Less than two weeks after Péter Magyar's decisive victory in Hungary's parliamentary elections on 12 April, the incoming prime minister is already the target of a coordinated disinformation campaign. False claims circulating on X, Facebook, and TikTok have sought to distort his policy positions and political allegiances, raising concerns about the resilience of democratic discourse in Central Europe.
Immigration Policy Misrepresented
One widely shared post on X, which garnered thousands of likes, asserts that Magyar's government will ensure 'All Ukrainians and other immigrants from outside the EU will lose their work permits starting June.' It further claims that all non-EU guest workers in Hungary will be forced to leave the country after that date.
These claims are inaccurate. The policy in question originates from a New Year's Eve speech delivered by Magyar on 31 December 2025. In that address, he stated that, from 1 June 2026, his Tisza party would 'allow no non-Hungarian guest workers outside of the European Union,' reflecting his party's strict stance on migration. However, this measure does not apply retroactively to Ukrainians or other non-EU migrants already residing and working in Hungary before that date.
Moreover, Magyar did not reiterate this specific policy during his post-election press conference. Instead, he focused on tightening restrictions for foreign companies that employ disproportionately few Hungarian workers, a move aimed at protecting local labour markets. The misleading posts conflate a future-oriented pledge with an immediate, blanket expulsion that has no basis in Magyar's actual platform.
Orbán Endorsement Claim Debunked
Another viral claim suggests that Magyar has endorsed his predecessor, Viktor Orbán, for the presidency of the European Commission or the European Council, replacing Ursula von der Leyen. This narrative is built on a video clip showing Magyar asking, 'What if Viktor Orbán was the European Commission or Council's President?'
The clip, however, is taken from a 2024 interview with the independent Hungarian outlet Telex. In the full interview, Magyar poses the question purely hypothetically. He goes on to acknowledge Orbán as a strong political figure, stating that 'he has a vision,' but immediately adds that 'most people in Hungary probably don't agree with it.' The context makes clear that this is not an endorsement but a rhetorical exploration of Orbán's political style.
These disinformation efforts come at a delicate moment for Hungary's relationship with Brussels. Magyar's victory has already reshaped Budapest's stance towards the EU, as noted in our analysis of Péter Magyar's Victory in Hungary Reshapes Budapest's Stance Towards Brussels. The new government is also scrutinising Orbán-era defence contracts for corruption risks, a move that could have implications for EU-funded projects, as reported in Hungary's New Government Scrutinises Orbán-Era Defence Plan for Corruption Risks.
The origins of these misleading posts remain unclear, but their rapid spread underscores the persistent challenge of disinformation in European politics. As Magyar prepares to take office, the battle for accurate information is likely to intensify.
