Hungary has taken the helm of the European Union, even as a controversial new
law that has sparked concerns over media freedom in the country comes into
force.
The country will have the six-month rotating presidency at a crucial time for
the 27-nation bloc. Chief amongst the issues Hungary will have to grapple with
are the eurozone debt crisis and negotiations over the EU's long-term
budget.
Alarm bells are ringing in Brussels, however, about Hungary's domestic
political agenda.
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, came to power in April, when his
centre-right Fidesz party won an unprecedented two-thirds majority in the
parliament, giving him the power to change laws and amend the constitution with
little opposition.
Critics say he has set about creating a one-party state, with independent
institutions either abolished or taken over by his allies.
The latest issue to raise alarm among other EU countries has been the
creation of a new watchdog agency to regulate Hungarian media content, with
effect from Saturday
