Fake Campaign Posters of Opposition Party Tisa Appear in Hungary

In the city of Debrecen, Hungary, fake campaign posters for the opposition party Tisa have appeared, featuring the name of candidate Enike Tompa and the phrase "Vote on April 12th" in Ukrainian. This alarming information came to light on April 3rd through reports from Hungarian publications Telex and 444, which cited former Tisa candidate Zoltan Pashtor from previous parliamentary elections.

According to Pashtor, he received messages on the night of April 3rd indicating that small groups of individuals were pasting these counterfeit election posters on the streets of Debrecen. When the politician approached these individuals, they identified themselves as "volunteers." The posters, which have raised significant concern, correctly spelled the candidate's name but incorrectly listed the party's name as "Tísa" instead of "Tisa."

Pashtor noted that the counterfeit posters were produced to a relatively high standard, using materials identical to those employed by the Tisa party. This suggests that the forgery was executed with the intent to mislead voters and undermine trust in the party.

In response, representatives of the Tisa party confirmed that their candidate Enike has already filed a complaint regarding the illegally produced and distributed campaign posters, which contain unlawful content and lack proper attribution. This violation infringes on the personal rights of the candidate and the principles of fair and proper electoral conduct.

This incident unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Hungary. On February 16, Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of interfering in Hungarian elections during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Such statements have sparked outrage within Ukrainian society and political circles.

According to a survey conducted by the Institute of Public Opinion and Market Research Medián from March 17 to 20, the opposition party Tisa continues to strengthen its position ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12. This political force is leading the ruling Fidesz coalition by 16 percentage points, indicating growing support among voters.

On March 23, Tisa party leader Peter Madyar stated that if his party wins, they would remove key allies of Prime Minister Orban from their positions, referring to his entourage as a "mafia." This indicates Tisa's intentions to implement significant changes in Hungary's political landscape.

On April 1, the news agency Reuters reported, citing the results of two sociological surveys, that Tisa is supported by 56% of voters who have made their choice. This marks a 3% increase since early March. In contrast, the ruling Fidesz party garnered support from only 37% of respondents, a 2% decrease from three weeks prior. Approximately 26% of voters remain undecided.

The parliamentary elections in Hungary are scheduled for April 12, 2026, to elect members of the new session of the National Assembly. Viktor Orban has held the position of Prime Minister since 2010, and his tenure has sparked considerable controversy and criticism from opposition groups and international organizations.