Normally, no employer—not even a government ministry—has any business knowing their employees’ political views or who they might support in parliamentary or local elections. Even obtaining such information can be a criminal offence in itself. However, according to insider information, the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office collected the names of all ministry employees who were on the supporter list of Tisza, which was leaked in the first days of November. Then they left it to the relevant ministers to decide their fate. At least one of them is reported to have been dismissed.
A massive data leak and harassment of Tisza supporters
Political affiliation is sensitive personal data, which made it alarming when pro-government media outlets circulated links to a list with around 200,000 names and related personal details of supporters of the opposition Tisza Party. Initially, it was claimed this list only included those who had downloaded the Tisza World app, but later it emerged that some who hadn’t downloaded it were also on the list. Many suspect it contains not only app users but also those who previously signed petitions for Tisza. There are even rumours that other databases may have been mixed in.
- Are Péter Magyar and the Tisza supporters in serious trouble over the data leak? Could the 2026 election slip away for him?
What is certain is that the personal information of almost 200,000 Hungarian citizens has been leaked. Prominent government supporter and media personality Balázs Németh (who notably moderated a state-media Euro-election debate) even visited a Tisza supporter. Németh insisted his actions were harmless since neither the location nor the individuals were identifiable.
- Hungarian Tisza supporters mapped online – Fidesz politician visited one person’s home: Data leak scandal deepens
Yet someone unknown plotted the supporter data on a map, revealing exactly “where the Tisza supporters live.
Did Rogán’s office compile lists of opposition ministry staff?
Even more explosive, Magyar Hang reported that the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, led by Antal Rogán, filtered this leaked list containing names, addresses, contact details, and sometimes even mothers’ names, down to ministry employees. These names were then sent to the respective ministers, who were given carte blanche on what to do next.
A 22-year-old probationary worker claims he was fired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade simply because his name was on the list. Dániel Ercsi was an apprentice who started his work in the ministry last autumn. Afterwards, he became a probationary worker, but was fired only 5 days ahead of the end of the probation period.
The ministry stated the dismissal was due to incompatibility during probation, although Mr Ercsi was working in the ministry for more than a year and, according to him, received a wage increase. Péter Magyar offered him to continue his career as Magyar’s personal EP assistant and a member of the party’s foreign cabinet. On the programme Partizán, Dániel Ercsi said he would probably take the offer of the opposition leader.
Based on all non-government-close polls, Magyar has every chance to win the elections next April.
Russian hacking or simple carelessness?
The government blamed the Tisza Party for the data leak, accusing them of failing to protect their supporters properly. They also claim the Tisza World app was developed with Ukrainian help, meaning the sensitive data is stored in a war zone, posing a national security risk.
- New poll hints at a surprising twist for the 2026 election in Hungary: should many be worried?
Péter Magyar and colleagues speak of Russian interference and data theft, saying no political party is prepared to face espionage from intelligence agencies.
Although the Tisza Party originally planned to hold their primary elections—choosing challengers against Fidesz nominees in constituencies—via the Tisza World app, after the leak/theft, they switched to the Voice of the Nation system. The vote proceeded smoothly, and by Tuesday morning, the Tisza community had chosen two candidates in each constituency, from whom the local electorate will decide who will run and possibly defeat the government candidates next April.
In Hungary’s electoral system, despite its mixed nature, victory is ultimately decided in single-member constituencies, with less than half of MPs entering parliament via national lists.
Click to read more articles about Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party.
Hungarian “democracy” in action! You get fired if you are discovered to be an opposition supporter and if you have the financial means to spend enough money on a lawyer you can go to court and have the case decided by an Orban appointed judge. In a normal country you could appeal to the Ministry of Labour or human rights tribunal. “Human Rights”- Hungary? Oh, that’s what the EU Rule of Law procedures against Hungary are all about. Hungarians if you want to live in a democracy and be able to support whatever party you want without being persecuted and stop the corruption you know what you have to do in the upcoming election.
People who vote right-wing in Belgium and whose unions know this are being removed from union membership! The employers and owners of the companies where these people work are threatened with strikes by these unions if they refuse to fire these people! Government officials from departments that the minister knows vote right-wing are given poor evaluations and are sidelined!Military intelligence and/or state security revoke their security clearance! This means they can no longer perform their function!They are also no longer eligible for further promotion even if they did their job excellent and received positive evaluations from their supervisors! I have experienced it myself once! My security clearance was downgraded from secret to restricted!This, Larry, is what they call democracy in left-liberal Belgium?
“Hungarian “democracy” in action! You get fired if you are discovered to be an opposition supporter and if you have the financial means to spend enough money on a lawyer you can go to court and have the case decided by an Orban appointed judge.”
Sound like my country, The United States, Dear Larry?’
You ought know – you live here.
By the way, did you watch the lawfare conducted against President Trump in recent years, not to mention the endless coups waged by the United States’ Government against him.
Do you watch the EU Rule of Law – and how they try to control and manipulate every nation European election?
Did you notice how EU Rule of Law has them pilfering endless zillions from Hungarian taxpayers or their plans to loot Russian assets?
How you can give them any respect, in your heart, is beyond me.
No, Dear Larry – if Hungary has something to learn about being ‘Democratic’, they have got the very best teachers in Bruxelles.
Ahhh … If only we had a Sovereign Democracy like Russia … Or as The Economist terms it, authoritarian or at best a regime with elements of democracy with a basically autocratic core (sound familiar?).
European Union Member countries are all beneficiaries of the EU’s financial framework, which ensures long-term economic stability, encourages investment, and supports global competitiveness. Then there is the free movement of people and goods (as you may know – Hungary has an export-oriented economy, highly integrated with the EU – guess why the Chinese and Koreans choose Hungary as their European base – and it is not the food).
Focusing on the money – Hungary, in particular, is a net BENEFICIARY. Even with the withheld funds, we still benefit financially from EU Membership. Again, it has been a boost to our GDP to the tune of 2 to 3 percent per annum since we joined in 2004. Go on – do the math.
https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/12/09/eu-budget-who-pays-the-most-into-the-eu-and-who-gains-the-most
Last but not least … Mr. Orban derives a lot of his clout on the political scene BECAUSE Hungary is an EU Member. Otherwise, we would just be another country populated with 9.something million and aging, declining population and a GDP of EUR 195 billion. Hardly a powerhouse, by any metric.
Could someone bring back @mariavontheresa ? Seems quite sensible, all of a sudden.
“Ahhh … If only we had a Sovereign Democracy like Russia … Or as The Economist terms it, authoritarian or at best a regime with elements of democracy with a basically autocratic core (sound familiar?)…,”
Thank you for your reply, Dear Norbert.
Actually, the way you’ve described Russia is a perfect description for my country- The United States of America.
Russia and my country have the same system – free market capitalism, a huge multicultural nation, oligarchs, an entrenched autocracy, a military and a military industrial complex, and a system of elections that never actually change much of anything.
The only thing difference between Russia and my country is that part of the Russian power system is the Orthodox Church, so, all of their history, save for 1917-1989, they have had institutionalized Christianity.
We, as you know, were once a Christian country, with separation of church and state, however, we are no longer a Christian country, so here is the main divider.
Similar systems, and, at this time in history, based on all my personal knowledge and contacts, I think the Russian system is doing better to serve it’s people than the American system, which, more or less, has slowly fall apart, or been dismantled over the last 60 years by The Western Elite.
Have good morning!