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Reporters at the country's most popular publication have expressed shock after a media group viewed as friendly to PM Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, bought the tabloid from its earlier Swiss owners.

Timing of Acquisition

The purchase, which comes as Hungary approaches pivotal elections next year, is largely considered another move to expand state control on the press.

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

Management Shake-up

Blikk's departing editor-in-chief, Ivan Zolt Nagy, stated on Monday that he and another senior manager were exiting in "shared decision" with the acquiring company.

Their recruitment occurred seven months ago to revamp Blikk, "focusing not on sensationalism but on engaging content" and to be "more public-oriented, addressing political affairs, economic matters, and cultural topics," he stated on Facebook.

Staff Reactions

Employees of Blikk expressed being shocked. "I came close to a cardiac episode when I heard the declaration," remarked one journalist, who requested to remain anonymous. "Personally, this is morally unacceptable."

Blikk has named a replacement top editor, Baláz Kolossváry.

Press Environment Issues

Many journalists who have chosen to remain admit being in a difficult position as there are few other media organizations available where they could apply.

During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a sprawling pro-government press environment to strengthen his public perception and polls.

Election Context

Although significant press acquisitions have usually happened either post-election or during a quiet political period, the acquisition of Ringier Hungary comes less than six months before April's general election.

Blikk was seen as a prime target for Orbán and his party at a moment when surveys are signalling that they have a serious opponent for the premier instance in exceeding a decade.

Opposition Response

The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, whose Respect and Freedom party is campaigning on commitments to root out systemic graft, has been direct about Orbán's "propaganda factory" and the damage he says it has done to Hungary's democratic system.

He has questioned the Ringier Hungary transaction, stating it constitutes another move by Orbán to solidify his influence over Hungary's press organizations.

Newspaper's Significance

While Blikk is a tabloid, renowned for its entertainment section and over-the-top headlines, in the past few years it has also featured many pieces on alleged corruption.

"Blikk is by far the most read daily publication in Hungary, a sector dominator," commented a media analyst. "Their digital platform has become surprisingly popular in the past few years, becoming the fourth most visited digital platform in Hungary. If partisan content appears in such highly popular and popular media, it will have an effect on the citizenry."

International Context

For exceeding a ten-year period, Hungary has served as a model for other "semi-democratic systems" globally.

Ex-US administrators and their associates have consistently commended Orbán's Hungary even as it declines in journalistic liberty ratings.

In 2022, Orbán addressed a gathering of US traditionalist groups that the path to power required "owning press organizations."

Past Media Control

In 2010, Orbán's government approved a law that imposed state authority over the chief communications authority and put the state broadcaster in the management of allies.

Proprietorship Information

Indamedia is 50% owned by Mikló Vaszily, a pro-government businessman who is also CEO of a government-friendly television station.

In a announcement, Indamedia's second proprietor and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, said: "By obtaining of Ringier Hungary, the group is obtaining a profitable media company of comparable scale to Indamedia, with strong market positions and successful brands that have significant influence in the Hungarian media landscape."

Ringier said in a release that its decision to sell was "motivated entirely by business strategy factors and our concentration on our primary online operations in Hungary."

A official representative was contacted for response.