Secret Recording Reveals Election Bribery Attempt by Fidesz, Claims DK

  • 19 Sep 2023 7:07 AM
  • Hungary Matters
Secret Recording Reveals Election Bribery Attempt by Fidesz, Claims DK
The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) demands an answer from ruling Fidesz to the question “how many opposition politicians has the party bribed or attempted to bribe to mislead and split opposition voters” in next year’s municipal elections, DK’s spokesman said.

Balázs Barkóczi said DK had knowledge of a secret audio recording of a Fidesz politician offering 5 million forints (EUR 13,000) to a Budapest politician of the Two-Tailed Dog Party (MKKP).

“If the opposition MKKP politician was fielded to run for mayor in the 18th district, that would weaken the re-election chances of Sándor Szaniszló, the incumbent mayor representing DK, by splitting the opposition vote [in the district],” said Barkóczi.

DK also wants to know “from what source had Fidesz received the bribery money and how much the ruling party plans to spend on election bribery in the 2024 municipal elections”, the spokesman said, insisting that DK suspected election fraud because, he said, “a tight race” was expected in several Budapest districts and in many localities.

“If Fidesz’s bribe attempt in the 18th district gets proven, it will go to show clearly that the party is preparing to do the same across the country in next year’s municipal elections,” Barkóczi said.

MTI Photo: Tamás Kovács

  • How does this content make you feel?

XpatLoop Media Partner

Hungary Matters

Launched in January 2014, this newsletter published on week days covers 'everything you need to know about what’s going on in Hungary and beyond', according to its publisher the state media agency MTI.

Explore More Reports