Hungary’s First Post-Reality Political Campaign

Viktor Orbán, facing declining popularity after 16 years in power due to corruption and economic struggles, is employing a novel strategy for the 2026 parliamentary election: a post-reality campaign. This involves creating and disseminating disinformation, primarily through AI-generated content, to instill fear of external threats, especially Ukraine. This tactic aims to distract from Hungary’s internal problems, such as falling industrial production and a shrinking population.

Russian propagandists, the European far-right, and even the Trump administration are backing Orbán’s efforts. They are using social media platforms like TikTok to spread AI-generated videos depicting Ukrainian leaders in a negative light and falsely linking the opposition leader, Péter Magyar, to foreign interests. These efforts are complemented by actions of the Hungarian state, such as sending soldiers to guard infrastructure against nonexistent Ukrainian attacks and confiscating assets from Ukrainian entities.

Orbán’s campaign also has drawn support from far-right figures across Europe and the Americas, who see Hungary as a model for authoritarian populism. Figures like Alice Weidel of Germany, Santiago Abascal of Spain, and Javier Milei of Argentina have voiced their support for Orbán, viewing his success as crucial for the global far-right movement.

To counter these tactics, the opposition party Tisza, led by Péter Magyar, is focusing on a grassroots campaign that addresses real issues affecting Hungarians, such as the economy, health care, and corruption. Magyar avoids geopolitical themes favored by Orbán and instead focuses on direct engagement with voters, emphasizing the need to address domestic problems and reduce Russian influence.

The success of Orbán’s post-reality campaign hinges on corrupting Hungary’s national memory and substituting fear of Ukraine for historical experiences. The election’s outcome will determine whether this strategy can be replicated elsewhere and whether an era of disinformation-driven politics will continue to spread.

It is a campaign that relies heavily on disinformation, AI-generated content, and the creation of false narratives to influence voters, often distracting from real issues.

Orbán’s popularity has declined due to corruption and economic stagnation, leading him to use disinformation to divert attention from domestic problems and create fear of external threats.

Russian propagandists, the European far-right, and the Trump administration are supporting Orbán’s campaign with funding, resources, and amplification of false narratives.

The opposition party Tisza is focusing on a grassroots campaign that addresses real issues affecting Hungarians, such as the economy and corruption.

The election will determine whether post-reality political campaigns can succeed in corrupting national memory and manipulating public opinion, potentially influencing political strategies worldwide.

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