Klubrádió, who regularly had votes from the opposition in Hungary, appealed to the court after the license was revoked by the country’s media council last year for, among other things, violating the rules on advertising.
Members of the Media Council are elected by the Hungarian National Assembly, in which Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party has a majority.
In response to Judge Antal’s ruling on Tuesday, the Media Council said in an online statement: ‘The ruling states that Klubrádió did not appeal against the repeated offenses, which caused the legal exclusion, that they became final, so there is no choice but to refuse to renew it. ‘
Mihaly Hardy, news director of Klubrádió, said: ‘There is a big propaganda balloon built by the government, and Klubrádió was a small hole, a piece of truth where the air could escape, so they had to make this hole in the balloon close and so they can construct their own propaganda world that does not reflect the reality of Hungary. ‘
Klubrádió’s license expires on 14 February. It can still be broadcast via the internet. The station can appeal against the decision in a counter-appeal, Judge Antal said.
Dunja Mitajovic, the Human Rights Commissioner for the Council of Europe, tweeted that the ruling meant ‘another silent vote in Hungary’ and ‘another sad day for #MediaFreedom’.
The International Press Institute also condemned the ruling. Director Scott Griffen said the ruling would force ‘Hungary’s last major independent radio broadcaster off the air. It is devastating for the remnants of media pluralism in Hungary and will have far-reaching consequences inside and outside the country’s borders.
“Make no mistake, this is the result of a deliberate, decade-long attempt by political forces in Hungary to destroy Klubrádió from the air. The court simply delivered the final blow,” he said.
“Over the past few years, the Fidesz-controlled Media Council and the government have blocked one by one every remaining road for Klubrádió to stay afloat when its renewal was rejected for politically motivated decisions. The result was that, when the time finally came for the renewal of Klubrádió’s license, his fate was anything but sealed. ‘