Budapest, 26 June 2025 – “Viktor Orbán claims that 95% of Hungarians are against Ukraine joining the European Union. This is a serious statement, aimed at justifying Hungary’s isolationist stance within the EU. But that figure in no way reflects the will of the Hungarian people: it comes from a manipulated consultation, with no independent oversight or real statistical value.” This was declared by Chiara Squarcione and Federica Valcauda of Radical Europe, who are currently in Budapest for Pride Week.
The national consultation launched by the Hungarian government involved just over 2 million citizens out of roughly 8 million eligible voters. “Orbán conveniently omits a crucial detail: 75% of the population did not respond. That 95% ‘no’ vote actually represents less than a quarter of the country. Presenting such a result as ‘the will of the people’ is pure propaganda.”
Moreover, the legitimacy of not only the result but of the very mechanism itself is highly questionable, as there are no procedures for vote certification or oversight, and no transparency regarding the sources of the data provided by the government.
According to the two Radical activists, this is yet another tool of artificial legitimacy used by the Hungarian government: “A maneuver designed to turn an active minority into an apparent majority. To block Ukraine, divide the Union, and present an external image that simply does not reflect reality.”
During their stay in Budapest, Squarcione and Valcauda also reported the widespread presence of government posters openly urging people to vote against Ukraine’s accession. “In the posters, Von der Leyen and Zelensky are portrayed with harsh, almost threatening expressions next to the message ‘Vote no’.”
The government appears to leave no room for a free and informed vote, but deliberately steers public opinion using visual and narrative pressure tactics:
“We find it incredible that, in the context of a public consultation, the government does not actually allow people to vote according to their conscience. But once again, the reality is simple: Orbán is lying. And he does so to isolate Hungary and weaken Europe,”
Squarcione and Valcauda conclude.