Founder of pro-Fidesz CÖF publicly gives blueprint for propaganda against Péter Magyar

Tamás Fricz, a founding member and spokesman of the pro-government Civil Alliance Forum (CÖF), outlined in an opinion piece how Fidesz should fight the rise of the new opposition figure, Péter Magyar. Exposing “rolling dollars” instead of character assassinations and conspiracy theories about the World Health Organisation could be the main angles of communication ahead of the upcoming elections.

The Civil Alliance Forum is a cornerstone of government doctrine

The Civil Alliance Forum (Civil Összefogás Fórum, CÖF), writes átlátszó.hu, is the right-wing, pro-government NGO that is an integral part of the Hungarian propaganda machine. Among others, it arranges the pro-Fidesz mass demonstration called the Peace March (Békemenet). It is also the organisation responsible for the infamous smear campaign against opposition politicians that stole imagery from the Dead Kennedys.

Peace March in 2012, signs reading: We will not be a colony!
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

One of the founders of CÖF, political scientist Tamás Fricz, has published an opinion piece in Magyar Nemzet, the title of which, as Telex points out in its analysis, says a lot about the future political ambitions of the organisation. Fricz titled his article:

“This is how to fight against Péter Magyar”.

In the article, Fricz outlines “what is the most effective method for Fidesz-KDNP to counter the opposition movement initiated by Péter Magyar.”

Character assassinations did not work – a new direction is needed

At the beginning of the article, Fricz writes with surprising transparency that so far, CÖF’s attacks on Péter Magyar focused on his person and character. However, this approach seems to be lacking, at least until new information comes to light that proves “that Péter Magyar is a terrible villain.”

Instead of continuing the character assassination, the political scientist advises a different route. The message in their political campaign should be this: “Here is a figure who has badly betrayed Fidesz, the government that gave him a lot, he has gone into opposition, and what has happened is that the opposition palette has been expanded, and now there is a new player or party to consider.”

Demonstrators supporting Péter Magyar.
Source: Facebook/Péter Magyar

In the fight against Péter Magyar, “[f]irst of all, we must find out how and to what extent he is supported by the usual foreign network, from George Soros to Action for Democracy, the US Embassy, the Democrats, even the elite in Davos, and provide concrete facts and evidence to the public” about the foreign funds Magyar receives.

CÖF is already working on this “investigative” work, as Fricz calls it. One of the manifestations of their journalism is the fact that the propaganda posters depicting the “dollar left” now include Péter Magyar.

Linking Magyar to figures that the government has already established as enemies, Fricz points out that it is necessary to prove that Magyar “is no more and no better than Karácsony, Gyurcsány, Márki-Zay or Fekete-Győr, Anna Donáth, Katalin Cseh.” This would be “a very important achievement” politically, because

“the vast majority of Hungarian voters do not like politicians being controlled with money from abroad, and doing what they are told. Hungarian public opinion clearly sees this as treason, and Hungarians have always despised traitors.”

Advising the government, Fricz writes that the most important thing is for Fidesz not to falter: the party must send out the message that it sees Magyar’s political ambitions “as a natural process”. The government should reiterate that “in politics, there are always traitors, new party builders, people who see themselves as redeemers, perhaps with some charisma, who appear on the scene from time to time and then in the vast majority of cases quickly disappear”.

CÖF taking lessons from the far-right in conspiracy theories

As Telex explains in its article, Fricz also proposes that the government should hijack the WHO conspiracy theory, already circulated in Hungarian public discourse by the far-right Our Homeland (Mi Hazánk) party.

• DW wrote more about the conspiracy theory here.

“The WHO has been preparing for a year to take control of nation-states – which would mean the loss of a significant part of our sovereignty! – (I should note here that the European Union is not at all opposed to the WHO’s ambitions – is anyone surprised?)” writes the political scientist with confidence.

Fricz continues, “If a pandemic were to come again – and why shouldn’t it, the ‘well-informed’ big boys already know it will – the WHO could make compulsory administration of the latest version of the highly effective vaccine mandatory. In all countries. God save us from that! That’s why I think we should also resist, in order to protect Hungarian national sovereignty and our health,” he advises.

Demonstration organised by the Our Homeland party. The sign on the right in the background features a firefighter with the text “Excuse me, I am not vaccinated. Will you still let me save your life?” Photo: FB

According to Fricz, a possible withdrawal from the WHO “would be a truly Kuruc-like [anti-Habsburg insurgents in the Kingdom of Hungary in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, in the modern sense denotes advocating for national independence and nationalism – ed.], nationalist act, after which the government, Fidesz-KDNP, would be elevated again by the Hungarian electorate.”

His proposed moves, Fricz writes, would guarantee the 2026 election for Fidesz. After all, “[t]he global elite is the biggest threat to our country, and if we act boldly here, no one can question the vigour and accountability of the government after 14 years.”

Read also:

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• EP Election 2024 – survey: new Hungarian Tisza party is already the strongest opposition force

Source: Magyar Nemzet, Telex