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September: Péter Polt, Chief Prosecutor, instructs the prosecutor's offices in the Vth and XIIIth districts to discover whether István Zoltán Tóth, manager of the Center for National Image, illegaly handled data. István Zoltán Tóth did not reveal for 120 days who had taken part in evaluating the National Image tenders. László Keller, an MSZP member of Parliament, finds it improper that the managers and staff who wrote the call for tenders were also the ones who selected the winning application: as a result, he would like the contract to be cancelled. Meanwhile Public Auditors too investigate at the Center for National Image, and they plan to give their report in fall. In September, during the first term of the advertised Social and Economical Developement Programme for Information, itself a part in the Széchenyi programme, 5 million forints were allotted to Magyar Rádió, 10 million to Magyar Televízió, and as much as 20 million to Magyar Nemzet. Moreover 11.5 million were granted to Info Rádió and 13 million to Médiavilág Kft. In September, the Chief Prosecutor declares there is no reason to initiate an investigation because of the antisemitic statements from MIÉP about selling the FTC. It is believed that, though the contested statements are without any doubt offensive and can create a negative atmosphere, they are not a crime as such. With respect to this case, Péter Polt initiates a discussion with Ibolya Dávid, Minister for Justice, in order to perform the task of filling a legislative gap in the law. In September as well, the board of MÚOSZ declares that the police investigation against the editor-in-chief and one of the journalists of Magyar Nemzet is a serious violation of the freedom of the press. Gabor Liszkay is suspected of illegal data handling, because the newspaper he runs has aired the assault that took place in a corridor at a district court. September: Both the MSZP and the Association of Content Providers (MTE) oppose a planned Internet Act, that likely will be discussed in Parliament during the month. According to the MTE the bill is contrary to EU directives relative to the topic. They believe that like in Western Europe, the need is for self-regulation, the bases of which have already been set in MTE's own code. In September and October, the Prosecutor starts an investigation against Lóránt Hegedus Jr., a MIÉP member of Parliament and a calvinist pastor, suspected of inciting hate against a community. The investigation is based on an article published in the party's paper in the XVIth district called Ébreszto (Reveille). The member of Parliament wrote a message against Jews. While some people complain on an individual basis because of the paper, Ildikó Lendvai, vice-chairman of the MSZP, sends a letter to Péter Polt, Chief Prosecutor, in which she asks whether he can start a procedure from his office. Hegedus's views are also studied by the board of the Reformed Council and by the staff at the Reformed Theological University in Debrecen. In October István Csurka, chairman of MIÉP, initiates a signature collection "in defense of christian Hungary". He declares his solidarity with László Bognár, a Catholic theologian, and with Loránt Hegedus, pastor and member of Parliament. Pannon Rádió could be fined two million forints and subjected to a written warning with even more serious consequences, for broadcasting word for word Loránt Hegedus's article. The suggestion is that this text was apt to arouse hatred. In October,
the MTV board turns to the Parliament for help, since it has become
clear that Magyar Televízió cannot continue to function without further
financial support. The MSZP and the SZDSZ would only support the proposal
on certain conditions, among which are the selection of a new advisory
board chairman, the establishment of a parliamentary commission in order
to unveil the reasons of the insolvency, and the end of the Prosecutor's
investigation into public television spending. In October the Chief Prosecutor asks Happy End Kft. for the contracts signed at the Center for National Image to be handed in and gives instructions for their examination. The Prosecutor's office examines their validity, all the more since the expert's opinion is that they do not comply with laws about public procurement. On the 8th
of October, Rádió C starts broadcasting,
while the judicial case between Tilos Rádió and ORTT is still on.
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