Political Capital

Policy Research & Consulting Institute focusing on populism, extremism and disinformation. Dedicated to promoting democratic values and transatlantic relations.

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

In an interview with @populismstudies, our director, @peterkreko, discusses whether Hungary can transition from being a laboratory of illiberalism and post-truth to a laboratory of democratic renewal.

[Peter Kreko @peterkreko]

After 16 years, Orbán’s propaganda machine didn’t gradually weaken. It collapsed.

The bigger question now is what comes next.

Can Hungary move from being a laboratory of illiberalism and post-truthg to a laboratory of democratic renewal? Can a country shaped by state-sponsored disinformation rebuild media pluralism, democratic trust, and a less tribal political culture?

That’s the challenge I discuss in my new interview with @populismstudies @selcuk_gultasli
https://t.co/rEFwOpTOgn

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

A month ago, Hungary held a historic election. Since then, it feels as if time has accelerated. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a step back to read the Citizen Election Report, which provides an authentic account of the electoral process: https://t.co/VEYSyZRWk4

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko, spoke to @BalkanInsight about the political future of Fidesz and Orbán, and the implications of Orbán's electoral defeat for the spread of illiberalism.

[Peter Kreko @peterkreko]

The export of illiberalism will come to a swift end. Fidesz, one of the last surviving parties from the post-communist transition in Central Europe, could suffer the same fate as its regional peers - being sidelined and shrinking further.

Gave some comments on the political future of Fidesz and Orbán to @einotai @BalkanInsight @Rept_Democracy .
The great @laknerz is also quoted in the article! https://t.co/d5C2fy8hyP

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

In a blog post for @EDMO_EUI, we summarised the lessons from recent AI-driven post-reality campaigning in #Hungary and its limitations.
Read the full blog post here: https://t.co/lRz9y68cg4

[HDMO - Hungarian hub against disinformation @HdmoHub]

Do not miss HDMO's latest blogpost on @EDMO_EUI Blog by colleagues from @Pol_Cap:
👉 How AI-generated content was weaponized in Hungary’s 2026 election campaign
👉 What explains the limited success of AI-driven disinformation despite its widespread use
👉 How public attitudes toward deepfakes may shape future political strategies
👉 Why a coordinated policy response is essential to address the risks of AI in elections
🔗 Read the full blogpost: https://t.co/XTw6N9uXUY

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Why didn’t Fidesz’s campaign work? Why were Russian disinformation and AI ineffective? What happens to the pro-Fidesz media empire when state funding ends? Our director, @peterkreko and Ágnes Urbán from @MertekMonitor answer these questions here: https://t.co/4vxTGtbXwe

[HDMO - Hungarian hub against disinformation @HdmoHub]

🚨 Why Fidesz’s campaign didn’t work?
🚨 Why were Russian disinformation and AI ineffective?

Szilárd Teczár's interview with @peterkreko director of @Pol_Cap and Ágnes Urbán director of @MertekMonitor is now available in English on @lakmusz_hu.

Here you can read a shortened, edited version of the conversation: https://t.co/Wpl1Qr82g4

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko commented to the
@nytimes on the political position and outlook of former Hungarian PM Orbán after his electoral defeat.

[Peter Kreko @peterkreko]

Orban has no chance to return to power. He could take the path taken by President Trump after his election defeat in 2020, when he “was able to strengthen his position by casting himself as a victim. But he seems paralyzed, with its supporters in business, politics and academia stepping down on their own, surrendering without a single shot fired.

My comments to @nytimes @lilirutai

https://t.co/lMf2MH8T8H

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

The 2026 #Hungarian #election may have been the first post-reality campaign. It served as a laboratory for information manipulation, so its lessons may be useful for democratic actors in other countries. Read our paper on social media campaigning here! https://t.co/KYxWrK2Z9N

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

What will a new government in #Hungary mean for the Western Balkans?
In #BalkansDebrief, @PeterKreko talks to @IlvaTare about Hungary’s political, economic, and media presence in the region and whether the new government would signal real change or merely a shift in influence.

[Atlantic Council Europe Center @ACEurope]

Orbán is out. But what does that mean for the Western Balkans? In #BalkansDebrief, @IlvaTare sits down with @peterkreko to unpack Hungary’s political, economic & media footprint in the region & what changes (or doesn’t) under Péter Magyar. https://t.co/ykSmJwgj5K

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko, commented on the prospects of unfreezing EU funds after #Hungary's #election for @guardian.

[Peter Kreko @peterkreko]

The EU funds will be desperately needed so that Tisza can deliver at least on some of their promises. The political will isthere on the EU side as well to help the new government deliver so that Orbán does not return to power. Me to @guardian @ashifa_k https://t.co/N3RPqSLKWF

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko, commented on the potential implications of #Hungary's #elections for @CNN.

[Peter Kreko @peterkreko]

Hungary’s more liberal voters did not allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good. The best plot twist would be if Hungary went from a model of illiberalism, post-truth and authoritarianism to a model of democratic change. Me to
@cnn
@christianed_ https://t.co/YVnYAwpjIC

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko, discussed what the victory.of TISZA and Peter Magyar in #Hungary's #election means for the country's relationship with Russia going forward on @dwnews. https://t.co/67NjYV6Wxc

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

#Hungary has voted. TISZA achieved a historic victory. Read our in-depth post-election analysis to find out more about the background to the #election and its domestic and international implications. https://t.co/qPqajUl9xW

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko's take for @POLITICOEurope on why Orban's informational autocracy lost.

[Peter Kreko @peterkreko]

Why Orbán's informational autocracy lost- me to @MaxGriera @POLITICOEurope. The clemency scandal caused “a moral crisis of a moralizing government”. Since then, whatever the government does, whatever the government says, it resonates less with the public. https://t.co/yZ3AUX1meJ

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Did you miss our event with @fromTGA, Krisztina Arato, @enyedi_zsolt and @peterkreko, organised with @CEUDemInst, on the stakes of Hungary's election for Europe and democracies? Watch it here while you're waiting for the results! https://t.co/6Bp3tlpYwJ

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our new report on the use of AI in the Hungarian election campaign has just been published. It is a helpful resource for understanding election dynamics and learning lessons from this laboratory-like campaign.

[HDMO - Hungarian hub against disinformation @HdmoHub]

🚨 New report from @Pol_Cap!
AI-generated videos are becoming a powerful tool in election campaigns. Political Capital's latest analysis of the Hungarian case shows how deepfake content can shape perceptions, trigger strong emotions, and continue influencing audiences even after being exposed as false. The findings highlight that AI-generated video content were widely used during the campaign, particularly by government-affiliated actors, and in some cases were able to bypass platform regulations to reach large audiences through paid advertising.

Read the full report for detailed findings and recommendations: https://t.co/QHfWAnC4LW

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

The spotlight is on Hungary today. Our election expert, Róbert László, was quoted by the @BBC. Fidesz failed to reduce TISZA's lead, and there are many signs that the public mood has turned against Orbán. Let's wait for the results. https://t.co/sWRlZqWLNG

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

💬Our Director, @peterkreko, commented to
@BBCWorld on the AI-fueled #election campaign in #Hungary, along with @CEUDemInst's Senior Program Officer, @eva_bognar. https://t.co/mYUpdruuC1

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko, was quoted in a recent @POLITICOEurope article by @MaxGriera. “There have been no real scandals that burned on Péter Magyar… Maybe it’s because he has warned his voter base in advance all the time.” https://t.co/gEzGkxwIe4

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Proud for our research into unfair social media campaigning practices to be featured on @euronews. Our Head of Programmes, @bulcsuhunyadi, explained how Fidesz is experimenting to circumvent Meta's ad ban ahead of #Hungary's #election. #TheCube

[euronews @euronews]

Meta blocked political advertisements on Facebook and Instagram in October, but misinformation researchers warn that the ban has pushed political ads by Orbán's Fidesz underground. #TheCube https://t.co/xYl6oGY6ux

[Political Capital @Pol_Cap]

Our director, @peterkreko, was interviewed on @CNBC about the U.S.'s endorsement of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the importance of #Hungary's #election in just two days' time.
Watch the full interview on CNBC: https://t.co/jB4bggggKy