Hungary, Budapest. Protest in front of state television. The opposition wants to liquidate the “propaganda factory”

On Saturday afternoon, several thousand people gathered in front of the headquarters of the state television MTVA. The leader of the center-right opposition party TISHA (Tisztelet es Szabadsag – Respect and Freedom), Peter Magyar, read and pasted 16 demands on the entrance door to the broadcaster's building.

– We have had enough of malice, lies, propaganda, our patience has run out – Magyar told the crowd. The demonstrators demanded, among other things, liquidation of the “propaganda factory” and restoration of real public media, as well as the immediate dismissal of the head of MTVA, Daniel Papp. – Today's public media in Hungary it's an international scandal. We've had enough, said the 43-year-old opposition leader.

A similar tone was expressed by independent MP Akos Hadhazy, who said that the MTVA headquarters is the strongest bastion of power in the country. He called on news directors who falsify news to resign and for a legal ban on government propaganda.

Although MTVA published a report on the opposition demonstration, during it and in later news outlets it first accused Magyar of threatening violence in his open letter, and later accused him and his associates of inciting violence.

The state broadcaster reported allegations that Magyar had entrusted his associates with creating an assault force and was also planning to attack the MTVA headquarters with axes and pickaxes. In addition, publicists argued that implementing Magyar's demands would lead to “the restoration of political supervision over public media.”

Peter Magyar, who was previously a member of the ruling Fidesz, gained wider popularity at the beginning of the year after leaving the party and resigning from all his positions. He did this in response to the pardon by the then President of Hungary, Katalin Novak, of the deputy director of an orphanage who was convicted of covering up pedophilia crimes.

After leaving Viktor Orban's party, Magyar began opposition activities, focusing not only on building a new opposition party or organizing demonstrations, but also on revealing the pathologies of the current government. In recent months, Magyar has become the main “anti-hero” of public media, which focus on criticizing and attacking the new opposition leader.

According to the latest polls Magyar's TISHA party, registered this year, has 39 percent. support while on Fidesz 43% of people would vote for Orban. respondents.