Allegations of Blackmail Unfold in Hungary's Election Campaign Amidst Rising Tensions

Sat Feb 14 2026 01:18:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

With Hungary's elections approaching, opposition leader Peter Magyar has made serious accusations against his rivals, claiming a potential blackmail scheme involving a secretly recorded tape. This political drama adds complexity to the already tense atmosphere as voters prepare for the upcoming polls.

As Hungary gears up for elections, opposition leader Peter Magyar has accused rivals of planning a blackmail scheme involving a secretly recorded tape from his past. Magyar, currently leading in polls against Prime Minister Viktor Orban, filed a complaint with authorities, alleging illicit conduct. The unfolding situation raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the lengths to which political parties may go in their campaigns.

Less than two months before Hungary's election, opposition leader Peter Magyar has accused his rivals of planning to blackmail him with a secretly recorded sex tape, and says he is filing a complaint with authorities.

Magyar, who leads long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the polls, suspects that his opponents plan to release a tape from August 2024, related to consensual sex with an ex-girlfriend at a party.

His concerns were prompted by a recently posted photo online, allegedly revealing a bedroom from that same period. Magyar's declarations have sparked a strong reaction, with leading figures in Orban's Fidesz party claiming no knowledge of these allegations.

Magyar has alleged that the video would have been recorded with secret service equipment and possibly faked. He has also made three specific allegations of unlawful conduct related to his rivals.

Complicating matters, his ex-girlfriend has also expressed willingness to take legal action and suggested they were both victims concerning the alleged video.

As tensions mount, Fidesz leaders, including communications director Tamas Menczer, have dismissed Magyar's claims, accusing him of lying. Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas remarked that he could not comment on something he was unfamiliar with.

The election is scheduled for 12 April, and as the campaign intensifies, accusations of blackmail and attacks on European Union policies from the Fidesz side highlight a deeply polarized political landscape in Hungary.

Orban has been in power for 16 years and has received recent endorsements from figures like US President Donald Trump, who referred to him as a truly strong and powerful leader. With these complicated dynamics at play, the election season is expected to witness a flurry of intrigue and controversy.