Surprisingly, PM Orbán’s press chief leaves with immediate effect

PM Viktor Orbán interview
Photo: MTI

From today on, the Hungarian press should submit their questions to the Government Information Centre (Kormányzati Tájékoztatási Központ, KTK) instead of Bertalan Havasi, the Deputy State Secretary heading the Press Office of the Prime Minister. Mr Havasi’s departure, despite their close working relationship with PM Orbán lasting for almost two decades, was immediate.

Orbán’s press chief leaves

According to Telex, Havasi did not react to their questions concerning his surprising leave. According to a statement by the KTK, they would share further details about Havasi’s new tasks later.

Havasi started his career as a journalist. He worked as a reporter for Magyar Nemzet and Duna TV, later Hír TV. Both Magyar Nemzet and Hír TV are and were close to Orbán’s Fidesz. In 2005, he was appointed press chief of Fidesz. He has been working for PM Orbán since 2010. Interestingly, he keeps a Coca-Cola can as a relic, from which Orbán drank at the inauguration of a new Coca-Cola plant in Hungary. Hungarian opposition-close press regularly slammed him for trying to keep journalists from the prime minister.

PM Viktor Orbán interview
Viktor Orbán and Bertalan Havasi on 17 January before the prime minister’s morning Kossuth Rádió interview. Photo: MTI

Some believe that the quick dismissal of one of the oldest press employees of Orbán means that the secession was not peaceful. Provided anything new is discovered concerning the details, we will update our article.

Read also:

  • PM Orbán: Hungary does not need to leave the EU because it will fall apart – read more HERE
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