H.E. Victor Orban
Prime Minister of Hungary
Budapest
Hungary
Vienna, 18 September 1998
Your Excellency,
The International Press Institute (IPI) the global network of editors and publishers from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organizations and news agencies, is deeply concerned about moves to force the Hungarian media – by law and under threat of sanctions – to publish rectification not only of facts but also of opinions published in the media.
IPI has been informed that this initiative was proposed by Mr. Belka Pokol, Deputy of the Small Holder’s Party and President of the Constitutional Committee of the Hungarian Parliament and has now been put on the agenda of the Constitutional Committee. The proposal requires a simple majority to change the Code of Civil Procedure.
The Association of Hungarian Journalists (MOUSZ) has declared that, if carried, this new legislation “would be unconstitutional, a brutal attack against freedom of opinion, and also a starting point of a process of intimidation of the media.” IPI fully endorses these sentiments.
IPI would agree with the US Supreme Court on this issue when it ruled as unconstitutional laws that require a right of reply. The Supreme Court decision was on the basis that media would refrain from publishing controversial stories is they were obliged to then publish all other views. However, if a right of reply system is to exist, it should ideally be part of the industry’s self-regulated system, and in any case can only feasibly apply to matters of fact. To broaden the issue to ‘opinion, criticism and judgment’ as has been suggested in Hungary, would place an unreasonable restriction on media practitioners to publish views of any individual or organisation that felt in some way wronged.
We urge you to ensure that such repressive legislation is not allowed to take root in Hungary as it would certainly dissuade members of the media from freely expressing views and opinions.
We thank you in advance for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Johann P. Fritz
Director
