Hungary

[HU] Freedom of Expression and Media in the Constitution

IRIS 2002-8:1/35

Esther M. Harlow

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

Article 61 para. 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Hungary of 20 August 1949 (last amended in 2004 by Act No. CIV) gives everyone the right to freely express his opinions, as well as to access and distribute information of public interest.

The freedom of the press is guaranteed under Article 61 para. 2 of the Constitution. With regard to broadcasting, various parliamentary decisions are regulated by the Constitution. For example, according to Article 61 para. 4, a two-thirds majority of votes of the Members of Parliament present is required to pass the law on the supervision of public radio, television and the public news agency, as well as the appointment of the directors thereof, on the licensing of commercial radio and television, and on the prevention of monopolies in the media sector. One such law is Act No. I on radio broadcasting and television, which entered into force on 12 June 1996. It was amended in 2002 by Act No. XX, which was primarily adopted in order to implement the Television Without Frontiers Directive (89/552/EEC) into Hungarian law (see IRIS 2002-8: 8).