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Reporters at Hungary's most popular newspaper have expressed shock after a media group viewed as friendly to nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's political faction, Fidesz, acquired the popular daily from its former Swiss owners.

Context of Purchase

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

A Fidesz-friendly media group, Indamedia, stated on Friday it had purchased a portfolio of Hungarian media assets, including the fashion publication and Blikk, a popular daily newspaper whose online platform attracts approximately three million online readers monthly.

Leadership Shake-up

Blikk's former chief editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, announced on Monday that he and another senior manager were exiting in "mutual agreement" with the acquiring company.

They had been hired seven months ago to revamp Blikk, "moving away from sensational stories but on interesting stories" and to be "more reader-centered, addressing politics, economics, and culture," he commented on social media.

Staff Responses

Workers from Blikk said they were stunned. "I came close to a cardiac episode when I was informed of the declaration," stated one correspondent, who asked to stay unnamed. "In my view, this is ethically questionable."

Blikk has introduced a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry.

Press Environment Concerns

Several media professionals who have opted to continue acknowledge feeling in a challenging situation as there are limited other publications left to which they could look for work.

Throughout the previous 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a widespread state-aligned media landscape to boost his image and public opinion ratings.

Political Timing

Whereas major media acquisitions have typically occurred either after elections or during a calm political phase, the buyout of Ringier Hungary occurs under six months prior to April's national vote.

Blikk was viewed as a main goal for Orbán and his party at a moment when polls are signalling that they have a real challenger for the initial occasion in over a decade.

Political Rival Reaction

The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, whose Respect and Freedom political group is campaigning on promises to eliminate entrenched dishonesty, has been outspoken about Orbán's "media machine" and the negative impact he says it has caused to Hungary's democratic system.

He has condemned the Ringier Hungary acquisition, declaring it signifies another move by Orbán to strengthen his grip over Hungary's media outlets.

Newspaper's Significance

While Blikk is a popular newspaper, known for its gossip column and sensational captions, in the last several years it has also published multiple stories on alleged corruption.

"The publication represents by far the most read newspaper in Hungary, a industry frontrunner," said a press expert. "Its online site has become unexpectedly successful in recent years, becoming the fourth most read online site in Hungary. If partisan content appears in such extensively consumed and influential publications, it will have an effect on the general population."

International Context

For more than a decade, Hungary has functioned as a blueprint for other "authoritarian-leaning governments" around the world.

Ex-US administrators and their associates have long praised Orbán's Hungary even as it declines in press freedom rankings.

In 2022, Orbán told a gathering of US conservatives that the path to power required "controlling media outlets."

Past Media Control

In 2010, Orbán's administration enacted a regulation that established official oversight over the main media regulator and placed the state broadcaster in the control of allies.

Ownership Details

Indamedia is 50% owned by Mikló Vaszily, a government-supporting entrepreneur who is also chief executive of a state-aligned TV network.

In a announcement, Indamedia's second proprietor and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "By obtaining of Ringier Hungary, the group is obtaining a profitable press organization of comparable scale to Indamedia, with strong market positions and recognized names that play a defining role in the Hungarian press environment."

Ringier announced in a communication that its decision to sell was "driven exclusively by strategic economic considerations and our focus on our core digital activities in Hungary."

A government spokesperson was approached for response.