The following editorial appeared on the front page of the October 12th, 2016 edition of  left-wing print daily “Népszava” and other surviving members of Hungary’s independent media:

It is with astonishment that we learned of the brutally fast, sly closure of Népszabadság. Instead of new editorial offices, the deceived journalists, our colleagues, found themselves in the street.

After the liquidation of one of the remaining workshops of democratic publicity independent of the government, even less opportunity remains for Hungarian society to inform itself about the activities of elected officials. This is especially worrying at a time when government influenced or directed media outlets financed by copious public funds have come to dominate Hungary’s public forum.  For democracy cannot function without a free press featuring balanced information, professional fact-finding, investigative journalism, and a wide-range of opinions.

With all of its problems, Népszabadság was a value which the paper’s owners want to eliminate without a trace contrary to all business logic, obviously for political reasons.  This is an unacceptable violation of democratic norms.

Return the Népszabadság to its editors, reporters, colleagues and its readers!  Until then, using the means at our disposal all of us wish to offer media surface in the interest of enabling the editors to continue their work.

Signed by the Hungarian editors of the following publications:

168 Óra, 444.hu, átlászó.hu, Élet és Irodalom, Klubrádió, Magyar Narancs, Népszava, Revizor, Vasárnapi Hírek, Euronews