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Media professionals at Hungary's most-read newspaper have voiced surprise after a media conglomerate seen as close to PM Viktor Orbán's political faction, Fidesz, acquired the popular daily from its former Swiss owners.

Timing of Purchase

The acquisition, which coincides with Hungary prepares for pivotal elections next year, is largely considered another effort to expand state control on the press.

A pro-Orbán media company, Indamedia, stated on Friday it had acquired a group of Hungarian titles, including Glamour magazine and Blikk, a influential tabloid whose digital edition reaches about three million web users monthly.

Leadership Shake-up

Blikk's departing chief editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, stated on Monday that he and another key leader were departing in "common understanding" with the acquiring company.

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

Staff Responses

Workers from Blikk admitted feeling stunned. "I nearly experienced a heart attack when I heard the announcement," stated one correspondent, who requested to remain unidentified. "Personally, this is ethically questionable."

Blikk has named a new editor-in-chief, Baláz Kolossváry.

Media Landscape Concerns

Numerous reporters who have decided to stay admit being in a complex circumstance as there are few other publications remaining where they could apply.

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

Political Context

While major media transactions have usually happened either following voting or during a calm political phase, the acquisition of Ringier Hungary happens fewer than six months ahead of April's parliamentary election.

Blikk was seen as a key objective for Orbán and his party at a time when surveys are indicating that they have a real challenger for the first time in over a decade.

Opposition Response

The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party is campaigning on commitments to root out entrenched dishonesty, has been vocal about Orbán's "propaganda factory" and the negative impact he claims it has caused to Hungary's democratic system.

He has condemned the Ringier Hungary deal, declaring it constitutes another move by Orbán to strengthen his grip over Hungary's news publications.

Newspaper's Significance

Although Blikk is a daily publication, renowned for its celebrity news and sensational captions, in the last several years it has also featured many pieces on alleged corruption.

"The publication represents by far the most read newspaper in Hungary, a industry frontrunner," said a communications specialist. "The web version has become remarkably well-received in recent years, becoming the fourth most visited website in Hungary. If partisan content is published by such extensively consumed and mainstream outlets, it will have an influence on the general population."

International Perspective

For more than a ten-year period, Hungary has acted as a model for other "illiberal democracies" globally.

Ex-US administrators and their allies have long praised Orbán's Hungary even as it falls in media freedom indexes.

In 2022, Orbán told a meeting of US right-leaning politicians that the path to power required "owning press organizations."

Historical Media Control

In 2010, Orbán's administration approved a legislation that imposed official oversight over the primary press oversight body and put the national media outlet in the hands of loyalists.

Proprietorship Details

Indamedia is partially controlled by Mikló Vaszily, a pro-government entrepreneur who is also CEO of a state-aligned TV network.

In a statement, Indamedia's other co-owner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, said: "Through the acquisition of Ringier Hungary, the group is obtaining a successful media company of equivalent magnitude to Indamedia, with established industry presence and popular products that have significant influence in the Hungarian press environment."

Ringier announced in a communication that its determination to transfer was "driven exclusively by business strategy factors and our focus on our main internet businesses in Hungary."

A government spokesperson was approached for statement.