Orbán’s leadership questioned as 53% of Hungarians suspect corruption involvement
According to a poll, more than half of Hungarians believe PM Viktor Orbán is involved in corruption. The recent survey conducted by the Publicus Institute has revealed a significant shift in public perception regarding corruption among Hungary’s top political figures. The poll, which focused on the recent U.S. sanctions against Cabinet Minister Antal Rogán, also explored broader opinions on corruption within the highest divisions of the Hungarian government.
More than half of Hungarians believe Orbán is corrupt
The survey’s most striking finding is that 53% of respondents believe that the Hungarian PM may be personally involved in corrupt activities. According to Népszava, this figure slightly surpasses the 50% who consider it likely that Rogán is at the centre of Hungary’s corruption system. These results suggest a growing scepticism among the Hungarian public about the integrity of their political leadership.
Breaking down the numbers, 35% of respondents deemed it “very likely” that Orbán is involved in corruption, while an additional 18% considered it “rather likely.” In contrast, only 30% of those surveyed believed the Prime Minister was unlikely to be involved in such activities, with 20% saying it was “not at all likely” and 10% finding it “rather unlikely”.
Great divide
The survey results show a clear partisan divide. Among government supporters, only 7% believe Orbán might be involved in corruption. This figure rises dramatically to 87% among opposition voters, while 48% of undecided voters suspect the Prime Minister’s involvement.
András Pulai, director of the Publicus Institute, commented on the findings, noting that many respondents view the U.S. sanctions against Rogán as ultimately targeting Orbán himself. This perception aligns with a broader sentiment that corruption may extend to the highest levels of government.
Film about the Orbán empire garnered attention
These survey results emerged before the release of a documentary by investigative journalism portal Direkt36, which examines the Orbán family’s economic empire. The film (read our report on it HERE) has garnered significant attention, with over 2.2 million views on YouTube as of 12 February 2025.
The government has not yet provided a substantive response to the allegations presented in the documentary. However, Fidesz parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis previously suggested that Ukrainian intelligence services were preparing a smear campaign against Orbán, a claim that Direkt36 has firmly denied.
Read also:
- New documentary digs deep into the wealth of Hungarian PM Orbán’s family! – VIDEO with English subtitles
- US sanctions against Minister Rogán: what do Hungarians think?
Corruption which steals the wealth of the country inevitably leads to a disfunctional economy and lower living standards which is exactly what is happening in Hungary. Hungarians begin to disbelieve government propaganda blaming outside forces for how they live and start to blame the people who are in control of their country – The Fidesz Crooks. What seems obvious is that there is a lot of discontent and a rising wave against the bandits.
Must be getting close to election time. The Brussels crowd have reawakened to attempt to select another Soro’s (USAID) puppet to destroy the Hungarian culture and history. Fidesz is a doing what the majority of the Hungarian People want them to do and hopefully will be overwhelmingly returned for another term. No thank you Brussels.
How does transparency as to the financial dealings of our Politicians “destroy the Hungarian culture and history”? I don´t believe anyone is out to do this. Unfortunately power corrupts (with credit where credit is due for Mr. Orbán´s old track record).
Unless you believe in the Tooth Fairy, there is a tremendous unexplained amount of incidental financial and personal gain for Politician´s friends, family and toadies.
Old but good – HVG so pretty factual:
https://hvg.hu/kkv/20200611_ner_korrupcio_ner10
Quotable quotes: “we know we live in a corrupt country, but we are accustomed to it” and “Politicians do not violate the law, but rewrite them in accordance with their own interests”
This is news? I guess the poll is, but the corruption is not.
Sorry Derrick Van der Lisle. I can’t agree with you. Fidesz is doing what a majority of Fidesz wants them to do…….rip off the Hungarian people. Hopefully, they will not be “returned for another term” in next year’s election. Blaming Soros, the NGOs and “Brussels” is getting so old it has a stale smell.
Could it be that Hungarian majority is waking up to see how Fidesz is taking the country towards even more poverty and misery? Fidesz has not been good for Hungary for a long time anymore. Ruined public healthcare and education, co-operating with war-mongering Russia and blaming Soros for everything, blackmailing NATO applicants and all the systematic corruption that lead to losing much needed EU funds.
Hungary needs a new leadership to bring it back to its feet and to bring hope for a brighter future so that our brightest youth would not leave the country for decent income and in hopes of having decent education and public healthcare for their future children.
Be it another center-right wing political party, as long as they are honest and get rid of corruption and put ordinary people first instead of oligarchs. Fidesz and Orban have already ruled too long.
My prediction is that if Fidesz were to win the next election, which would be by widescale fraud, the exodus from Hungary particularly of young people will ramp up in scale. People are going to throw in the towel on the future of Hungary and just pack up and leave.
@DNH, Maybe my reading and interpretation is incorrect but are the result data correct ? in the article we have 35+18+30+20+10=113 %.
Let it be HOPED – that CITIZENS grow in there Displeasure, there QUESTIONING of what FACTUALLY is, a “Heinous” Government of Hungary led by Victor Orban.
Let it be HOPED – in the words of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto on the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbour when asked what he thought the United States of Americas reaction would be.
Yamamoto said;
” I FEAR all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a TERRIBLE resolve”.
Hungarians – in our growing ACCEPTANCE – in our awakening let us in SOLIDARITY remove our DESTRUCTOR and his Fidesz Government – that we, the citizens are the awakening sleeping GIANTS that through people POWER and in SOLIDARITY “rid” us personally and our country of the Orban led Fidesz Government.
FV it’s 35+18 (53) vs 20 +10 (30). The balance of 17 would be the undecided. A majority believe Orban is corrupt and an overwhelming majority of those who have an opinion believe Orban is corrupt. The result is clear for Bindzsisztan.
…another bedtime story…