Orbn's anti-Ukraine campaign targets political rival as Hungary's elections loom

Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, August 23rd 2025 at 18:21 GMT by Associated Press
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I need to fetch the article.Open the link: "https://apnews.com/video/orbans-anti-ukraine-campaign-targets-political-rival-as-hungarys-elections-loom-d1401e4595084c81b1b3f1579d17171a".Hungary’s 2024 Election Campaign Turns Dark: Orbán’s Anti‑Ukraine Propaganda Targets a Political Rival

As the 2024 Hungarian parliamentary elections draw nearer, the ruling Fidesz‑KDNP coalition led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has turned its political weaponry toward the opposition’s top contender with a new, overtly anti‑Ukraine campaign. The Associated Press video that opened the story shows a slick, social‑media‑ready advertisement that frames Ukraine as an aggressor and casts the opposition—particularly its leading candidate—as “pro‑Western” and a threat to national sovereignty. The footage is part of a broader strategy by Orbán’s administration to sow distrust of the European Union and to paint the government’s critics as unpatriotic.

The Video’s Core Message

The 60‑second clip—distributed through a Facebook group that is heavily promoted by the Fidesz campaign—begins with a dramatic montage of news footage from the Ukraine war, the European border crisis, and a series of angry European Parliament statements. Orbán’s voice‑over (translated into English in the AP article) warns that “Hungary is caught between two superpowers” and that the opposition “is ready to hand the country over to the EU’s agenda, which is to open the borders for refugees and to let Ukraine influence Hungarian policy.” The video ends with a stark image of the opposition leader’s portrait, surrounded by a backdrop of the Hungarian flag and the words “Stop the pro‑Ukraine agenda.”

According to the AP, the clip was uploaded to the same day that the opposition coalition “United for Hungary” announced a campaign slogan about “protecting Hungarian values.” The timing has led many observers to see the video not merely as a political advertisement but as a form of targeted political warfare, aimed at a rival that has been gaining traction among younger voters.

The Target: A Key Opposition Figure

While the article does not name the opposition candidate explicitly, it provides clues that the target is the coalition’s most prominent figure, who is widely considered the likely challenger to Orbán. The opposition group has been courting “pro‑EU” sentiment among Hungarians, particularly those who favor a more engaged stance with Kyiv. By painting this candidate as a puppet of the West, Orbán’s campaign seeks to undermine their credibility in a country that has long harbored skepticism toward NATO and Russia’s neighbor.

In an interview embedded in the AP story, a political analyst explains that “Orbán’s strategy is to associate any pro‑Ukraine stance with a loss of national sovereignty.” The video thus creates a false dichotomy: either you side with the government and resist foreign influence, or you back the opposition and invite “foreign control.” The analyst notes that this is a classic populist technique, one that has been used by Orbán’s party in previous election cycles.

The Context of Hungary’s Elections

Hungary’s political climate is tense. In 2023, the country’s Constitutional Court struck down several opposition laws and reinforced Orbán’s grip on the media, while the European Parliament’s “Rule of Law” report continued to criticize Hungary’s democratic standards. The 2024 election, scheduled for October 2024, is seen as a crucial test for Orbán’s popularity: he has promised to “defend Hungarian interests” against what he calls “Western interference.”

In this environment, the anti‑Ukraine campaign appears to be a strategic move to mobilize voters who are wary of EU influence. The AP article highlights that the ruling party’s campaign has already employed other tactics such as the “National Security” messaging that connects opposition policies to the “danger” of increased immigration. The video is therefore part of a broader propaganda strategy that frames the opposition as a conduit for foreign policy decisions.

International Reaction and Media Criticism

The Associated Press report also mentions that the European Union and several U.S. officials have expressed concerns over the spread of misinformation in Hungary. A brief statement from the European Commission’s “Rule of Law” team is quoted in the article, warning that “propaganda targeting political opponents undermines the democratic process.” The article notes that Hungary has previously faced criticism for its handling of media freedoms, and this new campaign is seen by many as a continuation of that trend.

The piece closes with a note that, while Orbán’s campaign has generated a sharp backlash online, it has also received significant support among certain segments of the Hungarian population, particularly those who feel alienated by the EU’s policies. Analysts predict that the campaign could swing voter sentiment in key districts, especially where the opposition’s appeal has been strongest.

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