Potential Russian interference in the 2026 Hungarian national elections

Priority question for written answer P-001155/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), Michał Wawrykiewicz (PPE), Sophie Wilmès (Renew)

According to a recent investigative report[1], several European national security sources have revealed that the Kremlin has deployed a team of political technologists to interfere in the April 2026 national elections in Hungary in support of Viktor Orbán's campaign. The approach is modelled on previous interference campaigns that Russia has rolled out in other countries, most recently Moldova. The interference team is reportedly deployed on behalf of Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, and operating out of the Russian embassy in Budapest.

• 1.Has the Commission received information from Member States' intelligence services or EU bodies regarding possible Russian electoral interference in Hungary and has it been able to confirm the credibility of these reports?
• 2.In the light of these serious allegations, what concrete steps is the Commission taking to safeguard electoral integrity in Hungary and to monitor potential foreign interference in the upcoming elections, including in cooperation with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)?
• 3.Can the Commission confirm that the Hungarian Government's facilitation or toleration of foreign interference in its national elections would violate the principle of democracy as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, and, if so, which instruments is the Commission prepared to activate to address this violation?

Supporter[2]

Submitted: 19.3.2026

• [1] https://vsquare.org/goulash-kremlins-vote-meddling-team-in-budapest-slovakias-shady-help-for-arms-group-ipo/.
• [2] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D).