Orbán adopts a zebra – and you won’t believe how it’s linked to the 2026 elections

Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, has adopted a zebra at Budapest Zoo – with a little help from Győző Gáspár, aka Győzike, a well-known Hungarian television personality notorious for his penchant for zebra stripes. The move comes after Péter Magyar, Orbán’s main challenger in the 2026 general election, made a striking claim: that zebras roam his father’s luxury estate in Hatvanpuszta. Magyar added a personal twist to the rumour, alleging that Orbán’s grandchildren are terrified of the animals.

The beginning of the “zebra gate”

Last week, Péter Magyar made a series of explosive claims in a Facebook post, which we previously covered HERE. Among them, he alleged that Viktor Orbán once drove home drunk from Tabajd after downing a bottle of wine. He also accused the prime minister of constructing a multi-billion-forint luxury estate in Hatvanpuszta—despite government assertions that the property belongs to Orbán’s father—and claimed that the striped animals are kept in a safari park on the estate.

Adding to the intrigue, independent MP Ákos Hadházy shared photographs of the zebras, asserting that they officially belong to Lőrinc Mészáros—Hungary’s richest businessman, whose fortune, he claimed, was almost entirely amassed during the Orbán era through public contracts.

Adopt an animal, support a zoo

Predictably, Orbán and his government dismissed Magyar’s allegations as absurd. Yet, it seems the claim captured the prime minister’s imagination—or at least that of his communications team—prompting him to adopt a zebra from Budapest Zoo. The process is straightforward and open to the public, serving as a way to financially support the zoo.

However, Orbán added a theatrical twist. He enlisted Győző Gáspár—better known as Győzike, a television personality of Roma heritage famed for his love of zebra prints—to select the ‘best’ zebra on his behalf. Győzike, often seen wearing zebra-patterned outfits, took on the task enthusiastically, assisted by one of Orbán’s secretaries. He later shared a video of the adoption, declaring, ‘Welcome to the team, Romy’.

Meanwhile, Orbán visited Budapest’s University of Veterinary Medicine, where he discussed ‘Zebra-gate’ with students. He later shared a video and photos from the event here.

Unanswered questions

Yet the more significant issues remain unaddressed. Why is Orbán’s father constructing a multi-billion-forint estate in Hatvanpuszta? And how did Lőrinc Mészáros become Hungary’s wealthiest businessman?

Read also:

• Vendetta start? PM Orbán’s top minister Lázár slams Fidesz-close oligarchs, calls them ticks for living in luxury – read more HERE
• Péter Magyar: Orbán-close oligarchs will be put in detention soon