According to Meduza, Russia prepared for a potential loss for Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party in Hungary’s April 12th parliamentary elections.
Russia Sought to Promote Orbán
Meduza cited two sources close to the Kremlin. One source stated that while Russian authorities did not directly manage Orbán’s campaign, they attempted to promote the Hungarian prime minister on social media platforms.
This plan involved portraying Orbán as a “strong leader with friends all over the world.” The Kremlin also reportedly sought to conduct “informational attacks” against the opposition TISZA party led by Péter Magyar.
Preparing for a Potential Loss
Sources told Meduza that Russia had already prepared for a possible defeat for Orbán’s party in the parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday, April 12th.
If Fidesz loses power, Kremlin-controlled media are expected to present it as a “color revolution” inspired by the European Union.
Polling Data Indicates TISZA Lead
In recent weeks, most independent polls have shown support for the TISZA party ranging from 49 to 58 percent among decided voters.
Support for Fidesz has been between 35 and 38 percent. An analysis of five polls by “HVG” weekly suggests TISZA could secure a two-thirds majority, potentially winning between 138 and 143 seats in the 199-member Hungarian National Assembly.
Research also indicated growing support for the opposition and a decline in the popularity of the ruling party. Polls linked to the Fidesz government, however, showed a lead of several percentage points for Fidesz.