Orban rival accuses opponents of planning blackmail ahead of election
Key Claims and Context
Less than two months before Hungary’s election, opposition leader Peter Magyar has accused his rivals of planning to blackmail him with a sex tape from August 2024.
Accusations of ‘Russia-Style’ Blackmail
Magyar has described the alleged plan as a ‘Russia-style’ blackmail campaign, claiming that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party is preparing to release intimate videos to damage his reputation ahead of the April elections.
Public Statements and Reactions
- Magyar stated: "I will not give in to blackmail" in a message directed at what he termed "Fidesz fear-mongers".
- He warned that such tactics are not democratic debate but rather political blackmail.
- Other outlets, including Bloomberg and EuroNews, have reported similar allegations, citing the potential release of a video from 2024 as a pre-election smear strategy.
Related Developments
Magyar has also accused Russia of involvement in election meddling, citing disinformation, threats, hackers, and digital troll farms as part of a broader smear campaign.