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Hungary Orban: Court boost for independent radio | Hungary Orban: Court boost for independent radio |
(1 day later) | |
An appeals court in Hungary has overturned a decision to strip a leading independent radio station, Klub Radio, of its licence to broadcast. | An appeals court in Hungary has overturned a decision to strip a leading independent radio station, Klub Radio, of its licence to broadcast. |
Klub Radio, seen as the main anti-government station, lost its licence to a music station, on a decision of Hungary's new Media Council. | Klub Radio, seen as the main anti-government station, lost its licence to a music station, on a decision of Hungary's new Media Council. |
The Media Council says it now wants to re-examine the licence tender. | The Media Council says it now wants to re-examine the licence tender. |
Civil liberties campaigners say the case is a test of media freedom under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. | Civil liberties campaigners say the case is a test of media freedom under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. |
Mr Orban's conservative party Fidesz has a two-thirds majority in parliament, giving it more power than previous Hungarian governments have had since the collapse of communism in 1989. | Mr Orban's conservative party Fidesz has a two-thirds majority in parliament, giving it more power than previous Hungarian governments have had since the collapse of communism in 1989. |
It has been accused of seeking to consolidate its authority by restricting media critical of its policies. | It has been accused of seeking to consolidate its authority by restricting media critical of its policies. |
Mr Orban has insisted the new media laws contain no provisions that could not be found in other European countries. | Mr Orban has insisted the new media laws contain no provisions that could not be found in other European countries. |
Music requirement | Music requirement |
In December, Klub Radio challenged the decision of the Media Council, the national authority set up under the new laws, to award its Budapest 95.3 MHz frequency to a new music channel, Autoradio. | In December, Klub Radio challenged the decision of the Media Council, the national authority set up under the new laws, to award its Budapest 95.3 MHz frequency to a new music channel, Autoradio. |
The council withdrew Klub Radio's licence for the frequency on the basis of a tender which required the winning station to broadcast music 60% of the time. | The council withdrew Klub Radio's licence for the frequency on the basis of a tender which required the winning station to broadcast music 60% of the time. |
Klub Radio had been allocating only 22% of its airtime to music. | Klub Radio had been allocating only 22% of its airtime to music. |
On Wednesday, the capital court of appeals ruled that the tender had not complied with regulations and the Media Council must make a new decision. | On Wednesday, the capital court of appeals ruled that the tender had not complied with regulations and the Media Council must make a new decision. |
Klub Radio itself said it should now be automatically awarded the tender, as it was in second place. | Klub Radio itself said it should now be automatically awarded the tender, as it was in second place. |
But a statement issued by the Media Council suggested that all the rival bids for the frequency, including that of Klub Radio, should now be re-examined. | But a statement issued by the Media Council suggested that all the rival bids for the frequency, including that of Klub Radio, should now be re-examined. |
Klub Radio describes itself as "the only one talk and news radio station in Hungary with a scrutinising attitude towards government and social issues". | Klub Radio describes itself as "the only one talk and news radio station in Hungary with a scrutinising attitude towards government and social issues". |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton personally intervened on its behalf during its battle with the Media Council. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton personally intervened on its behalf during its battle with the Media Council. |
Human Rights Watch, the New York-based campaign group, said the case had "come to symbolise the crackdown on media freedom by the Hungarian government". | Human Rights Watch, the New York-based campaign group, said the case had "come to symbolise the crackdown on media freedom by the Hungarian government". |
Philip Cordery, head of the Party of European Socialists, said the party fully backed Klub Radio "and its legitimate right to voice its opinion without fear of reprisal". | |
"Democracy loses its meaning without transparent and independent media," he added. | "Democracy loses its meaning without transparent and independent media," he added. |
"Fidesz's crackdown on civil liberties must stop. We hope that the court will see things from this perspective." | "Fidesz's crackdown on civil liberties must stop. We hope that the court will see things from this perspective." |