referred to the government-private sector partnership as a system of national cooperation.
Former EU competition official Kai-Uwe Kin, author of an economic study tracking the complaint, said that the alleged use of state subsidies coincided with a campaign to eliminate media critical of the government.
“You really see that after someone takes over a newspaper and turns it into a government-connected outlet, advertising starts to grow dramatically,” said Kin.
He noted that his report points to a link between the alleged illegal state aid and the pro-government stance of the media, which undermines competition in the Hungarian media market in favor of pro-Orbán outlets.
In recent years, more independent media outlets have either collapsed or been sold to government-connected individuals. Meanwhile, Hungary ranks among the lowest in media freedom within the EU.
Lukács Csaba, the executive director of Magyar hang, stated that it is becoming increasingly difficult for independent media to operate, with the situation exacerbated by state subsidies. “We are the target of smear campaigns; they sue us,” Csaba told Financial Times.
At the same time, the European Commission is suing the Hungarian government over its security law, which Brussels claims violates EU rules on privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.
The 2026 elections are expected to be a significant test for Orbán, whose Fidesz party, in last year’s polls, was for the first time trailing behind the opposition.
TISA, a new opposition party led by former Fidesz member Péter Magyar, is criticizing Orbán’s strategy of expanding control over the media, judiciary, and economy.
