The vote of Hungarian PM, Viktor Orban is only one of the approximately 5 million votes expected today, but the shot of it is certainly the most wanted. Today morning the MTI photographer, who was sent there to take this shot, was banned from taking the picture of the voting Orban. Instead the photographer of the right-wing newspaper, Magyar Nemzet, was chosen to take the photos that can be spread around on the vote of the Prime minister. This is the first time that happens to MTI.
MTI is the Hungarian news agency, founded in 1880, currently meant to be the only independent official press information source, however its independence is contested by left-wing press. Anyway, this is the only official state owned news and photo agency in Hungary. MTI’s news service in English is meant to keep you “abreast of the latest developments in Hungarian politics, diplomacy, culture, economy and sports” declares its website . Publishing the shots of Magyar Nemzet is be against the ethics and traditions of MTI, according to index.huSix minutes after 8 am, MTI published the brief:
"Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who casted his ballot a couple of minutes before 8 am, in the XIIth district of Budapest, is expecting a high turnout at the parliamentary elections this Sunday. High turnout rate improves the government performance, he told to the press, afterwards. (..) (PHOTO) ..."
But in fact no photos were published.
At 11 am one photograph of the same polling station that Orbán casted his ballot in was published on MTI, but the photo did not show the PM. The photo was made by an MTI photographer.
The photos of the PM casting his ballot pop up in the MTI newsfeed after 3 pm.
"photo MTI : Márta Hegedűs, Magyar Nemzet."
At 3 p.m. turnout rate was 45,02%.
The polls close at 7 pm.