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FAO: Dinadan
Topic Started: Jan 5 2011, 06:49 AM (716 Views)
Kronos

Whats this new Hungarian media law I'm hearing of about? If you could give some specifics it would be very much appreciated as the British coverage leaves alot to be desired.
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tehReal~ChaZZZy
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A great deal of anger has been building up. The fact that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has just cold-bloodedly pushed through a law that muzzles the press, only a few days before he steps onto the pan-European stage, is just the final straw. It has been a last, and possibly decisive step towards autocracy.

No other European politician will have as much power to implement such drastic measures against critical media as Orbán, whose right-wing populist Fidesz Party has a two-thirds majority in parliament. The new, 170-page law attempts to regulate all television and radio stations, newspapers and Internet sites. It even applies to blogs and foreign media available in Hungary.

At the center of the control mechanisms is a new government agency staffed exclusively with Fidesz members. It has the power to impose fines of up to €750,000 ($983,000) for articles with objectionable content -- and it alone will decide what is deemed objectionable. The staff of public media organizations will be placed under government supervision.

Outraged opposition politicians demanded to know how this differs from censorship in the days of former Communist Party General Secretary János Kádár, and demonstratively taped their mouths shut in parliament. Some Hungarian newspapers have published empty front pages in protest at the law.

Government representatives assured critics that the new law would not be applied in a restrictive manner. But when a journalist of government-owned radio station MR1-Kossuth Radio used a minute of silence to protest the change in the treatment of the press, he was suspended.

There are many reasons for Hungary's descent into the ranks of countries that are only partially democratic, but archconservatives and the radical right wing are not the only ones responsible for this adverse development. The Hungarian left has committed a form of gradual suicide. For several parliamentary terms it had the chance to shape Hungary, most recently between 2006 and the spring of 2010. But hopeful steps were quickly abandoned as corruption and nepotism shaped the political scene. Former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány highlighted the dilemma in a 2006 speech, when he said: "No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have … We have lied in the morning, at noon and at night." It was only the failure of the Socialists that enabled the triumph of the conservative challenger, a seducer of the people.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe...,736706,00.html

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Anton of Soyidia
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It just seems like a wierd road to take considering that they have just started their EU presidency.

I hope for the sake of the hungarian people that this law will be revoked
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tehReal~ChaZZZy
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Where is Din? Has he been blocked from posting on political threads here by the Prime Minister and the Hungarian government??? :P
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Drowningpool
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Cockedblocked*
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Dinadan of Logris
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If you read what Chazz pasted here, you know the main points. It's some sort of a morality control, with a clear option to abuse the power. Supposedly, it is ill-defined slash ultimately up to a small body of government-appointed people what actions could be fined. The government says that every element of the law can be found in other EU countries, and foreigners would have to wait for an accurate translation to be able to form fair opinions. (Which may be a reason for "limited" British coverage.) They also said the right people would be appointed, which is not quite what you want to hear if you don't support the ruling party.

Not sure about the Internet, it seems ridiculous to try and regulate that at all without our own not-so-Great Firewall.

Anyway, like Der Spiegel asserts, we seem to have a democratically elected government that is working its way towards securing unchecked power for the ruling party and its PM in a very determined manner. If abused, this media law could be a help to win elections in the future. In context, government control over public servants and the national bank's monetary policy has been extended and the constitutional court no longer has the power to investigate the constitutionality of elements of the government's fiscal policy.

The constitution has been quick-changed some ten times in the past year as they adopted it to suit governent objectives, which is not as alarming as it may sound to an American, but not quite what the nation was expecting either. We are still waiting for a comprehensive constitutional reform and structural reforms in the public sector (which includes healthcare in Hungary). However, the government was elected without a (public) programme tackling these issues and so far they have been too busy securing power for themselves. :D

This same PM/party was ousted by the socialists two terms ago when the economy was good. I think they may have learned the wrong lesson. :ninja:

BTW, The Economist had a rather negative article about happenings as well. Still, Orbán has several years to "redeem" himself even in this term, and the opposition currently lacks the support to oust him anyway.
http://www.economist.com/node/17733367
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tehReal~ChaZZZy
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Dinadan of Logris,Jan 8 2011
12:44 PM
If you read what Chazz pasted here, you know the main points. It's some sort of a morality control, with a clear option to abuse the power. Supposedly, it is ill-defined slash ultimately up to a small body of government-appointed people what actions could be fined. The government says that every element of the law can be found in other EU countries, and foreigners would have to wait for an accurate translation to be able to form fair opinions. (Which may be a reason for "limited" British coverage.) They also said the right people would be appointed, which is not quite what you want to hear if you don't support the ruling party.

Not sure about the Internet, it seems ridiculous to try and regulate that at all without our own not-so-Great Firewall.

Anyway, like Der Spiegel asserts, we seem to have a democratically elected government that is working its way towards securing unchecked power for the ruling party and its PM in a very determined manner. If abused, this media law could be a help to win elections in the future. In context, government control over public servants and the national bank's monetary policy has been extended and the constitutional court no longer has the power to investigate the constitutionality of elements of the government's fiscal policy.

The constitution has been quick-changed some ten times in the past year as they adopted it to suit governent objectives, which is not as alarming as it may sound to an American, but not quite what the nation was expecting either. We are still waiting for a comprehensive constitutional reform and structural reforms in the public sector (which includes healthcare in Hungary). However, the government was elected without a (public) programme tackling these issues and so far they have been too busy securing power for themselves. :D

This same PM/party was ousted by the socialists two terms ago when the economy was good. I think they may have learned the wrong lesson. :ninja:

BTW, The Economist had a rather negative article about happenings as well. Still, Orbán has several years to "redeem" himself even in this term, and the opposition currently lacks the support to oust him anyway.
http://www.economist.com/node/17733367

Very interesting goings on in Hungary Din.
Thanks for updating us all. :mtwcheers:
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Dinadan of Logris
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Yea right :joker:
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Dinadan of Logris
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Chazzy
 
I found your comment in the other thread about your government's moving towards "morality control with an option to abuse power" as well as what you said about "The constitution has been quick-changed some ten times in the past year as they adopted it to suit governent objectives, which is not as alarming as it may sound to an American, but not quite what the nation was expecting either." quite illustrative about the same general points I've made here. Perhaps there's a tolerance for totalitarianism in at least Hungary that we just don't have here in America.

While this was thrown in as an ad hominem into a debate on gun control, there's no reason not to address it B)

I have the exact same opinion, i.e. that there is a tolerance for totalitarianism in Hungary. I do not know how far this extends.. or whether it extends further than it's healthy in a democracy.

I do not think the actual people in government would establish an outright dictatorship and I would trust the people of the country to ultimately resist such an event.

On the other hand, a strong state has been present in every Hungarian's lifetime. People are used to it, and most will rather try to benefit from it than fight to weaken it.

We are now members of the European Union, and our federal overlords can legally impose limits to the power of a government as long as it means to keep the country in the Union. Staying in the Union has considerable benefits. This is the only major check on a government that gained such an overwhelming support of the people as the present one has.

Like I said, the new media law could, to my knowledge, be abused to increase chances of a re-election of the same government. I will also assert that no political fight is ever fair. However, such an abuse would be very obvious, and that in itself might be deterrent enough. I am willing to let more experienced people judge this.. and put my trust in the EU ;)

I can always emigrate if things go real bad :joker:
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tehReal~ChaZZZy
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Dinadan of Logris,Jan 19 2011
07:48 PM
Chazzy
 
I found your comment in the other thread about your government's moving towards "morality control with an option to abuse power" as well as what you said about "The constitution has been quick-changed some ten times in the past year as they adopted it to suit governent objectives, which is not as alarming as it may sound to an American, but not quite what the nation was expecting either." quite illustrative about the same general points I've made here. Perhaps there's a tolerance for totalitarianism in at least Hungary that we just don't have here in America.

While this was thrown in as an ad hominem into a debate on gun control, there's no reason not to address it B)

That wasn't an ad-hominem at all n00b! lol'z :D
Seriously din I was a little taken aback by your comment here. Now that you've explained yourself a bit more clearly i know where you're coming from a bit better. :)
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Dinadan of Logris
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I see, these are not the droids I am looking for.
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Dinadan of Logris
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So, in the wake of the recent riots, there's some speculation that the UK may come up with media regulations not unlike Hungary :joker:
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Elrich of Gaul
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Dinadan of Logris,Jan 20 2011
02:48 AM
I can always emigrate if things go real bad :joker:

You're welcome here in Canada Din.... I'm always looking for good peeps to help tap the Maple trees in the spring.!! :smash:
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Dinadan of Logris
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Outside Europe, Canada would certainly be my 1st choice :D
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Barrett of Maidstone
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Elrich of Gaul,Aug 12 2011
11:50 AM
Dinadan of Logris,Jan 20 2011
02:48 AM
I can always emigrate if things go real bad :joker:

You're welcome here in Canada Din.... I'm always looking for good peeps to help tap the Maple trees in the spring.!! :smash:

Ill be heading up to that part of the world longterm hopefully at some point.... well its a dream at least :D
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Elrich of Gaul
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Make sure you drop by and say hey.!!
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tehReal~ChaZZZy
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Barrett of Maidstone,Aug 12 2011
03:36 PM
Elrich of Gaul,Aug 12 2011
11:50 AM
Dinadan of Logris,Jan 20 2011
02:48 AM
I can always emigrate if things go real bad :joker:

You're welcome here in Canada Din.... I'm always looking for good peeps to help tap the Maple trees in the spring.!! :smash:

Ill be heading up to that part of the world longterm hopefully at some point.... well its a dream at least :D

Good luck with that move Bazz.
Why are you seriously considering it???
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Elrich of Gaul
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Cause it's "Where all your dreams come true"....

wait.. was that Walt Disney World.? arrgghh....
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Abu of Agrabah
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Elrich of Gaul,Aug 16 2011
10:41 AM
Cause it's "Where all your dreams come true"....

wait.. was that Walt Disney World.? arrgghh....

I thought that quote came from a guy who visitted Charlie Sheens mansion, but i can be wrong about that :D
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Brennus of Tintagel Castle
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Winning!

(I'm still surprised he hasn't crashed hard...)
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Elrich of Gaul
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In jail once per month.. getting fired from a hit show... losing hot girlfriends.. I think he's already crashed.... the rest are just flaming embers from the remnants.

Just waiting for the Enquirer headline: Sheen found Dead!!
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Brennus of Tintagel Castle
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Just waiting for the Enquirer headline: Sheen found Dead!!


exactly.
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Drowningpool
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Din send me some good zwack.
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Dinadan of Logris
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No.
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Pete of Yorkshire
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din what is the longest word in the hungarian language?
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Brennus of Tintagel Castle
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Pete of Yorkshire,Sep 4 2011
06:07 AM
din what is the longest word in the hungarian language?

DinadanofLogrisknowsmoreaboutAmericathanmostAmericans!! B)
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Dinadan of Logris
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Define "word" :P

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Drowningpool
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I want zwack :furious:
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Dinadan of Logris
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Still not of drinking age? :mtwcheers:
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Drowningpool
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No I just don't want to drive 56 miles away to the nearest liquor store. I'm back in east texas for a month or two.
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Dinadan of Logris
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Still, US Postal Services may be obligated to deliver :D
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Brennus of Tintagel Castle
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Dinadan of Logris,Sep 5 2011
07:34 AM
Still, US Postal Services may be obligated to deliver :D

People in east Texas don't know how to write, so there's just one Postal worker per office.
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Dinadan of Logris
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Ahhh, local patriotism! :wub:
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Brennus of Tintagel Castle
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Dinadan of Logris,Sep 5 2011
08:34 AM
Ahhh, local patriotism! :wub:

Nah, culturalism. East Texas to Georgia should be it's own country.
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