Spyware scandal deepens: Péter Magyar tells Tisza Party infrastructure was infected with spyware

Hungary’s political landscape has been shaken by fresh allegations from Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, who claims that sophisticated spyware was deployed against his movement.

Spyware were found in Tisza Party’s IT systems

According to Magyar, the software in question is Candiru, an Israeli-developed surveillance tool widely regarded as a successor to Pegasus. In a video statement released on Thursday, Magyar alleged that Hungarian intelligence services not only relied on infiltration, coercion and intimidation, but also used advanced cyber tools to monitor political opponents.

He further suggested that the operation may have involved cooperation with “eastern powers”, raising concerns about potential international dimensions. We recently wrote about the plot that police refused to investigate.

What is Candiru?

Candiru is a controversial spyware platform developed by an Israeli cyber firm that sells its products primarily to governments and intelligence agencies. Although officially marketed as a tool to combat terrorism and serious crime, investigations by organisations such as Citizen Lab and Microsoft have linked its use to surveillance of journalists, activists and opposition figures worldwide.

Magyar claims that this software was discovered on Tisza Party systems last year, describing it as a military-grade tool originally designed for intelligence operations. In case you missed it: Stunning poll lead for Tisza Party, which means, if accurate, it could give unparalleled power to Péter Magyar.

Raids and disputed investigations

The allegations follow an investigative report by Direkt36, which described a coordinated attempt to disrupt the Tisza Party’s IT infrastructure in the summer of 2024. According to the report, Hungarian authorities launched a criminal investigation into two men linked to the party, based on suspicions of child pornography.

However, subsequent searches reportedly found no evidence supporting those claims. Instead, investigators uncovered large volumes of digital material, including screenshots of conversations suggesting an attempt to recruit one of the IT specialists. An unidentified individual, referred to as “Henry”, allegedly sought assistance in undermining the Tisza Party ahead of elections.

Former investigator Bence Szabó later spoke publicly about the case, claiming that pressure had been exerted on police by the Constitution Protection Office during the investigation. The more than 90-minute-long interview, in which he talked about the case and his situation gathered unprecedented attention in the first 24 hours.

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Government response and counterclaims

The Hungarian government has rejected the opposition’s narrative. At a recent press briefing, Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office stated that intelligence services were acting within their mandate to track suspected spies. He also suggested that individuals connected to the case had ties to foreign actors and may have attempted to acquire illegal surveillance tools themselves. Gulyás further argued that the public disclosure of intelligence operations could constitute a criminal offence.

Can it be the “Hungarian Watergate”?

Magyar has described the unfolding situation as reminiscent of the Watergate scandal, calling it one of the most serious political scandals in modern Hungary. The case has triggered sharp reactions across the political spectrum, with some figures praising whistleblowers, while others question the credibility and motives behind the claims.

Image credit: Facebook/Péter Magyar