• Peter Magyar vows to suspend state media broadcasts after winning elections.
• The incoming leader aims to restore press freedom and pass a new media law.
• Magyar's victory marks the end of Viktor Orban's 16-year rule in Hungary.
• He plans to address media bias and intimidation faced by journalists.
• More than 16 billion euros in EU pandemic recovery funds are at stake due to rule-of-law issues.

Peter Magyar, the Prime Minister-elect of Hungary, has announced plans to suspend state media broadcasts and overhaul the media landscape following his party's recent electoral success. This marks a decisive shift away from the administration of Viktor Orban, which critics say turned public broadcasters into government mouthpieces. “Every Hungarian deserves a public service media that broadcasts the truth,” Magyar stated during an interview, emphasizing the need for a new media law and authority to facilitate this transformation, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

Critics have alleged that under Orban's rule, independent media gradually disappeared, with many outlets coming under the control of political loyalists. Magyar's incoming government will need to navigate this challenging media landscape, which has been described as a "propaganda machine." He remarked about witnessing “the last days of a propaganda machine,” which underlines the urgency for immediate reforms, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

Additionally, Magyar is not only focused on overhauling the media but also on political dynamics, as he called for President Tamas Sulyok to resign. He intends to form a government and address pressing economic challenges, including more than 16 billion euros in European Union COVID-19 recovery funding currently blocked over concerns about the rule of law. Magyar has initiated discussions with European leaders to negotiate terms beneficial for Hungary, as he aims to align his reforms with EU expectations, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.