Tireless fighter against corruption: Akos Hadhazy at a protest in Budapest (June 17, 2025).Image: keystone
interview
Hungary’s best-known corruption hunter is looking forward to the elections with trepidation: Akos Hadhazy says in an interview that the ailing Prime Minister Orban will use every trick to stay in power.
March 31, 2026, 8:04 p.mMarch 31, 2026, 8:04 p.m
Remo Hess, Budapest / ch media
Akos Hadhazy sits in his office in the 14th district of Budapest, right across from the city park. It’s his district. Down in the streets there are posters with his face on them. Although he does not belong to the opposition Tisza collective movement, as an independent he has a good chance of winning a direct mandate. His years of fighting corruption have made him a nationally known politician.
For the first time in 16 years, Prime Minister Viktor Orban could lose the election. Is the “wind of change” already blowing through the streets of Budapest?
Akos Hadhazy: Many people sense that change is imminent. But I’m not so optimistic. The opposition has a chance of winning if Fidesz stopped committing electoral fraud. However, I fear that the government will commit blatant fraud during or after the elections.
Is electoral fraud already a fact in Hungary?
It is no longer a question but a fact. The propaganda machine, for example: All of these posters in the country, where a conspiracy is being constructed by Ursula von der Leyen with Zelensky and the opposition leader Peter Magyar, were financed with millions of taxpayers’ money. State-financed election campaigns in favor of one party are already electoral fraud. I also experienced firsthand how Fidesz bought votes.
The Corruption Hunter
Akos Hadhazy, 51, is a trained veterinarian. He began his political career as a local politician for Fidesz in the small town of Szekszard. However, he left the party in 2013 after uncovering a scandal involving the misuse of EU funds. Since then he has been considered an uncompromising fighter against corruption and abuse of power. Hadhazy is independent, but describes himself as center-right.
Image: keystone
Fidesz is buying votes?
Yes. Especially in the poorer rural regions. But not only. There’s a whole system behind it.
How would you describe the political system in Hungary?
In Hungary we do not live in a democracy, but in a hybrid regime, similar to Georgia, Serbia or Belarus. What is crucial is that power cannot afford to lose elections. In Georgia, the opposition had a majority, but the ruling party was still declared the winner. After the election in Georgia, Orban flew there and congratulated. I fear something similar could happen here too. For example, when US President Donald Trump congratulates Orban and proclaims him the winner.
Or Russian President Vladimir Putin?
Orban is a very important agent of Putin in the EU and worldwide. Putin is very interested in Orban winning.
Poster campaign: Orban’s Fidesz party accuses opposition leader Peter Magyar of a conspiracy with Zelenskj and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.image: remo hess
There are reports that Russian agents are helping Orban in his campaign.
The Russian influence is undeniable. Orban invited the Russians. They are here helping him out of the Russian embassy. The Russians also bombed the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine. This can only make sense to support Orban in his anti-Ukraine campaign.
How does corruption work in Hungary?
The corruption is systematic. When I was still a member of the Fidesz city council in the city of Szekszard in southern Hungary over 15 years ago, our mayor explained the system like this: An elegant young man from Budapest comes along and offers projects with EU subsidies. He promises to take care of everything and ensure the profit. In the end, of course, an oligarch or Fidesz man will carry out the work. You know from the start who will get the order, and the costs are often twice as high as usual. If they refuse, he simply goes to the next town. This is the central mechanism in the Orban system. It runs through all levels of the state, but starts at the top.
With Viktor Orban?
Yes. The Hungarian system is similar to feudalism, in which wealth actually belongs to the king. And the king is Orban.
How rich is Viktor Orban actually?
That’s hard to say. Officially he only has a few thousand euros in his account. The fortune of Lörinc Meszaros, Orban’s childhood friend, is estimated at around four to five billion euros. He is a simple gas fitter. Orban’s son-in-law Istvan Tiborcz’s fortune could amount to one billion euros.
Is Orban really behind these businessmen?
It is to be assumed. But Orban not only determines who gets rich, but also who loses their wealth. Lajos Simicska was once Orban’s biggest oligarch and closest friend. When he turned against him in 2016 and threatened to provide information about Orban’s collaboration with the KGB, he was massively threatened. He was told: If you give up your information, we will kill you. The opposition lost the elections and Simicska had to sell all his property, including to Meszaros. It’s like Putin.
Are there other examples of such expropriations?
Yes, for example Andy Vajna, the American-Hungarian film producer (including “Rambo”, “Basic Instinct”); Editor’s note), who became rich in Hollywood. In Hungary, with Orban’s help, he acquired many properties, including the largest television company. When he died in 2019, everything was taken away from his heirs and sold to Orban friends.
Why is Orban so afraid of defeat?
He stands to lose a lot and is threatened with prison. Theoretically, his immunity in parliament remains intact. But if the opposition wins a two-thirds majority, it could be overturned. And even if it were only a simple majority: the new government would have access to information that would put Orban in danger. For example, when it becomes clear how much money he used to build his family home, Hatvanpuszta.
Do you actually trust Peter Magyar to do better?
There are lots of question marks and exclamation marks. But now is not the time to fight the opposition. The majority of people think that whoever can defeat Orban needs to be supported. I agree with that.
Is this the last chance to get rid of Orban?
I would never talk about a “last chance”. In a hybrid regime, it is almost impossible to get rid of the government through elections. But the word “almost” is crucial. If Orban steals the election, the opposition should call for a Maidan like in Ukraine. I will call for it. Peacefully and without violence, of course. But we should show that we will no longer accept the result. In contrast to 2022, when the parties accepted the already distorted result out of convenience. (aargauerzeitung.ch)