Hungary’s independent media has already won the election

Free media does exist in Hungary, and it’s making its voice heard as the country lurches towards an election that could sweep away 16 years of Viktor Orbán’s rule.

Independent and investigative websites like Direkt36, to Partizán, Telex and 444 have brought out a steady stream of scandals over the past weeks and months, proving that daring, critical journalism is far from dead, even in Hungary, where the ruling Fidesz government exerts tight control over the press.

In the build-up to Sunday’s election, which could well see the ousting of Viktor Orbán as prime minister, journalists have revealed secret government plans to send Hungarian soldiers to Chad, attempts to dismantle the opposition Tisza party’s digital infrastructure, and transcripts of embarrassing conversations held between Péter Szijjártó, the Hungarian foreign minister’s phone calls with his Russian counterpart.

Péter Magyar gave his bombshell 2024 interview criticising Fidesz to Partizán, an…