Freedom of Speech

The new media-press regulation plan is unfounded, and fails to meet established European freedom of press standards. Moreover, the so-called “media package” sponsored by two right-wing MPs from the governing party (Antal Rogán, András Cser-Palkovics), contains bills with several unconstitutional clauses. The bills would bring about significant changes to the functioning of printed press, television, radio and part of the internet as well. The HCLU disapproves of the process by which the new parliamentary majority has gone about building a completely new regulation plan without any previous consultation, open debate with stakeholders, experts or journalists.  This is foolhardy at best, since the bills represent an attempt at a far-reaching overhaul in media regulation.

Three NGOs, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the  Eötvös Károly Institute and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee have reviewed and commented on the way the Fidesz-KDNP Government has performed its legislative work so far, and consequently submit their criticism below.

Last week’s events have shaken the common opinion of the public’s conscience. The Tibet Support Association, Protect the Future, the Hungarian Young Greens and the HCLU believes in Hungary having the responsibility of standing up in this matter. Read our letter!

Upon the initiation of the President of Capitol Court, criminal proceedings were started against the Executive Board of the Labour Party for defamation. According to the accusation and later the arraignment, 7 members of the Board have committed the act of defamation. The Party – in a statement - deemed a verdict of the Capitol Court a ’political decision’ and ’revenge of power’.

Today, the Capital Court of Appeals has reached its verdict in the 2nd degree proceedings of the Ministry of Justice and Law Enforcement vs. Viktor Orbán. Read on for the details!

Yesterday, the Court of Székesfehérvár has returned its first instance decision in the lawsuit against members of the board of the Labour Party. Freedom of Speech lost….Read on for the deatails!

Today, the HCLU has turned to Dr. László Sólyom, Head of the Republic of Hungary to request that he practice his constitutional right and send the amendment of the Civil Code, the newly passed Act on Hate Speech to the Constitutional Court for an opinion before signing it.

On August 7th, 2007 Dr. Bencze József, Liutenant General High Comissioner of Hungarian National Police invited Balázs Dénes, President of the HCLU and his colleagues to a meeting at the National Police Headquarters. For results of this meeting, please read the below press release.

On 30 Nov, 2006 the court’s judgment was made in favor of HCLU, representing Peter Marinov, former leader of ÓVÁS! Association against the 7. District.

The Budapest Court of Appeal has reversed the verdict of first instance on 14 Sept, 2006, in the case of Auchan Hungary Limited versus The Clean Air Action Group. According to the decision, András Lukács, President of The Clean Air Action Group was not guilty of defamation as originally charged. András Lukács was represented by Environmental Management and Law Association (EMLA) and HCLU.