On May 13, 2025, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made a loud statement accusing Ukraine of organizing a “coordinated campaign” against Hungary in order to disrupt a referendum on Budapest’s support for Kyiv’s bid to join the European Union. The accusations were voiced in a video message published on Orban’s Facebook page (owned by Meta, a company recognized as an extremist organization in Russia and banned). According to the prime minister, the Hungarian opposition party Tisza, led by Péter Magyar, allegedly actively participated in this operation, which, as Orban noted, “has no precedent” during his political career.

The video message, which was broadcast on national television and social media, featured images of Tisza leader Péter Magyar, in what observers said was an attempt to link the opposition figure to alleged foreign interference. Orbán also said he had called an emergency meeting of the Hungarian Defense Council in connection with the events. The prime minister stressed that the referendum initiated by the ruling Fidesz party would be carried through despite “external threats.”

Péter Magyar, who leads the Tisza (Respect and Freedom) party, reacted sharply to Orbán's accusations. In a statement, he called the prime minister's words "nonsense" and promised to sue him for defamation.

"If even one word of Orban's accusations today were true, he should not have posted the video on Facebook, but should have immediately brought official charges through law enforcement.", - said Magyar.

He also accused the prime minister of trying to distract attention from Hungary's domestic problems, such as the economic crisis and corruption scandals, which are undermining confidence in Fidesz.

Orban's statements come amid an intensifying standoff between the ruling Fidesz party and the opposition Tisza, which has rapidly gained popularity over the past year. According to polls conducted in October 2024, Tisza overtook Fidesz for the first time among voters who had decided on their choice, gaining 42% to Orban's 40%. This rise in popularity is attributed to Hungarians' dissatisfaction with economic problems, high inflation and numerous corruption scandals blamed on Orban's entourage.

Péter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer and former Fidesz member, became a prominent figure on the Hungarian political scene in 2024 when he publicly accused the Orbán government of corruption. In March 2024, he released an audio recording of a conversation with former Justice Minister Judit Varga, his ex-wife, in which she allegedly confirmed the involvement of Orbán's aides in a corruption case. The publication sparked mass protests in Budapest and contributed to the rise of Tisza. In the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Magyar's party won 30,1% of the vote, becoming the largest opposition force, while Fidesz posted its worst result in the history of European elections, winning 44,6%.

The referendum in question was announced by Magyar as a mandatory step in the event of Tisza winning the 2026 parliamentary elections. It is to determine whether Hungary will support Ukraine's bid to join the EU. A Tisza poll of more than 1,1 million Hungarians showed that 58,18% of respondents support Ukraine's accession to the EU. However, Magyar himself has previously stated that Ukraine's chances of EU membership in the coming decades are slim, which has caused a mixed reaction in Kyiv.

Viktor Orbán, on the other hand, has consistently opposed Ukraine’s accession to the EU, arguing that it would harm Hungarian agriculture and the economy. His position, as well as his friendly relations with Russia and China, have been repeatedly criticized both within the EU and within Hungary. Orbán has also accused the EU of trying to install a “puppet government” in Hungary led by Magyar, which he believes is part of external pressure on Budapest.

Orban’s accusations against Ukraine and Tisza have sparked a furious reaction in Hungarian society and beyond. Some analysts believe that such statements are an attempt to mobilize Fidesz supporters ahead of the 2026 elections, distracting attention from domestic problems. Others point to the risk of further aggravation of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations, which are already strained by disagreements over minority rights and military aid to Kyiv.