EditBudapest mayor accuses Orbán’s government of systematic surveillance, smear campaigns
Gergely Karácsony framed the issue as part of a broader pattern affecting many Hungarians who opposed the system over the past 16 years
Gergely Karácsony, the opposition-affiliated Mayor of Budapest, has claimed that he and his associates were subjected to extensive government-linked harassment, including vehicle tailing, physical surveillance, wiretapping, and harassment of family members and colleagues.
In response to an interview with Ágnes Forgács, a former journalist at the pro-government tabloid Ripost, Karácsony told investigative outlet Átlátszó that the revelations represent only “the tip of the iceberg.” He described years of coordinated attacks through government-friendly media outlets – from Megafon and state TV M1 to Ripost and Metropol – involving fabricated scandals, disinformation, and the alleged use of law enforcement to lend credibility to the smears.
“There was everything: car following, observation, wiretapping, harassment,” Karácsony said, adding that authorities conducted raids on City Hall and even a deputy’s private home based on false allegations, such as claims that the City Hall had been sold.
The former Ripost journalist had detailed how the pro-government media machine received orders from above, used intelligence-style dossiers, and applied tabloid tactics to target political opponents of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party.
Other targeted individuals also responded:
- Imre Mártha, CEO of Budapest Public Works, expressed shock at the use of methods reminiscent of communist-era secret police tactics against him, despite never holding political office. He has won multiple libel cases against pro-government media.
- Dávid Korányi, a former advisor to Karácsony, confirmed he was followed in New York and also won legal cases against the outlets involved.
A government-linked figure named in the original interview, former state secretary Örs Farkas, denied providing intelligence material. The Mediaworks publishing group, which owns Ripost, did not respond to requests for comment.
The story highlights ongoing allegations of orchestrated political smear campaigns in Hungary, where independent voices and opposition figures have frequently reported surveillance and disinformation tactics under the long-ruling Fidesz government. Karácsony framed the issue as part of a broader pattern affecting many Hungarians who opposed the system over the past 16 years.
The original article in Hungarian by EUalive’s partner Átlátszó can be found here.
Caption: Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony holds a press conference at the Hungarian State Treasury (MAK) building in Budapest, Hungary, 14 April 2026, two days after the Hungarian parliamentary election. EPA/Zoltan Kocsis
Updated: May 25, 2026 - 06:39
