Based on several court rulings, but essentially through the oppression strategy of the Hungarian Government, Radio Club (Klubrádió) had to shut down its broadcast on FM at midnight on February 14. In its last farewell, the staff quoted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who said in 2018 in Strasbourg,
“We would never descend to muzzling those who do not agree with us.”
Radio Club has been losing its 12 frequencies since 2010 (when the current ruling party came to power), and by 2020, only one of those had remained, FM 92.9, which was only available on the territory of the Hungarian capital. Then, a decision was made by the Media Council (fully staffed with the Prime Minister’s minions) to expire even that last frequency.
Club did compete to renew the license, along with two others (who were both disqualified), but did not win, despite the lack of competitors. The reason given was its previous fines for the “wrong” music structure and for being late in submitting data with the minutes by minute account of its broadcast. One of those disqualified then sued, and that (likely frivolous) case is now pending. Club requested, but was denied by the courts, a temporary license, so no one is currently using the frequency.
The Radio is an independent media house, but it is perceived of by the ruling party’s bosses as the (last FM) voice of the opposition. Hence the need to shut it down before the next election due in the spring of 2022. This is the newest example of how the Hungarian Government cannot tolerate even a small radio station staffed with experienced, independent voices.
Radio Club continues as an Internet radio, but it is yet to be seen whether the majority of its listeners can follow it online.
(From Free Hungarian Word/Szabad Magyar Szó’s Budapest correspondent, Veronika Szappanos)
[Cover image: How much time do we have left? From Radio Club’s studio (Photo: Klubrádió)]
