On March 15, in his public speech (where only national television stations were allowed to broadcast), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán raised the intensity of the hate campaign against organizations and individuals critical of the government to a new level, comparing them to bugs. In his own words:
“The heady day of 15 March 1848 was followed by the sober and wise laws of April. These laws protected the freedom won on 15 March. This is exactly what will happen now. After today’s festive gathering will come house cleaning for Easter. The bugs have survived winter. We are dismantling the financial machine that has used corrupt dollars to buy politicians, judges, journalists, bogus civil society organisations and political activists. We will disperse the entire shadow army. They are the latter-day Habsburg troops, the minions of Brussels, paid to do the empire’s bidding against their own country. They have been here too long. They have survived too much. They have received money from too many places. They have switched sides too many times. In 1848, we had the Emperor’s crows on our backs, and now we have Weber chicks squawking over our heads. We have had just about enough of them. The spring winds bring flood water, let it carry them off… They wear the scarlet letter, their fate will be shame and contempt. If there is justice, and there is, there is a special place in Hell for them. We know you. You cannot disguise yourself in your new European party garb. Your masters are the same. Your plans are the same. And do not be hopeful: your fate will be the same, you will be defeated again. Again and again. For the sword shines brighter than chains.”
Meanwhile, the editorial offices under attack, including both national and local newspapers, highlighted the state of Hungarian press freedom and the vital role of independent journalism by invoking the 12 Points of March, particularly the first: “We demand freedom of the press and the abolition of censorship.”
While the promised bill is still being drafted, the campaign against independent media continues. Notably, Tényellenőr and the Sovereignty Protection Office have propagated unfounded allegations against 444, Telex, and Átlátszó concerning their sources of funding.