Viktor Orban's Fidesz government in Hungary stands accused of mass voter intimidation in a film released on Thursday ahead of 12 April parliamentary elections, in which the ruling party is trailing in the opinion polls.
The documentary, titled The Price of the Vote, aired at a Budapest cinema and on YouTube, revealing the findings of a six-month independent investigation.
The film includes testimonies from voters, mayors, former election officials, and a police officer who allege that significant sums of money and even illegal drugs are being used to pressure individuals to vote for Fidesz.
It is claimed that 53 of Hungary's 106 constituencies, affecting approximately 600,000 voters, are targets of these attempts—potentially 10% of the expected turnout of six million.
After 16 years of Fidesz rule, current polls indicate that the party is trailing Peter Magyar's centre-right opposition party Tisza by a significant margin.
The film portrays a rural Hungary steeped in poverty, where mayors purportedly control essential resources like firewood and healthcare, distributing them only to those who vote accordingly.
Claims of coercive practices such as provision of transportation on election day, pressuring the illiterate to obtain voting assistance, and vote-buying using drugs or cash are highlighted.
While past allegations of vote-seeking misconduct have existed, the scale of these claims in The Price of the Vote is unprecedented.
With tension rising as the election approaches, the Fidesz government defends against accusations of interference, presenting a narrative painted by both independent media and the opposition suggesting foreign plots at play.
The involvement of Russia is also cited, with suspicions of intelligence operations aimed at influencing Hungary's electoral outcome. The situation reflects a complicated political landscape where the stakes for Orban's administration have never been higher.
