The Hungarian government has unveiled a nationwide petition aimed at mobilising voters against continued European Union financial support for Ukraine, signalling a further escalation of anti-Brussels rhetoric ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections in April. The initiative, published on official government social media on 27 January, is set to be distributed directly to households, allowing voters to return their responses free of charge by 23 March, less than three weeks before polling day.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has framed the petition as a defence of Hungarian economic interests, arguing that EU support for Ukraine would allegedly come at the expense of Hungarian pensions, household subsidies and public finances. The text claims that Brussels intends to channel vast sums to Kyiv and accelerate Ukraine’s accession to the EU, assertions that government critics describe as exaggerated or misleading. Details of the petition and its messaging were first reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
Campaign messaging and political timing
The launch of the petition coincides with a tightening election race in which Orban’s ruling Fidesz party faces its strongest challenge in years from the opposition Tisza party. Analysts say the government’s strategy relies on portraying external actors as responsible for domestic economic pressures, including inflation and declining living standards, rather than focusing on internal policy choices.
The petition’s questions are structured in a way that strongly guides respondents towards rejecting EU funding for Ukraine. Voters are asked to tick boxes opposing further financing of the war, rejecting long-term EU support for the Ukrainian state and objecting to any increase in household costs allegedly linked to the conflict. Observers note that such “consultative” questionnaires have been used repeatedly by Orban’s government as political mobilisation tools rather than neutral opinion surveys.
Targeting Brussels and Kyiv
The document accuses Brussels of preparing not only financial assistance but also deeper involvement in the war, echoing narratives frequently used by Russian officials to portray EU support for Ukraine as escalation. It also suggests that European citizens, including Hungarians, will bear the cost through higher taxes and reduced social benefits. According to reporting by Eurointegration, the petition includes imagery depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a recipient of European funds, alongside senior EU figures, a choice that has drawn criticism for its confrontational tone.
Budapest’s position has already put it at odds with several EU partners over sanctions on Russia and military and financial aid to Ukraine. The Hungarian government has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU-level decisions related to Kyiv, arguing that they harm Hungarian interests, while Brussels has frozen parts of Hungary’s EU funding over concerns related to corruption and the rule of law.
Broader implications for EU unity
Critics argue that linking domestic welfare issues to support for Ukraine risks deepening public mistrust towards EU institutions and undermining European solidarity at a critical moment in the war. Supporters of continued assistance to Kyiv counter that Hungary’s loss of access to certain EU funds is tied to internal governance issues rather than to spending on Ukraine.
With the petition set to circulate nationwide in the final weeks of the campaign, diplomats and analysts will be watching closely to see how far the rhetoric shapes public opinion and whether it further complicates Hungary’s already strained relations with Brussels. The episode underscores how Ukraine and EU policy have become central themes in Hungary’s domestic political battle, with potential consequences beyond the country’s borders.
