One of my medium-term trends is the emergence of far-right, fasicistic and nationalistic forces across the European Union - which will eventually lead to the implosion of the EU around 2030.
Hungary is the first member of the EU to overtly move into a dictatorship with its recent law on press freedom.
Twenty years after the fall of the Stalinist regime in Hungary, the government has abolished freedom of the press. The new media law passed last week by the Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz), which enjoys a two-thirds majority in parliament, gives the government sweeping powers to monitor the press.
A five-member Media Council, headed by a long-time confidant of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, can impose tough sanctions against any media outlet whose reporting is not “balanced.” What constitutes “balanced” reporting is determined by the Media Council.
Journalists who write about “national security” issues must disclose their sources.
The news output for all public broadcasters will be produced by a central government agency.
As the WSWS notes;
Hungary is an extreme example, but it is not unique. All of the European governments are in the process of pushing the burden of the international economic crisis onto the backs of ordinary working people through drastic austerity measures. This cannot be carried out by democratic means. Freedom of the press and free speech are under attack everywhere.
Interesting to wonder which country will be next?
Peace always has been and always will be an intermittent flash of light in a dark history of warfare, violence, and destruction
contadino wrote:Ahem...I'll have you know that we've had an overtly oppressed media since 2005.
Come come now contadino, what about the 10% of Italian media that is not owned or influenced by your pervy Prime Minister?
Is there any retirement age for your politicians? In a couple of years he'll be pushing 80, surely something should be put in place; especially since he managed to scrape the no confidence vote.
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Frederick Douglass
contadino wrote:Ahem...I'll have you know that we've had an overtly oppressed media since 2005.
Come come now contadino, what about the 10% of Italian media that is not owned or influenced by your pervy Prime Minister?
Is there any retirement age for your politicians? In a couple of years he'll be pushing 80, surely something should be put in place; especially since he managed to scrape the no confidence vote.
2010 has seen 3 investigative journalists disappear, and broadcast licenses for all the anti-Silvio shows revoked. Yes, there is a marginal media independence, but that doesn't mean that that 10% can act independently.
contadino wrote:
2010 has seen 3 investigative journalists disappear, and broadcast licenses for all the anti-Silvio shows revoked. Yes, there is a marginal media independence, but that doesn't mean that that 10% can act independently.
Yes totally agree, I wasn't being serious about that 10%, the whole situation is clearly highly undemocratic. The idea of a PM controlling any of the media is bad enough without the monopoly he holds. I didn't know journos were now disappearing; that's even more depressing
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Frederick Douglass
contadino wrote:Is there any retirement age for your politicians? In a couple of years he'll be pushing 80, surely something should be put in place; especially since he managed to scrape the no confidence vote.
Oh, and this. Here it's more of a case of the devil you know. The alternatives are shocking. The Lega Nord (equivalent to the NF), Fini (the 'former' neofascist), or the religious UDC that make the Bush/Blair crusade look like a village fete.
There's a glimmer of hope down here in the south with a communist regional president (Nichi Vendola), but he's more likely to be killed by the CIA than run the country.
Seriously, a soap opera of Italian politics would be so much more stimulating than 'Stenders or whatever the current fave is right now.
DominicJ wrote:I would point out that many people on here are quick to say that climate change deniers should be silenced....
I doubt many, if any, people would say that the idiot deniers should be silenced. They're perfectly free to make themselves look like idiots. In fact, it might be quite useful to know who these people are, for future reference
DominicJ wrote:UK Press can write more or less whatever it wants, for now, but TV and radio must be "fair and balanced". IE not piss off the Civil Service.
Er....no. The Tories were pretty open about their pact with Murdoch before the election. His media supported the Tories in exchange for cuts to the BBC and clearance for his takeover of BSkyB.
contadino wrote:Er....no. The Tories were pretty open about their pact with Murdoch before the election. His media supported the Tories in exchange for cuts to the BBC and clearance for his takeover of BSkyB.
contadino wrote:Er....no. The Tories were pretty open about their pact with Murdoch before the election. His media supported the Tories in exchange for cuts to the BBC and clearance for his takeover of BSkyB.
