Hungarian newspaper Népszava faces staff cuts and imminent print shutdown

Hungarian daily Népszava is undergoing a dramatic restructuring, with a third of its editorial and publishing staff—33 employees—being laid off. The newspaper's print edition will cease, and its PDF version is scheduled to end on July 3 2026, while the future of its website remains uncertain due to accumulated debts. Critics warn that the loss of a nationwide print outlet could create an information vacuum for certain social groups, leading to a “democratic deficit” as the press loses a key tool for monitoring government power.

The situation follows similar cutbacks at other left‑leaning publications, raising concerns about the sustainability of independent journalism in Hungary and the broader impact on public oversight and investigative reporting.