Hungarian news outlet Index has published a correction admitting that its earlier claims about a supposed tax package linked to the Tisza Party were false.

The correction follows a final court ruling which found that the outlet had wrongly stated it had obtained documents outlining the party’s detailed economic programme, 24.hu reported. According to the clarification, the material published was not connected to the Tisza Party, and no conclusions could be drawn from it regarding the party’s tax policies or broader economic plans.

The outlet acknowledged that all claims based on the documents were unfounded.

Disputed documents and campaign impact

The original article, published in November without a named author, claimed the alleged programme would radically reshape Hungary’s economy, including sweeping tax increases and a stronger redistributive role for the state.

It also suggested that the proposed measures could generate at least HUF 3,700 billion (EUR 9 billion) in additional annual revenue, largely through higher corporate and capital market taxes.

At the time, the Tisza Party immediately rejected the claims, stating that the documents were fabricated and had no connection to its official policy proposals.

Péter Magyar: “Not enough”

Reacting to the correction, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party and a prime minister-to-be, sharply criticised both the original reporting and the manner of the correction.

In a Facebook post, he described the alleged tax package story as the “biggest lie” of the election campaign, accusing the outlet of running a disinformation campaign comparable to “Russian-style” tactics.

While acknowledging the correction, Magyar argued that it fell short of what was required.

He said the admission had been published in small print at the bottom of the page, despite the original claims receiving prominent front-page coverage for days.

“I expect a real correction. In the real place: on the front page. For days,” he wrote.

Court ruling and financial penalty

The case was adjudicated by the Budapest Metropolitan Court, which ruled that the Tisza Party had no connection to the hundreds of pages of material presented by the outlet as its economic programme.

The court ordered Index to publish a correction within five days of the ruling becoming final and to pay HUF 500,000 (EUR 1,370) in legal costs.

The ruling reinforced earlier findings that the documents lacked credibility, noting issues such as missing official markings and incorrect references to internal party structures.

Political and media implications

The case has made debate in Hungary even more grave over media responsibility and the role of politically aligned outlets during election campaigns.

Magyar has framed the issue as part of a larger problem of misinformation, arguing that false narratives influenced public discourse during a critical political period.

Despite the correction, the Tisza Party is signalling that it expects further steps to address what it sees as reputational damage.

If you missed it: Hungary’s soon-to-be health minister demands resignation from culture minister over cultural funding scandal