Peter Magyar, a leading figure in Hungary’s opposition, claimed on Thursday that Russia is attempting to influence the country’s internal political affairs. His comments came in response to a recent statement from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, which alleged that the European Commission is exploring the possibility of political change in Hungary.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has led the country since 2010, has come under criticism from several European Union leaders for maintaining close relations with Moscow and opposing military support for Ukraine. His administration is also dealing with economic challenges following a period of high inflation.
With national elections expected next spring, recent polls suggest that Orban’s Fidesz party is trailing behind Magyar’s centre-right Tisza Party—posing what could be the most significant threat to Orban’s long-standing leadership.
The Russian intelligence statement, released on Wednesday, claimed that the European Commission sees Hungary’s current government as a growing obstacle to European unity. Last October, Orban similarly accused EU officials of seeking to unseat his government and replace it with one more aligned with Brussels’ interests.
According to the Russian statement, Brussels is angered by Hungary’s independent stance on key issues, particularly those related to Russia and Ukraine. It also described Magyar as being aligned with so-called “globalist elites.”
In response, Magyar warned that a foreign nation not aligned with Hungary is actively trying to manipulate its political landscape. “An operation has officially begun against Hungary. External forces are interfering in our internal affairs,” he stated on social media.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, dismissed the Russian remarks as familiar rhetoric, echoing Orban’s previous warnings about EU interference.
Despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Orban has continued to foster relations with President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this week, he was the only European Union leader who declined to back a joint statement supporting Ukraine’s right to choose its own path. Ahead of a planned meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska on Friday, Orban also asserted that Russia had effectively won the war in Ukraine.
