EditOrbán’s media empire shrinks as state funding dries up
Mass layoffs, newspaper closures and cost-cutting sweep through Orbán-linked outlets after his electoral defeat
For more than a decade, billions of forints in Hungarian state advertising and public money flowed into government-friendly media outlets. Following Viktor Orbán’s defeat in the April 2026 parliamentary elections, that tap has been turned off almost overnight. The result is a wave of mass layoffs, newspaper closures, and drastic restructuring across the once-dominant pro-Fidesz media network.
The biggest changes are taking place at Mediaworks, owned by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s close ally Lőrinc Mészáros and part of the giant Central European Press and Media Foundation (KESMA). The company, which posted a 14 billion forint (€40 million) loss in 2025, has announced sweeping portfolio changes and group layoffs affecting several hundred employees (roughly 10% of its workforce).
- The tabloid Bors is shutting down completely.
- The Magyar Nemzet is being reduced to a weekly.
- Most of the 18 county daily newspapers are switching to weekly publication.
- The far-right Pesti Srácok is dismissing its entire staff.
- The free paper Metropol has already suspended print distribution.
Mediaworks and other pro-government outlets relied heavily on state advertising and public contracts. With those revenues gone after the elections, the business model that sustained the propaganda machine for years is collapsing.
Other outlets also struggling
The long-established left-leaning daily Népszava stopped its print edition at the end of May after more than 150 years. Its printer (owned by Mediaworks) and distributor cancelled contracts, leaving the paper fighting for survival online through subscriptions.
The popular tabloid Blikk, taken over by Orbán-linked interests in late 2025, has also seen layoffs and new cost-cutting measures, including the cancellation of bonuses and benefits.
At commercial broadcaster TV2, owner Vaszily Miklós has openly admitted that “consolidation and reorganisation” are necessary because state funding has dried up. The propagandistic news programme Tények has already been axed.
Even the once-dominant Index.hu is undergoing changes, with editorial departures and new appointments following the election.
Political rather than purely economic decisions
Many insiders and analysts describe several of these decisions – especially the ending of Népszava’s print edition – as more political than commercial. The paper had been tolerated as a controlled “opposition” voice but is now seen as facing delayed retribution.
These developments mark a significant contraction of Hungary’s printed press landscape. With many regional dailies moving to weekly publication and several national titles disappearing or reducing frequency, printed daily newspapers are becoming increasingly rare.
For years, the pro-Fidesz media empire operated largely independent of normal market logic, sustained by generous state support. The post-election reality is forcing these outlets to confront whether they can survive on genuine reader support alone. The coming months will show how much of the once-mighty propaganda machine will remain.
The article in Hungarian by EUalive’s partner Átlátszó can be found here.
Caption: AI-generated illustrative image [EUalive]
Updated: June 22, 2026 - 18:31
