Népszabadság editors to negotiate on possible sale of paper with publisher

Budapest (MTI) – Talks on Sunday on publishing Monday’s issue of daily Népszabadság and putting its website content back online failed; however, the sides will negotiate on the possible sale of the paper on Monday, editor-in-chief András Murányi told a few hundred sympathisers and journalists outside of the publisher’s headquarters in Budapest.

The newspaper’s editors made an offer, and the publisher, Mediaworks, agreed with the general concept, but wished to put the agreement in legal terms, until which time the paper will not operate, Murányi said.

“I interpreted this to mean that the decision taken was not a financial one, rather some other type,” he added.

The only thing on which the paper’s management and the publisher can negotiate is ensuring the sale of Népszabadság, Murányi said.

Anna Dano, who heads the paper’s work council, said talks with the publisher would continue on Monday.