Hungarian opposition leader condemns alleged intelligence operation against Tisza Party
Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has condemned a covert intelligence operation against his Tisza Party, involving interrogations of IT specialists and system breaches.
As polling day approaches, analysts are closely monitoring the impact of these allegations on voter sentiment toward Magyar’s Tisza Party and Fidesz.
Hungary’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for 12 April 2026, where the Tisza Party is currently leading in opinion polls against Viktor Orbán‘s Fidesz party.
Briefing summary
Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar condemned what he described as a covert intelligence operation targeting his Tisza Party, involving interrogations of IT specialists and attempted system breaches.
Hungary’s parliamentary elections are set for 12 April, with Magyar’s Tisza Party currently leading in opinion surveys ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party.
No evidence of illegal activity was found during the investigation by Hungary’s Constitution Protection Office, initiated following an anonymous tip regarding the IT specialists linked to the party.
Hungary’s Péter Magyar accuses secret services of targeting his party ahead of April elections
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Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has condemned what he called a covert intelligence operation against his Tisza Party, after investigative reports revealed that state authorities interrogated two IT specialists linked to the party and tried to breach its systems.
Hungary will go to the polls on 12 April for parliamentary elections in which Magyar’s party is leading in opinion surveys, ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party.
According to Hungarian investigative outlet Direct36, authorities opened an investigation in 2025 against two IT specialists who were responsible for the party’s servers and networks, following an anonymous tip alleging they possessed child sexual abuse material.
Computers, discs and servers were confiscated, but no evidence of illegal files was found. The report states that Hungary’s internal intelligence agency, the Constitution Protection Office, directed the investigation.
Direct36 further reported that the investigation started shortly after one of the IT specialists refused an approach from an unidentified individual who had asked him to breach the party’s IT infrastructure and carry out hacking attacks ahead of the elections.
Magyar condemned the allegations and vowed to launch investigations if his party wins the elections.
“The Hungarian secret services, on the orders of Viktor Orbán and his family, targeted Tisza as it was preparing for a change of government. This case — which I am calling Orbán-gate — is reminiscent of the worst abuses of the communist era and is more serious than the Watergate scandal that brought down President Nixon,” Magyar wrote in a social media post.
He added that the allegations went beyond “all acceptable limits” and described the episode as an attempted coup against a free Hungary.
“Under a Tisza government, both the political figures who commissioned these actions and the heads of the secret services will be held to account before the Hungarian judiciary,” Magyar said.
The Hungarian government has not responded to the allegations.