EU warns of Russian interference in Hungary elections
Photo: The EU has accused Hungary of running a smear campaign during the elections (Getty Images)
The European Parliament has warned of serious threats to the integrity of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary due to Russian interference and state pressure, according to Euronews.
MEPs’ statement details
Five high-ranking members of the European Parliament have expressed serious doubts about the possibility of holding a free and fair vote, which is scheduled for this coming Sunday.
They called on the European Commission to publicly assess how disinformation, the use of state resources, and foreign interference are undermining democratic competition in the country.
"The conditions for free and fair democratic competition in Hungary are being undermined by disinformation, foreign interference," the authors of the letter emphasize.
Russian influence and pressure on media
Lawmakers draw particular attention to the covert support provided to the ruling Fidesz party’s election campaign by Russian military intelligence.
They also mention instances of the creation of a network of fake media outlets that spread false information about opposition leader Péter Magyar.
In a separate section, the lawmakers highlight the persecution of investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi, whom the Hungarian authorities charged with espionage following his publications on ties to Moscow.
"The Hungarian government filed criminal charges against him for alleged espionage, accompanied by a public campaign portraying him as a threat to the nation," the statement reads.
Scandals over Orbán and ties to Russia
Hungary and Russia have concluded a secret 12-point plan that provides for a significant expansion of economic and energy ties with Moscow. The opposition has already dubbed this document the Moscow Protocol.
A scandal recently erupted over the leak of a conversation between the Hungarian Prime Minister and Vladimir Putin. Viktor Orbán was forced to justify his sycophancy toward the Russian President, stating that he was willing to become Putin’s lapdog for the sake of the country’s interests.
The media also published sensational revelations about the Hungarian Prime Minister’s past. A former member of Budapest’s criminal underworld spoke about Orbán’s shady dealings in the 1990s, claiming that gangsters financed his early political campaigns.
