A new survey by Medián suggests that a clear majority of Hungarians believe next year’s parliamentary elections could be influenced by foreign powers – and more than half consider Russia the most likely actor to interfere.
Many Hungarians think that this can easily happen
According to the polling data, published by HVG360, 83 percent of respondents think some form of external meddling is plausible ahead of the 2025 vote. While the Orbán government has repeatedly warned of alleged attempts by “Brussels” to shape Hungarian politics, the public remains far more concerned about Moscow.
Fifty-three percent of those surveyed regard Russian involvement as a realistic threat, compared with 49 percent who fear manipulation from the European Union or the United States.
The findings reflect a broader and long-term shift in Hungarian public opinion. Since the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, perceptions of the two countries have changed dramatically.
Will we have a safe and fair election in Hungary?
During the first year of the war, more citizens viewed Russia as a danger to Hungary than Ukraine. Today, the trend has reversed: the Hungarian public now sees Ukraine— the attacked country— as a greater threat than Russia, the aggressor.
Analysts attribute this reversal to years of intense government communication campaigns. Medián’s earlier research already indicated that pro-government messaging, backed by HUF billions in state-funded advertising, has strengthened scepticism toward the West while cultivating more sympathetic attitudes toward Moscow. This shift has taken place despite the fact that a broad majority of Hungarians still support EU membership.
Big differences on the two sides
Political preferences strongly influence perceptions of election interference. Among Fidesz–KDNP voters, only 2 percent consider Russian meddling “highly likely”, whereas 39 percent of Tisza Party supporters see it as almost certain.
When including those who believe Russian interference is at least possible, the gap widens further: 19 percent of government supporters versus 82 percent of Tisza voters anticipate some degree of Russian involvement.
A similar, though less dramatic, divide is visible regarding potential American interference: 32 percent of Fidesz voters fear it, compared with 63 percent of Tisza supporters.
The survey ultimately underscores a striking political polarisation. Hungarians who favour a change of government are far more worried about foreign manipulation of the elections than supporters of the ruling party.
Medián’s analysts note that this may partly stem from the perception that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán maintains close relations with both Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump—an alignment that, in the view of many opposition voters, may benefit Fidesz in 2025.
Russia has already been interfering in Hungary promoting non-stop disinformation to make you think that mafia state which has invaded Ukraine and Georgia is somehow your friend while the EU which funds your development is your enemy and NATO which protects you from Russia is your enemy. Putin needs Fidesz in power to keep weakening the EU and NATO. Why do you think Orban held up Swedish and Finnish accession into NATO for almost two years? Why do you think Orban is working day and night to help Russian take over Ukraine by cutting off funding and weaponry. Oh yeah Putin is a man of PEACE. Just ignore his murder of tens of thousands of Ukrainians. Orban go back to Moscow to give Putin another B-job because that’s all you are good for.
“Most Hungarians fear foreign intervention of next year’s parliamentary elections…”
THIS …. is a bizarre statement.
Why?
Reason #1. How can any Hungarian fail to know that Hungary is at the centre of the storm between the dying Liberal establishment and the new nationalist post-NATO, post Bruxelles world?
Reason #2. How can any Hungarian think that the Western Elite regime-change attempt to conquer Hungary, via the unjust withholding of Hungarian funds and the Magyar candidacy, would go unopposed by China, Russia, and, yes, the United Stated – or, at least, with Trump at the helm?
Reason #3. How can any Hungarian think that the vast array of International Corporations, starting with Silicon Valley companies, would ever allow Hungary to be a conservative country.
How many times does Torozckai László have to speak on this matter – in and out of parliament?
Even I, as a White Southerner in the disUnited States, was shadow-banned at YouTube, this for having dared to mention Torozckai’s name in a positive context!
Yes, I read the comments here and am often shocked to find that there are actually Hungarians who think that Russia is the sole foreign entity or nation that actually has a vested stake in the current Hungary!
Because of the daring leadership of Orban Viktor, Hungary is the small European country, that most cannot find on a map, that has become significant.
Whether you like that or not, Orban Viktor has asserted Hungary’s role upon the world – and he has done it with practically no assets, little manufacturing, and no appreciable army.
Surely Hungarians ought appreciate this reality, but, then again – maybe Hungarians are as clueless as are most Americans.
Russian bot claiming to be a “White Southerner”. Don’t forget why Hungary and all the rest of Europe joined NATO and that is because of the Russian threat. That is why Finland and Sweden felt they now had to join. The single worst thing these Fidesz traitors did was remove the memorial for the victims of Russian oppression of 1956 from the front of Parliament which had its’ eternal falme of Russian gas. Once you do that you know what is coming. Nagy Imre was also removed from the area because he too was a reminder of the victims of Russian oppression.
“Russian bot claiming to be a “White Southerner”
Essentially what you are saying here, Dear Larry, is that anyone who does not share your views is either not real and or a paid saboteur.
You can choose to be more secure than this.
You can choose to live in a period of time other than 1945-1956.
You can choose not to be filled full of emnity for others.
And, yes, you can choose to have Happy Holidays!
Come on!
Same tactics? try to vary the methodology so people may fail to discover that you are a BOT!!!
😂
Larry, Works for the US CIA at the Budapest Embassy, his job is to spread Russophobia and E.U. propaganda on the media here in Hungary. Pay no attention to Larry.
@derrick – wait – thats my turf. Data nerd so NSA more likely 😀
Thank you for the support, Derrick, but, I am not going to disregard views with which I disagree, nor am I going to suspect the people who hold those views of mental infirmity, disingenuousness, or any other disqualifying criterion.
Larry is like so many people who live in the Northeastern part of my country, and some even in my part – The South; and, as such, it really does not matter if he offers these views for recompense or just for self-satisfaction to participate in the debate.
The reality is that there are many tens of millions of Whites who think like Larry does.
We have to talk to them – and keep reminding them that orienting our nations towards a future of our children existing as beleauguered homosexual and godless, drug-infested White minorities is not an acceptable path – no matter how well renumerated we are economically.
In the end they are our brothers and they are going to have to make peace with the fact we will not see Western Civilization disappear over the horizon.
“Don’t forget why Hungary and all the rest of Europe joined NATO and that is because of the Russian threat.”
Lol. Hungary clearly joined NATO, so that the USA doesn’t attack Hungary.
The only reason Orbán wasn’t regime-changed already is, that Biden couldn’t justify open hostilities. That’s why Hungary is in NATO.
Russian election interference has been extensively documented across multiple Western democracies. The most prominent case was the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where Russian military intelligence hacked Democratic Party emails and released them through WikiLeaks, while the Internet Research Agency ran large-scale social media disinformation campaigns. Russia also attempted to breach election systems in all 50 U.S. states and continued similar but less effective operations in 2020. Beyond the U.S., Russia has interfered in European elections including the French presidential election through cyberattacks on Macron’s campaign, the Brexit referendum through disinformation, and German elections via hacking attempts on the Bundestag.
Regarding political influence operations, Russia has cultivated relationships with Western politicians and parties across Europe. Notable cases include Marine Le Pen’s National Rally receiving millions in loans from Russian banks, Germany’s AfD members taking trips to Russia and echoing Kremlin positions on Ukraine, and Austria’s FPÖ (Freedom Party) signing cooperation agreements with Putin’s United Russia party. In the UK, Nigel Farage has faced scrutiny for repeatedly praising Putin, appearing on Russia Today, and promoting foreign policy positions aligned with Russian interests, while his former UKIP colleague Nathan Gill worked closely with him during the Brexit campaign. Reform UK, Farage’s current party, has also been noted for candidates spreading Russian narratives about the Ukraine conflict. These parties often share similar talking points on NATO, EU sanctions on Russia, and Ukrainian sovereignty.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/former-reform-uk-politician-jailed-taking-bribes-pro-russians-2025-11-21/ – in case anyone is under any delusions.
Reuters is FAKE NEWS anything they report is always suspect.
Yes, Derrick – nothing Reuters has published, since at least 1917, is news. but, rather, information provided to a certain end.
Please do share with us your trusted media sources. Very curious!
Have it your way … GB News – better, now?
https://www.gbnews.com/politics/nathan-gill-reform-uk-wales-jailed-russia-bribes