The newspaper had accumulated substantial debts to the Fidesz-linked Mediaworks printing and distribution companies.

The newspaper said repayment negotiations had been ongoing, but after the election Mediaworks changed its position and issued an ultimatum.

Népszava described the move as hostile, and noted that the paper had struggled financially since losing government advertising revenue last year.

It added that Mediaworks holds a dominant position in both newspaper printing and distribution in Hungary. It is also the publisher of Magyar Nemzet.

The newspaper recalled that its editorial staff had repeatedly rejected Fidesz government propaganda advertisements attacking figures such as George Soros, Ursula von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Péter Magyar, despite financial pressure.

Mediaworks said its decision was purely economical, arguing that Népszava’s publisher had failed to meet payment obligations and had run up debts worth hundreds of millions of forints over the past year.

Even a debt restructuring agreement reached earlier this year was not honoured, said Mediaworks.

The company added that it remains open to future co-operation if Népszava settles its outstanding debts, in which case printing and distribution could continue under a prepaid arrangement.

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