The head of the publishing house associated with the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), Tamás Novák, has publicly criticized Balázs Orbán, the political director of the Prime Minister, in an open letter. Novák accused Orbán’s government of hostility towards the intellectual community and questioned the legitimacy of controlling Hungary’s largest cultural enterprise while simultaneously being at odds with intellectuals. The letter directly challenges Orbán’s position and implies a conflict between government policy and cultural freedom. This public rebuke is unusual given the MCC’s generally pro-government stance. The criticism centers on the perceived attempt to exert control over cultural institutions. The letter’s tone is accusatory, suggesting a deep disagreement over the role of government in cultural affairs. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Hungarian government and segments of the country’s intellectual elite.