Hungarian Parliament approves media overhaul and ends protected fuel price

On Tuesday Hungary’s parliament voted 145‑39 to overhaul the public‑media system. The Media Services and Mass Communication Act was amended to merge the Media Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) into Duna Media Service, renamed Hungarian Radio and Television Nonprofit Plc., and to restore the independence of the national news agency as MTI Nonprofit Plc. A new nine‑member Independent Public Media Board will own and supervise the restructured broadcasters, while a Press Fund will replace the former MTVA financing model and support independent media. The law also bars members of political parties or officials who have held office in the past five years from senior management positions.

In the same session parliament approved the removal of the protected fuel‑price system that had set administrative ceilings on gasoline and diesel. The amendment, passed with 130‑36 votes, eliminates the price caps and gives the economy minister authority to set temporary caps by decree if market conditions warrant. The decision was justified by improved international energy markets.

The elimination of the protected price has triggered protests from small, family‑owned fuel stations, which report losses of 7.5‑8 billion forints since the scheme’s introduction. The Independent Gas‑Station Association announced a one‑day shutdown on June 26 to protest the government’s failure to compensate them and to warn that the new law would allow a rapid re‑introduction of the price controls.