Hungary stands firm against French and German criticism of its media law, which threatens to tarnish its presidency of the European Union after an already less than ideal start. Budapest has been under a barrage of fire for weeks after adopting a media law that critics say will restrict press freedom
 President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy (L) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (R) answer questions from journalists during a press conference. AFP photo. |
Hungary’s prime minister hit back Thursday at French and German criticism of a new media law, the latest exchange in a row that has overshadowed the start of its stint at the European Union helm.
Prime Minister Victor Orban insisted Budapest would only change the text if there was agreement between the European Union as a whole, and said the country would not be dictated to by two of the bloc’s powerhouses.
“It’s not up to the French or the Germans” to say whether the Hungarian law complies with EU regulations, Orban told foreign journalists ahead of a ceremony to mark the start of Hungary’s six-month EU presidency.
“The EU should decide. Naturally any procedure that the EU starts, Hungary will accept, because we are part of the EU,” Orban added. “However the most important principle is anti-discrimination, so I can’t imagine a situation where one says this aspect of the Hungarian law must be changed while the same in other countries does not need to be changed.”
"Yes this is a bad start, who would want to start like that?" Orban said. "We adopted a law that we consider perfectly OK and the world criticizes it," he told foreign journalists ahead of a ceremony to mark the start of the six-month EU presidency.
Hungary has come in for widespread criticism over the media law, which came into effect Jan. 1, just as the country took over the revolving EU presidency from Belgium. Under the legislation, a new regulatory body, the NMHH, has the right to impose fines of up to 200 million forint (1.47 million Turkish Liras) for material that is considered offensive.
Headed by a close ally of Orban, the NMHH also has the right to inspect documents and force journalists to reveal sources on issues related to national security, prompting a wave of criticism from media watchdogs.
France called earlier this week for Hungary to amend the new law, noting it was “incompatible” with EU rules on press freedom, while Germany has also heavily criticized the text. Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Union Commission, said he was going to discuss the issue with Orban, adding that “freedom of the press is a sacred principle, a fundamental value.”
The Hungarian prime minister said criticism from individual governments was wide of the mark. “I consider it too hasty and unnecessary the way the French and German governments have reacted in this debate,” Orban said.
He added he was “happy to see,” however, that Germany was going back on its initial comments from December. “And I expect the French to do the same,” he added. “I don’t remember Hungary criticizing the French media law.”
Unlike Hungary, France has a law whereby the president can name the head of the national public television, “and I never said that it was an anti-democratic law,” he said.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi indicated Wednesday that changes to the law could be considered.
Speaking to journalists in Budapest, Martonyi said it was “premature to say” that Hungary could modify its law but added: “Let’s wait for the comments of the European Commission, then we’ll see how the situation can be remedied.”
Prime Minister Victor Orban insisted Budapest would only change the text if there was agreement between the European Union as a whole, and said the country would not be dictated to by two of the bloc’s powerhouses.
“It’s not up to the French or the Germans” to say whether the Hungarian law complies with EU regulations, Orban told foreign journalists ahead of a ceremony to mark the start of Hungary’s six-month EU presidency.
“The EU should decide. Naturally any procedure that the EU starts, Hungary will accept, because we are part of the EU,” Orban added. “However the most important principle is anti-discrimination, so I can’t imagine a situation where one says this aspect of the Hungarian law must be changed while the same in other countries does not need to be changed.”
"Yes this is a bad start, who would want to start like that?" Orban said. "We adopted a law that we consider perfectly OK and the world criticizes it," he told foreign journalists ahead of a ceremony to mark the start of the six-month EU presidency.
Hungary has come in for widespread criticism over the media law, which came into effect Jan. 1, just as the country took over the revolving EU presidency from Belgium. Under the legislation, a new regulatory body, the NMHH, has the right to impose fines of up to 200 million forint (1.47 million Turkish Liras) for material that is considered offensive.
Headed by a close ally of Orban, the NMHH also has the right to inspect documents and force journalists to reveal sources on issues related to national security, prompting a wave of criticism from media watchdogs.
France called earlier this week for Hungary to amend the new law, noting it was “incompatible” with EU rules on press freedom, while Germany has also heavily criticized the text. Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Union Commission, said he was going to discuss the issue with Orban, adding that “freedom of the press is a sacred principle, a fundamental value.”
The Hungarian prime minister said criticism from individual governments was wide of the mark. “I consider it too hasty and unnecessary the way the French and German governments have reacted in this debate,” Orban said.
He added he was “happy to see,” however, that Germany was going back on its initial comments from December. “And I expect the French to do the same,” he added. “I don’t remember Hungary criticizing the French media law.”
Unlike Hungary, France has a law whereby the president can name the head of the national public television, “and I never said that it was an anti-democratic law,” he said.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi indicated Wednesday that changes to the law could be considered.
Speaking to journalists in Budapest, Martonyi said it was “premature to say” that Hungary could modify its law but added: “Let’s wait for the comments of the European Commission, then we’ll see how the situation can be remedied.”
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