Bizarre: Former Hungarian PM Ferenc Gyurcsány launches Minecraft server after viral TikTok video

Ferenc Gyurcsány, the president of the Hungarian opposition party Democratic Coalition, made an unexpected promise to his TikTok followers in early November: if one of his videos garnered 1,000 likes, he would set up a Minecraft server.

According to Blikk, what initially appeared to be a casual remark quickly gained traction. Not only did the video surpass the target, but the likes skyrocketed, making it impossible for the project to remain just an offhand idea. Since then, the number of likes has multiplied, and the video announcing the Official Democratic Coalition Minecraft server has more than 100,000 likes.

Photo: facebook.com/gyurcsanyf

A brief history of Minecraft

Minecraft, the open-world sandbox game first created by Swedish developer Markus Persson in 2009, is one of gaming’s greatest success stories. Released by Mojang in 2011 and acquired by Microsoft in 2014, it has since become a global phenomenon. By October 2023, Minecraft had sold 300 million copies, cementing its place as the best-selling video game of all time, with 126 million monthly active players.

The game’s charm lies in its freedom and creativity. Players can roam a sprawling 3D pixelated world, collecting blocks, building, battling, and collaborating with others. Its modes cater to different playstyles: Survival, which emphasises resource gathering and combat, and Creative, where infinite resources allow for uninhibited construction.

Source: Pixabay

The meme became reality

At first, many people thought that the Minecraft server was just a meme and this is reflected in the comment section, but Ferenc Gyurcsány’s viewers didn’t give up and kept asking the politician to create the server until they finally got him to do it.

True to his word, the politician known for his jovial social media presence officially launched the server on a Saturday. “A promise is a promise,” said Gyurcsány, admitting he hadn’t expected such overwhelming enthusiasm for the game. The server’s IP address was shared on Discord, allowing eager fans to join.

However, demand quickly outstripped expectations. According to Index, the server’s capacity of 300 players was woefully inadequate, with countless fans trying, and failing, to gain access. Those lucky enough to connect experienced significant glitches, and within hours, the system crashed entirely.

Gyurcsány took the chaos in stride, responding with his trademark humour. He joked that even his nine-year-old son, Marci, was surprised by the overwhelming community response. The server’s collapse, he quipped, was more a testament to the project’s success than a failure. Signing off with his now-iconic “Ciao dolores!” he underscored that the initiative was always meant to be a light-hearted gesture of community fun.

Politicians on social media

Far from being a simple gimmick, this playful move illustrates how politicians can creatively engage with social media. Gyurcsány’s Minecraft venture demonstrates the power of direct interaction on modern platforms, highlighting new avenues for connecting with audiences. By stepping into the virtual world, even through a game, he showed that politics and community engagement can go hand in hand—sometimes with unexpected and delightful results.

Read also:

• Beyond politics: The most embarrassing TikTok moments of Hungarian politicians
• Former Hungarian PM Gyurcsány’s party to field candidates in all 106 electoral districts in 2026