Hungary's public broadcaster apologizes for years of lies after reforms

Hungary's public media service has temporarily halted its news programming, marking a significant shift after years of operating under the influence of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The move, which occurred on July 7, fulfills a key campaign pledge by the new Prime Minister Peter Magyar to reform state-controlled media.

A message displayed on the Hungarian state television channel for nearly four hours apologized for past deceptions. "The public media service must not lie. However, we apologize for having done so for many years. The public service is currently undergoing reform to become independent and credible in the future. Informative programming has been temporarily suspended. Please stay with us," the statement read.

“

The public media service must not lie. However, we apologize for having done so for many years. The public service is currently undergoing reform to become independent and credible in the future. Informative programming has been temporarily suspended. Please stay with us.

Simultaneously, the main news portal of the public service ceased operations, and state radio Košut broadcast classical music instead of its usual news. Prime Minister Magyar celebrated the moment on social media, declaring, "Today, the broadcast of propaganda on public media service channels has ended. They lied at night, they lied during the day, they lied on all frequencies. Now it's over."

“

Today, the broadcast of propaganda on public media service channels has ended. They lied at night, they lied during the day, they lied on all frequencies. Now it's over.

Public reaction varied. One citizen lamented, "They have been regularly lying to citizens for years, spreading untruths. The public media service has become entirely a party medium financed by the money of Hungarian taxpayers. They broadcast exclusively the messages of one political party and completely distorted reality." Another expressed anticipation for a celebration, stating, "We came to take a selfie and post it with a screenshot of the state television. I think we will have a big celebration with friends tonight."

The channel M1 resumed broadcasting at 7:56 p.m., a symbolic nod to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The first film aired was "The Witness," a satire of propaganda and personality cults, signaling the new government's reformist agenda. This development was noted by Serbia's public media service, with a professor commenting on the potential for a similar apology from their own national broadcaster.

“

They have been regularly lying to citizens for years, spreading untruths. The public media service has become entirely a party medium financed by the money of Hungarian taxpayers. They broadcast exclusively the messages of one political party and completely distorted reality.