Hungary Media Council members received 197 million forints in bonuses

The National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) has revealed that five former members of the Media Council received a total of 197,104,900 HUF in bonuses between 2022 and 2026.

According to NMHH reports, the council members voted for themselves bonuses equivalent to 1.5 months of honoraria, while the chairman received an amount equivalent to 1.5 months of salary. These payments were reportedly drawn from the expected surplus of the council's operating budget. The former chairman, András Koltay, received approximately 80.3 million HUF, while the four other members—László Budai, Balázs Bartóki-Gönczy, László Meszleny, and Károly Szadai—each received approximately 29.2 million HUF.

New council members and the current chairman, Gábor Polyák, have stated that such payments lacked legal authorization. They noted that the media law only provides for honoraria and expense reimbursements, but does not permit the distribution of bonuses. The current council has indicated that such practices will not continue.