In Hungary, pro-Orban public television and radio stations have ceased broadcasting.

The suspension of news broadcasts is a decision made by the new head of state media, Andras P. Horvath, appointed a few days ago by the government of Péter Magyar. He is tasked with restoring the independence of the public broadcaster, which was completely subjugated under the Orban government.

A bombshell dropped on state television. On Tuesday, July 7, Hungary's main news channel, M1, ceased broadcasting news programs. A black screen appeared with the message: "We apologize for lying for years."

Prime Minister Péter Magyar had promised to shut down what he calls the "factory of lies." For during the 16 years that Viktor Orban remained in power, public broadcasting had become a propaganda machine.

"This is the end of propaganda."

It was the ministers who decided on the content of the television news broadcasts, as this journalist recounts: “Every day, we received instructions by email: with the topics to cover and the words to use. For example, we had to say that the opposition was being paid by foreigners, by George Soros,” he testifies. The interruption of programming does not affect the other state-owned channels, which continue to broadcast cultural or sporting programs, such as the FIFA World Cup.

“This is the end of propaganda,” Péter Magyar declared. In reality, the propaganda disappeared the day after the elections. A breath of fresh air swept through the newsrooms. Because within Viktor Orban’s party, no one was thinking about giving orders anymore.

But the news directors were still in place. They were dismissed. A new law is expected to be presented to Parliament soon to lay the foundations for a credible and independent public service.