EditVote-buying in Hungary: tons of food are distributed to Roma communities through Fidesz-linked groups
The revelations come days after the release of a documentary which alleges that Fidesz-linked networks systematically target up to 500,000 impoverished voters
In the final days before Hungary’s parliamentary elections on 12 April, investigative journalists from EUalive’s partner Átlátszó have documented a large-scale, coordinated distribution of more than 11 tons of food to Roma communities in targeted electoral districts.
The operation, carried out through organizations closely tied to the ruling Fidesz party and the National Roma Self-Government, has raised fresh concerns about vote-buying in some of the country’s poorest regions.
The food packages – each valued at roughly 5,000 forints (about €13) – included staples such as potatoes, onions, rice, sugar, flour, butter, oil, and sausages. Átlátszó obtained videos and documents showing the operation in action: shipments were loaded at a warehouse in Jánoshalma and delivered to municipalities in Békés County (4th electoral district) and other areas, including Tolna County. In Békés County alone, roughly 1,500 packages were prepared for villages such as Kevermes (248 packages), Battonya (214), Végegyháza (133), and smaller allocations in Magyarbánhegyes, Orosháza, Mezőkovácsháza, and Dombiratos.
Organised through Roma groups with Fidesz ties
The main organizer for the Békés County distribution was the Közösen a Cigányságért Egyesület (“Together for the Roma Association”), led by Szűcs Csaba. Szűcs serves as vice-president of the Bács-Kiskun County Assembly and is a vocal public supporter of Fidesz; he frequently urges Roma communities to attend Fidesz events and back government candidates. The association, which was renamed in 2024 after previously operating as a folk-dance ensemble, reported zero revenue in 2024 despite over 3 million forints in expenses. Its earlier funding came from the state-linked Bethlen Gábor Fund, but the source of the millions needed for this latest food campaign remains unclear.
Similar distributions occurred in Tolna County (2nd electoral district) through local Roma self-governments and the “Cigányságért Egyesület.” Packages were handed out to people on official Roma nationality lists, though in some locations they were given to anyone who showed up. In Lengyel, for example, recipients received about 10 kg of durable food per person. In several villages, volunteers delivered packages door-to-door; elsewhere, recipients had to present ID cards or proof of residence.
“Ten-thousand-forint people”: direct references to vote influence
Átlátszó’s footage and interviews contain explicit references that appear to link the aid to voting behavior. One participant described the recipients as “ten-thousand-forint people” – a phrase implying that while they may accept the equivalent of a small bribe, their actual vote in the privacy of the ballot booth is what matters. Another person in the video said they were “helping Norbi” (a reference to Fidesz-KDNP candidate Erdős Norbert) but privately hoped for a change of government.
In Tolna County, a representative of the local Roma self-government was recorded telling community members: “One must vote for the National Roma Self-Government list… We ask for nothing else in return; if someone is in the national minority registry, they should vote for the Roma National Self-Government candidate.” Posts on community Facebook pages also thanked Fidesz candidates in the areas receiving aid.
Timing and scale raise questions
The distributions were deliberately timed for the Easter weekend and the immediate pre-election period. Handover protocols were signed in late March 2026. Átlátszó notes that similar pre-election food giveaways have occurred in past cycles, but the current scale and coordination through Fidesz-aligned Roma organizations stand out.
Erdős Norbert, a long-time Fidesz MP and former state secretary, is the key figure associated with the Békés County effort. Átlátszó contacted both Erdős and Szűcs Csaba for comment; neither responded before publication.
Broader context of alleged electoral manipulation
The revelations come just days after the release of the documentary The Price of a Vote, which alleges that Fidesz-linked networks systematically target up to 500,000 voters – primarily in impoverished Roma-majority villages – through a mix of food packages, cash, firewood, and even drugs in exchange for votes. The film, which has been viewed millions of times, describes a nationwide system of local “fixers” who pressure voters and organize transport to polling stations.
Hungary’s electoral rules have long been criticized for creating opportunities for such practices. Vote-buying and chain-voting have been documented in previous elections, particularly in rural areas where local mayors and Roma self-governments wield significant influence over daily life and welfare support.
Átlátszó’s investigation adds concrete, on-the-ground evidence to these ongoing concerns. With the election only days away, the food distributions highlight how material aid to vulnerable communities can blur the line between charity and political pressure – especially when the organisations involved are politically aligned and the funding sources are opaque.
The full Átlátszó report (in Hungarian) is available here:
Caption: Videograb by Atlaszo
Updated: April 6, 2026 - 06:16
