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Spyware scandal deepens: Péter Magyar tells Tisza Party infrastructure was infected with spyware
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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.
Have you heard? Without an election, PM Orbán already secured a mandate in the next Parliament: here’s the trick. Also, even the company of Trump’s son “believes” that PM Orbán will lose power in April.
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
Hungary lives in a Putinist mafia dictatorship. God willing we will escape this tragedy on April 12th.
You are in Canada, Dear Larry – so you have a different ‘tragedy’ to escape – one of a quickly ruptruing country.
As to the election : all 3 reliable Hungarian pollsters show that, though Fidesz will have to make a new governing coalition, Tisza will not be in that coalition.
If you conduct your affairs on electronic devices, you have to know that it is like screaming your private matters in the public square.
This tactic, the same tactic The Hungarian Left uses, will not win them the election, because it does nothing to assuage many Hungarians that, if they voted for Tisza, they would not soon be swimming in the Persian Gulf, their children educated to be gay, on their way to the battlefront in Western Russia.
Oh dear @Mouton – gay is absolutely fine! Take our Politicians BFF in Germany, AfDs Mrs. Weidel, who touting the virtues of Fidesz at CPAC in Budapest last week.
Mrs. Weidel lives with her de facto wife Sarah Bossard in Switzerland (not Germany, surprisingly) where they raise their two sons, together.
https://fidesz-eu.hu/en/%ef%bf%bcthe-father-is-a-man-the-mother-is-a-woman-and-leave-alone-our-children%ef%bf%bc/
Mr Peter would sell his soul to the devil, if he has not already!!. Intelligent Hungarians will vote to be on the right side of history this time and not be coerced into voting for facist EU/Soros funded parties.