BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Thousands of protesters gathered outside the headquarters of Hungary's public media corporation on Saturday to demonstrate against what they say is an entrenched propaganda network operated by the nationalist government at taxpayer expense.

Thousands of Hungarians gathered outside the headquarters of the country's state television on Saturday, protesting against what they described as the government's "propaganda machine" and calling for an independent public service media.

The protests, launched outside of the building of the state-owned MTVA media company, were organized by Hungary's leading opposition figure and head of the Tisza party, Peter Magyar.

Both Hungarian and international observers have long warned that press freedom in the Central European country is under threat

The protest was organised by Hungary's most prominent opposition figure, Péter Magyar who heads the TISZA party, which has emerged in recent months as the most serious political challenge for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán since he took power nearly 15 years ago.

On Saturday, thousands of people gathered in front of the Hungarian public media headquarters to protest against "an entrenched, taxpayer-funded propaganda network operated by the nationalist government,