The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service suggested that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stage an assassination attempt on him in order to boost his approval ratings ahead of the elections.
This is reported by The Washington Post, citing sources and an internal report from the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russian intelligence officers proposed a way to "fundamentally change the entire paradigm of the election campaign" in Hungary and organize an assassination attempt on Orban
In their report, they noted that such an incident would “shift the perception of the campaign from the rational sphere of socio-economic issues to an emotional one”, with “national security, stability, and the protection of the political system” becoming the key themes.
It is unclear what stage the proposal is at. Orbanʼs spokesman Zoltan Kovacs did not respond to a request for comment, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the information false.
- Hungaryʼs parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 12. They could be the biggest challenge to Orbanʼs 16-year rule and his “Fidesz” party. Preliminary opinion polls show Orbanʼs main opponent, Peter Magyarʼs opposition “Tisza” party, ahead of “Fidesz".
- The FT reported in February that the European Commission has become more lenient in criticizing Orban and may even provide his government with new money before the election. Brussels does not want to be accused of interfering in the election or for Orban to use it in his anti-European campaign.
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