Recent reports suggest that Russia’s foreign intelligence service devised a strategy to stage an assassination attempt on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This plan emerged amid concerns about Orbán’s declining popularity ahead of upcoming elections.
According to a leaked internal document, Russian operatives outlined a scheme intended to fundamentally alter the narrative of Orbán’s electoral campaign. The proposal involved orchestrating a simulated attack that would shift public focus from pressing socio-economic issues to emotional themes of national security and stability.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, there have been no actual attacks against Orbán. His spokesperson, Zoltan Kovacs, did not respond to inquiries from journalists regarding the claims. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports as “disinformation.”
In Hungary, the political landscape is shifting as Orbán and his Fidesz party attempt to redirect voter attention from economic challenges to perceived external threats. Recently, the government has pointed fingers at Ukraine, alleging that it is responsible for halting oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline.
Orbán has also claimed to have received threats from Kyiv, further emphasizing his narrative of external danger. As the election approaches, discussions in Budapest have turned to potential scenarios should Orbán lose. Former Fidesz lawmaker Zsuzsanna Selmeczi has suggested that the Prime Minister might resort to extreme measures in such an event.
If the opposition secures a simple majority, Orbán could leverage various tools to complicate the new government’s functioning. Selmeczi warned that he might provoke a constitutional crisis or declare a state of emergency to maintain his grip on power.
Reports indicate that Russian intelligence planned a fake assassination of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to influence electoral dynamics. As Orbán's party shifts focus to external threats, discussions about potential political maneuvers in the event of electoral defeat are intensifying.