Hungarian security services raided the office of the attorney of the mayor of Budapest, the mayor wrote on the X social media platform on Friday.
Gergely Karácsony, Budapest’s liberal mayor and a member of the Dialogue – The Greens’ Party, claimed in a Friday post on X that: “Hungarian national security services raided my attorney’s office and several others’ homes. This abuse of power aims to discredit me [with] manipulated propaganda. Budapest deserves better. On 9 June, we will show them our strength and values.”
The elections have been seen as a chance for the Hungarian opposition to deliver a blow to Viktor Orbán, the prime minister, and his Fidesz party, which have dominated politics in the country since 2010. Since taking office Orbán has been accused of presiding over a government that has undermined democracy and press freedoms.
Writing on Facebook about the raid Karácsony said: “They have been hunting me for years and now Antal Rogán has taken it up a level.
“Instead of going after my colleagues, Rogán should send his men here; to my office.” Rogán, sometimes called by his critics as the “Cardinal Richelieu of the Orbán administration,” Rogán is the head of Orbán’s Cabinet Office, and considered a powerful player in the Hungarian government.
By referring to June 9 in his post, which also included the #StandWithBudapest and #DefendDemocracy hashtags, Karácsony was making an apparent reference to elections to the European Parliament as well as local government elections, which will take place on that day.Hungarian national security services raided my attorney’s office and several others' homes. This abuse of power aims to discredit me w manipulated propaganda. Budapest deserves better. On 9 June, we will show them our strength and values. #StandWithBudapest #DefendDemocracy
— Gergely Karácsony (@bpkaracsonyg) May 24, 2024
The elections have been seen as a chance for the Hungarian opposition to deliver a blow to Viktor Orbán, the prime minister, and his Fidesz party, which have dominated politics in the country since 2010. Since taking office Orbán has been accused of presiding over a government that has undermined democracy and press freedoms.
Writing on Facebook about the raid Karácsony said: “They have been hunting me for years and now Antal Rogán has taken it up a level.
“Instead of going after my colleagues, Rogán should send his men here; to my office.” Rogán, sometimes called by his critics as the “Cardinal Richelieu of the Orbán administration,” Rogán is the head of Orbán’s Cabinet Office, and considered a powerful player in the Hungarian government.
Karácsony claimed that the raid was launched to get access to information on himself and the opposition ahead of the June 9 elections.
Szabolcs Panyi, a leading Hungarian investigative journalist, claimed the raid was linked to the government wanting to crack down on opposition groups it believes receive foreign funding, in an echo of similar moves carried out by Putin in Russia.
“Days after the Orbán government’s Russia-inspired Sovereignty Protection Authority released its report on the ‘foreign funding’ (allegedly from the U.S.) of Hungary’s opposition, authorities conducted house searches targeting key opposition experts, lawyers & political strategists,” Panyi wrote on the X platform.
Szabolcs Panyi, a leading Hungarian investigative journalist, claimed the raid was linked to the government wanting to crack down on opposition groups it believes receive foreign funding, in an echo of similar moves carried out by Putin in Russia.
“Days after the Orbán government’s Russia-inspired Sovereignty Protection Authority released its report on the ‘foreign funding’ (allegedly from the U.S.) of Hungary’s opposition, authorities conducted house searches targeting key opposition experts, lawyers & political strategists,” Panyi wrote on the X platform.
Budapest mayoral raceDays after the Orbán government’s Russia-inspired Sovereignty Protection Authority released its report on the “foreign funding” (allegedly from the US) of Hungary’s opposition, authorities conducted house searches targeting key opposition experts, lawyers & political strategists. https://t.co/kkRmh6TqzF
— Szabolcs Panyi (@panyiszabolcs) May 24, 2024
Karácsony, who had previously served as an MP and a mayor of one of Budapest’s districts, was elected as the mayor of the capital city in 2019 on a joint opposition ticket. Although the far-right Jobbik did not lend him their support, the party abstained from putting forward their own candidate.
In this year’s elections, the incumbent mayor faces two serious contenders: Alexandra Szentkirályi of the ruling Fidesz party, and Dávid Vitézy, an independent enjoying the support of Politics Can Be Different (LMP), another Green party.
According to a poll published by the English-language Hungary Today citing the republikon.hu website, Karácsony leads with 40% of the support of committed voters, followed by Szentkirályi with 30%, and Vitézy with 25%.
With a runoff vote a likelihood, the question is whom voters backing the candidate coming in third, likely Vitézy, will vote for?
Since the local elections coincide with the European elections, the broader context of the ballots also needs to be taken into account.
Fed up with Fidesz
In this year’s elections, the incumbent mayor faces two serious contenders: Alexandra Szentkirályi of the ruling Fidesz party, and Dávid Vitézy, an independent enjoying the support of Politics Can Be Different (LMP), another Green party.
According to a poll published by the English-language Hungary Today citing the republikon.hu website, Karácsony leads with 40% of the support of committed voters, followed by Szentkirályi with 30%, and Vitézy with 25%.
With a runoff vote a likelihood, the question is whom voters backing the candidate coming in third, likely Vitézy, will vote for?
Since the local elections coincide with the European elections, the broader context of the ballots also needs to be taken into account.
Fed up with Fidesz
While according to Politico’s Poll of Polls, Fidesz enjoys 40% support, this has been steadily, if slowly, declining. The party that has been gaining in polls (currently at 22% according to Politico), albeit not exclusively at Fidesz’s expense, is Péter Magyar’s Respect and Freedom Party (TISZA).
Magyar is the former husband of Judit Varga, a disgraced Fidesz Minister of Justice. A one-time ally of the current prime minister, Magyar has used his insider knowledge of party politics to strongly attack Orbán for cronyism and corruption, a message that resonates with many voters disgruntled with the prime minister’s 14-year-long grip on power. This has allowed Magyar to successfully rally support from various people on both left and right, attested to by the turnout at two big protests he organized in Budapest in March and April.
Magyar is the former husband of Judit Varga, a disgraced Fidesz Minister of Justice. A one-time ally of the current prime minister, Magyar has used his insider knowledge of party politics to strongly attack Orbán for cronyism and corruption, a message that resonates with many voters disgruntled with the prime minister’s 14-year-long grip on power. This has allowed Magyar to successfully rally support from various people on both left and right, attested to by the turnout at two big protests he organized in Budapest in March and April.
The June 9 European parliamentary elections will serve as a baptism of fire for the new party. Hungarian parliamentary elections are still two years away and it is impossible to tell at present how support for various political factions will develop, but current polling indicates that by running on a standalone ticket, Magyar’s party would become the second-largest party in parliament. There also exists a likelihood that the opposition will again form a joint list, which in 2022 included even the far-right Jobbik.
Although some of TISZA’s current support comes from other opposition parties, some of its voters are disgruntled Fidesz supporters, and more may defect in the future.
Furthermore, in contrast to Fidesz, TISZA is pro-European in its outlook, whereas, under Orbán’s government, the relationship between Brussels and Budapest has become increasingly strained.
Although some of TISZA’s current support comes from other opposition parties, some of its voters are disgruntled Fidesz supporters, and more may defect in the future.
Furthermore, in contrast to Fidesz, TISZA is pro-European in its outlook, whereas, under Orbán’s government, the relationship between Brussels and Budapest has become increasingly strained.
Even more worryingly, Hungary’s reluctance to meaningfully support Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion, and occasionally ostensibly pro-Kremlin policies and rhetoric, has put Budapest at odds not only with most of the EU but also most of the NATO alliance.
More worryingly, in a Friday interview given to Kossuth Rádio Orbán, reiterated his view that he does “not want to contribute with either military or financial aid” and that he is opposed to NATO countries training Ukrainian soldiers.
He said that “If we were to opt out, our participation in NATO’s military structure and our situation would also change.”
More worryingly, in a Friday interview given to Kossuth Rádio Orbán, reiterated his view that he does “not want to contribute with either military or financial aid” and that he is opposed to NATO countries training Ukrainian soldiers.
He said that “If we were to opt out, our participation in NATO’s military structure and our situation would also change.”
Source: X, Hungary Today, TVP World
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