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Media professionals at the country's leading newspaper have expressed shock after a media conglomerate considered aligned with PM Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, purchased the tabloid from its previous Swiss owners.

Context of Acquisition

The acquisition, which occurs while Hungary prepares for pivotal elections next year, is widely seen as another attempt to strengthen government influence on the press.

A Fidesz-friendly media company, Indamedia, announced on Friday it had purchased a collection of Hungarian media assets, including the fashion publication and Blikk, a widely-read tabloid whose news site attracts approximately three million online readers monthly.

Leadership Changes

Blikk's outgoing chief editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, said on Monday that he and another senior manager were leaving in "shared decision" with the acquiring company.

Their recruitment occurred seven months ago to reposition Blikk, "focusing not on sensationalism but on interesting stories" and to be "more audience-focused, addressing political affairs, economics, and cultural topics," he commented on Facebook.

Staff Responses

Staff at Blikk said they were taken aback. "I nearly experienced a heart attack when I learned about the announcement," remarked one reporter, who wished to be anonymous. "Personally, this is morally unacceptable."

Blikk has announced a new editor-in-chief, Baláz Kolossváry.

Press Environment Issues

Many journalists who have opted to continue acknowledge feeling in a complex circumstance as there are not many other publications remaining where they could seek employment.

During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a extensive pro-government news ecosystem to enhance his reputation and poll numbers.

Election Timing

Whereas major media transactions have typically occurred either post-election or during a calm political phase, the buyout of Ringier Hungary comes under six months ahead of April's parliamentary election.

Blikk was viewed as a prime target for Orbán and his party at a moment when opinion research are indicating that they have a genuine competitor for the first time in more than a decade.

Opposition Response

The rival candidate, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza political group is promoting promises to eliminate systemic graft, has been vocal about Orbán's "propaganda factory" and the negative impact he claims it has caused to Hungary's political freedom.

He has condemned the Ringier Hungary deal, saying it constitutes another attempt by Orbán to strengthen his grip over Hungary's news publications.

Newspaper's Importance

Although Blikk is a popular newspaper, renowned for its entertainment section and dramatic titles, in the last several years it has also run numerous articles on suspected graft.

"Blikk is by far the most widely circulated daily publication in Hungary, a industry frontrunner," said a media analyst. "Its online site has become surprisingly popular in the past few years, becoming the fourth most popular digital platform in Hungary. If biased information appears in such extensively consumed and popular media, it will have an impact on the general population."

International Perspective

For exceeding a decade, Hungary has acted as a model for other "semi-democratic systems" internationally.

Ex-US administrators and their allies have frequently applauded Orbán's Hungary even as it plunges in media freedom indexes.

In 2022, Orbán told a meeting of US traditionalist groups that the path to power necessitated "controlling media outlets."

Past Press Control

In 2010, Orbán's regime enacted a law that imposed state authority over the primary press oversight body and positioned the national media outlet in the hands of supporters.

Ownership Information

Indamedia is partially controlled by Mikló Vaszily, a state-aligned entrepreneur who is also top executive of a state-aligned TV network.

In a declaration, Indamedia's additional partner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "Via the purchase of Ringier Hungary, the organization is acquiring a profitable press organization of similar size to Indamedia, with established industry presence and recognized names that have significant influence in the Hungarian communications sector."

Ringier announced in a communication that its decision to sell was "based solely on strategic economic considerations and our emphasis on our primary online operations in Hungary."

A government spokesperson was contacted for statement.