Searching for Truth Inside Viktor Orban’s Media Machine
In Hungary, politics often splits along generational lines. The election result may hinge on how many voters still trust what they see on state television.
Viktor Orban at his annual news conference in Budapest in January.
Photographer: Marton Monus/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Every Friday evening, Levente calls his grandmother, Eva. After touching on family and health, they steer the conversation to politics. Eva is a supporter of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and each week Levente makes an attempt to prick what he sees as the Hungarian leader’s media bubble.
The 43-year-old dentist probes gently whether his nagymama has heard of the latest corruption scandal, or about fresh reports of Russian influence in the country. Inevitably, the answer is no. Eva gets her news mainly from Hungarian state media, which Orban quickly turned into a government mouthpiece after returning to power 16 years ago.