Hungary’s tisza Party Accuses Public Media of Coordinated Disinformation Campaign
A coordinated effort by Hungarian public media to discredit the newly formed Tisza Party has been alleged by its president, Péter Magyar, following the leak of pre-written, politically charged questions intended for the party’s candidates. The controversy centers on accusations that state-controlled media outlets are attempting to manufacture negative narratives and undermine the party’s growing support.
According to reports from HVG, a Hungarian news outlet, the questions were circulated internally within the MTVA (Magyar Televízió), the country’s public service broadcaster. A senior news editor reportedly instructed colleagues to contact Tisza Party candidates individually and pose the questions, which were designed to elicit responses that contradict the party’s stated positions.
“Asking relevant questions to the primary election candidates of the largest opposition party would also be the task of the public service media in a normal country, but this is Hungary and the MTVA, so it turned out to be quite special,” the editor allegedly wrote in a memo to staff. The memo further directed reporters to contact candidates “one by one” using a provided list.
The leaked questions covered a range of contentious issues, including:
- Support for a three-tiered personal income tax system.
- Potential reductions in higher pensions to benefit lower earners, and the fairness of taxing pensions.
- The acceptance of migrants to address demographic and pension challenges, referencing the work of pension expert András Simonovits.
- Immediate accession of Ukraine to the European Union.
- The reinstatement of mandatory military conscription,referencing comments made by Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi.
- A question regarding a literary work by a party candidate, Krisztina Bódis, and its alignment with party ideology.
- Concrete plans for victory, referencing statements made by Zoltán Tarr.
Péter Magyar responded to the allegations on facebook, denouncing the tactic as a deliberate attempt to manipulate public opinion. He outlined the Tisza Party’s core policy positions in direct response to the leaked questions, stating that a Tisza government would prioritize tax reduction, increase the minimum pension, and introduce a pensioner SZÉP card with a value of up to HUF 200,000.He firmly rejected both the migration pact and migrant quotas, pledging to maintain the existing border fence. The party also opposes the rapid accession of Ukraine to the EU and the reintroduction of conscription.
Magyar further detailed the party’s broader platform, emphasizing anti-corruption measures, the repatriation of EU funds, investment in healthcare and education, support for small and medium-sized businesses, and the restoration of local government powers. He called on MTVA staff to “end the manhunt launched against good, honest Hungarian people and stop the discrediting of public money.”
The controversy has also drawn attention to the actions of Dániel Bohár, an influencer who admitted to proactively contacting Tisza Party candidates. Bohár defended his actions, stating, “Ever since they announced that they became representative candidates, they are no longer private people. They are public figures. They have accepted this. And people have the right to know what they can expect from them. That is why I called them. And I can promise: I will continue.”
Notably, Magyar indicated that the party’s candidates will refrain from making public statements until the final candidate for district 106 is confirmed. this strategic pause underscores the party’s cautious approach amidst the ongoing media scrutiny and apparent disinformation campaign. the situation raises serious questions about media independence and the fairness of the political landscape in Hungary as the country approaches upcoming elections.
