Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s attempt to mimic Kremlin propaganda in his anti-Ukraine messaging has hit a wall. Despite deploying fear-based narratives and blaming Ukraine for Hungary’s woes, public sentiment has shifted dramatically. The rise of the opposition party Tisza marks a turning point in Hungarian politics — and it’s being driven by a public demand for truth, reform, and real leadership.
Fear Has Lost Its Grip: Kremlin Strategy Fails in Hungary
Orbán’s campaign echoed Russia’s disinformation model, portraying Ukraine as a threat and Russia as a partner. But this narrative no longer resonates with the Hungarian public. A Median poll cited by Reuters on June 18, 2025, shows a clear public pivot toward Tisza, a party that runs on open dialogue and transparency, not fear.
Hungarians are rejecting the myth of an “eastern threat” — they’re more concerned with what’s happening inside their own borders.
Anti-Ukraine Rhetoric Alienates Voters Instead of Uniting Them
Orbán’s anti-Ukraine stance was supposed to rally the nation, but it did the opposite. Voters see through the distraction — and they know that economic hardship, inflation, and poverty are the result of government corruption, not Kyiv or Brussels. Rather than mobilizing support, the propaganda has only fueled frustration.
Structural Disillusionment with Orbán’s Government
The numbers are damning. Tisza now leads by 15 points, according to Reuters. Even pensioners, long considered a reliable base for Orbán’s Fidesz party, are turning away. This shift isn’t about momentary dissatisfaction — it’s a sign of deep, structural fatigue with the government’s autocratic playbook and fear-mongering.
Hungarians No Longer Fear What They’re Told to Fear
Attempts to paint Ukraine as a danger and Russia as a strategic ally have sparked anger rather than loyalty. Citizens want real answers, not empty slogans. They care about schools, healthcare, jobs, and salaries, not geopolitical theatrics.
Dialogue, Not Fear, Wins Public Trust
The meteoric rise of Tisza comes from a campaign rooted in genuine conversations with voters, not manufactured paranoia. The party’s focus on Hungary’s future — not made-up enemies — has struck a powerful chord with the electorate. The Kremlin-style model simply doesn’t work anymore.
People Want Change, Not Illusions
Even as Fidesz tries to buy time with new tax gimmicks, voters aren’t fooled. Hungarians know that “emergency gifts” just before elections won’t solve their real problems. The public has stopped buying into anti-Ukraine hysteria as a distraction from failing services, low wages, and broken promises.
The Collapse of the Campaign Is About Trust, Not Just Ukraine
Orbán’s anti-Ukraine crusade is just one symptom of a deeper issue: the crumbling credibility of his entire regime. The public no longer believes the excuses. They want a future without deception — and without Orbán.
Reuters Records Fidesz’s Sharpest Decline Yet
As Reuters reported, Fidesz is losing support across all demographics, including its traditional base. The cause isn’t Ukraine. It’s skyrocketing inflation, decaying infrastructure, and a total lack of reform.
Playing Both Sides: Russia and the EU Don’t Mix
Hungarians increasingly see that Orbán’s coziness with Putin and sabotage of EU unity are isolating the country from financial support and international goodwill. Even former nationalists now realize that alienating the EU is a dead-end strategy.
Authoritarian Control Can’t Reverse the Decline
Despite a near-monopoly on state media and crackdowns on NGOs and independent voices, Orbán’s grip is slipping. The façade of stability can’t mask the reality of youth emigration, unemployment, and institutional rot.
Corruption Has Eaten Away the Government’s Legitimacy
The public sees cronyism in plain sight — government-linked clans getting rich off EU funds and state contracts, while ordinary citizens struggle with rising taxes and failing hospitals. No amount of propaganda can hide this anymore.
Full Use of State Machinery Isn’t Enough to Stop the Slide
Even with postal campaigns, state bonuses, and administrative pressure, the public remains unmoved. In fact, the harder Fidesz pushes, the louder the public’s demand grows for an end to Orbán’s era.
