France, April 16 -- During its 16 years in power, Orban's government was accused of turning public media into a political instrument, with critics saying it offered little room for opposition voices.

"What we experienced was more subtle curbing of freedoms, which does have an impact on everyday life," says media specialist Eva Bognar of the Central European University's Democracy Institute in Budapest. She says Hungary's current public service media offer "disinformation" and "a lot of Russian propaganda".

Magyar's decisive victory in elections last weekend suggest that voters have had enough of that system. 

The incoming prime minister has said Hungary "needs a new media law and a new media authority", and promised his government...