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Journalists at the country's most popular newspaper have expressed shock after a media conglomerate considered aligned with PM Viktor Orbán's political faction, Fidesz, acquired the popular daily from its earlier Swiss owners.

Context of Purchase

The purchase, which coincides with Hungary gears up for pivotal elections next year, is widely seen as another move to increase state control on the news outlets.

A Fidesz-friendly media group, Indamedia, announced on Friday it had bought a collection of Hungarian media assets, including the fashion publication and Blikk, a influential tabloid whose digital edition reaches about three million online readers monthly.

Leadership Shake-up

Blikk's departing chief editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, said on Monday that he and a top executive were departing in "mutual agreement" with the current proprietor.

They were appointed seven months ago to restructure Blikk, "focusing not on sensationalism but on engaging content" and to be "more audience-focused, addressing political affairs, economic matters, and cultural topics," he said on social media.

Employee Responses

Staff at Blikk admitted feeling taken aback. "I came close to a medical emergency when I heard the declaration," said one reporter, who asked to stay unidentified. "Personally, this is professionally concerning."

Blikk has introduced a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry.

Media Landscape Concerns

Numerous reporters who have opted to continue admit being in a challenging situation as there are few other media organizations left to which they could apply.

During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a extensive government-supporting news ecosystem to strengthen his public perception and polls.

Election Context

Although important publication acquisitions have usually happened either after elections or during a calm political phase, the purchase of Ringier Hungary happens fewer than six months before April's national vote.

Blikk was seen as a main goal for Orbán and his political organization at a moment when polls are signalling that they have a genuine competitor for the initial occasion in over a decade.

Opposition Reaction

The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party is campaigning on promises to eliminate systemic graft, has been vocal about Orbán's "information apparatus" and the harm he says it has affected Hungary's political freedom.

He has questioned the Ringier Hungary transaction, stating it constitutes another attempt by Orbán to solidify his influence over Hungary's news publications.

Newspaper's Significance

Although Blikk is a tabloid, renowned for its entertainment section and sensational captions, in the last several years it has also featured numerous articles on alleged corruption.

"This newspaper stands as by far the most popular daily newspaper in Hungary, a sector dominator," said a media analyst. "Its online site has become surprisingly popular in recent times, becoming the fourth most popular online site in Hungary. If partisan content features in such highly popular and influential publications, it will have an impact on the general population."

International Context

For more than a decade now, Hungary has served as a blueprint for other "illiberal democracies" internationally.

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

In 2022, Orbán spoke to a meeting of US conservatives that the way to governance demanded "having their own media."

Past Media Control

In 2010, Orbán's regime passed a legislation that established state authority over the chief communications authority and put the public broadcaster in the control of loyalists.

Ownership Details

Indamedia is half-owned by Mikló Vaszily, a pro-government entrepreneur who is also chief executive of a state-aligned TV network.

In a announcement, Indamedia's other co-owner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "Through the acquisition of Ringier Hungary, the group is gaining a profitable press organization of comparable scale to Indamedia, with strong market positions and successful brands that play a defining role in the Hungarian communications sector."

Ringier stated in a communication that its determination to transfer was "based solely on commercial planning elements and our emphasis on our primary online operations in Hungary."

A government spokesperson was contacted for response.