RTL Becomes Mouthpiece for Peter Magyar

RTL News consistently reports on the government’s decisions and Viktor Orban’s statements in a critical tone, while portraying Peter Magyar in a positive or neutral context at every possible opportunity, reveals an analysis by the blog Tuzfalcsoport. RTL Hungary is not a Hungarian-owned company; Liz Mohn, the head of the parent company, has maintained close ties with Angela Merkel and even co-authored a book with Ursula von der Leyen.

Close Cooperation with the Brussels Elite

RTL Hungary is not Hungarian-owned but is part of the German Bertelsmann Group, one of the largest players in the European media market. The group has significant influence not only in Hungary but also in the French, Dutch, Luxembourgish, and Spanish markets.

The group has annual revenues of over 18 billion euros. Its leader, Liz Mohn, maintained close ties with Angela Merkel and co-authored a book with Ursula von der Leyen.

Bertelsmann has an extensive lobbying infrastructure in Brussels, and some current European Commission officials were previously employed by the company.

According to Tuzfalcsoport, this international background means that one of the most important actors in Hungarian political communication, that is,

RTL is under the indirect influence of a global elite whose political and ideological interests often conflict with those of the Hungarian government.

Given all this, it is increasingly difficult not to view RTL as a propaganda tool, used to build Peter Magyar’s political brand while portraying government narratives negatively to Hungarian viewers, the blog concluded.

Cover photo: Peter Magyar (Source: Facebook)