Zsolt Bayer

Zsolt Bayer (born 26 February 1963) is a Hungarian right-wing media figure. He was a co-founder of the ruling Fidesz party and close confidant of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.[1] He is the owner of the No. 5 party membership book.[2]

Zsolt Bayer
Zsolt Bayer in 2007
Born
Budapest Budapest, Hungary
NationalityHungarian
OccupationJournalist

Bayer has worked for a number of media outlets such as Magyar Nemzet and Magyar Hírlap.

In 2016 he was given the Order of Merit of the Knight’s Cross by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.[3][4]

Controversies

In 2013 Bayer published an opinion piece for Magyar Hírlap, Bayer who referred to the killings of Marian Cozma and Gergely Sávoly, where Roma were suspected of involvement,[5] and wrote that many gypsies are "animals... unfit to live among people" and "potential murderers [who] should not exist."[6][7][5] The article generated negative reactions in Hungary and throughout Europe.[7][5] A Fidesz spokeswoman said that Bayer's views were his own, while Fidesz communications chief Máté Kocsis said critics of Bayer's article were "siding with" Roma murderers.[5] The Hungarian Media Authority fined the journal 250,000 forints and ordered the content removed from the Internet.[8]

In a November 2020 opinion article in Magyar Nemzet, "Breaking the Taboo" Bayer called black criminals "niggers". The article was later censored by Magyar Nemzet.[9]

In December 2020 Bayer said on HírTV that an "old friend and comrade" admitted to him two decades ago that he liked to go to Thailand "because young boys were also available", indicating Bayer had knowledge about sexual abuse of minors. There is no record showing that Bayer ever reported this to the relevant authorities.[10]

Political views

Bayer has anti immigration stances, such as in 2015 speech.[1]

Bayer, said in 2016 that Pope Francis was “either a senile old fool or a scoundrel” for his pro-refugee sentiments.[11][12]

References
  1. Balogh, Eva S. (23 April 2019). "What's wrong with the West? Everything". Hungarian Spectrum. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. Zsolt, Kácsor (5 May 2010). "Fideszes selyemzsinór és az ötös számú párttagkönyv". NOL.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. McLaughlin, Daniel (7 September 2016). "Hungary under fire over award for 'hate-filled xenophobe'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. "Journalist repeatedly fined for anti-Semitic, racist comments given major Hungarian award". National Post. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. Verseck, Keno (30 January 2013). "Blurring Boundaries: Hungarian Leader Adopts Policies of Far-Right". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  6. Bayer, Zsolt (5 January 2013). "Ki ne legyen?". Magyar Hírlap (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  7. "Moving right in Hungary". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  8. "Negyedmillióra büntette Bayer írása miatt a Magyar Hírlapot a Médiatanács". HVG (in Hungarian). 8 May 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. Márk, Herczeg (15 November 2020). "Átírta a Magyar Nemzet Bayer Zsolt tabutörőnek szánt, rasszista szövegét". 444 (in Hungarian). Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  10. László, Szily (4 December 2020). ""Ennek a kockázatát harminc éve tudja mindenki a Jóskával kapcsolatban"". 444 (in Hungarian). Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  11. Balogh, Eva S. (13 August 2016). "Pope Francis and his Hungarian critics". Hungarian Spectrum. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. Walker, Shaun (14 July 2019). "Orbán deploys Christianity with a twist to tighten grip in Hungary". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
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