‘I was told to ignore the truth and follow the narrative’: Ex-analyst lifts lid on Hungary’s pro-government think tank

A former senior analyst at the government-close Századvég thinktank has publicly criticised the institution’s inner workings, claiming that political narratives often overrode professional analysis and that he was instructed to disregard factual accuracy in key cases.

In an interview published by Márton Tompos, economist Bence Balogh described his years within Hungary’s government-aligned policy environment and explained why he ultimately chose to resign.

‘Scientific propaganda’ and political interference

Balogh, who worked as a senior macroeconomic and policy analyst, said that while high-quality professional work was often produced at Századvég, its role was ultimately to serve political messaging.

“Put simply, Századvég’s task is to produce scientific propaganda,” he said, adding that the lack of transparency around policy studies pointed to deeper issues within Hungary’s democratic system.

He cited an example involving a housing policy paper that, despite professional backing and lobbying by state secretaries, was reportedly blocked at the highest level by Viktor Orbán, who rejected its conclusions.

The ‘final straw’: alleged AI-generated Tisza programme

Balogh said his decision to leave was triggered by a specific assignment related to a purported 800-page programme attributed to the opposition Tisza movement.

According to him, the document contained clear signs of AI-generated errors. Despite raising concerns and suggesting that analysts should instead focus on real, verifiable aspects of the opposition’s programme, he was instructed otherwise.

“I was told not to deal with whether it was true or not, just to analyse what had been published,” he recalled.

For Balogh, this moment represented a turning point, reinforcing his belief that professional standards were being subordinated to predetermined narratives.

A ‘liberal guerrilla’ within the system

Balogh described himself as a long-time liberal who had previously been associated with parties such as SZDSZ, Együtt and Momentum. At the same time, he built a career within institutions linked to the government.

He characterised this duality as acting as a “liberal guerrilla behind enemy lines,” working for the system by day while maintaining opposing political commitments privately.

This contradiction, he said, led to years of internal conflict and mounting frustration.

‘Good people can operate a bad system’

Despite his criticism, Balogh emphasised that many of his former colleagues were, in his view, intelligent and decent individuals.

He argued that strong group cohesion and a positive workplace atmosphere contributed to sustaining what he described as a flawed system. Even occasional internal criticism of pro-government media reportedly occurred without repercussions.

Drawing a conclusion, he suggested that such dynamics help explain how systems he considers harmful can continue to function effectively.

Personal toll and sense of relief

Balogh said the psychological strain of working for a system he fundamentally disagreed with had serious personal consequences.

“The constant tension, frustration and anger begin to consume your health,” he said, noting that the stress had started to affect his family life.

Leaving Századvég, he added, brought a sense of liberation.

If you missed it:

• How Hungary’s election campaigns caused a hidden mental health crisis

Expectations of political change

Looking ahead, Balogh expressed the belief that Hungary’s current political system is in decline and that change may be approaching, even if not immediately.

He indicated that he would continue working in liberal politics regardless of short-term outcomes.