A close ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Alexandra Szentkirályi, has come under fire after posting a controversial video as part of Hungary’s ongoing “referendum” campaign against Ukraine’s potential accession to the EU. The video, designed to stir fear and resistance, features a bound man in the boot of a car — a disturbing image used to suggest that Ukraine joining the European Union could lead to increased organ trafficking and human smuggling.
Graphic Propaganda or Political Message?
The video, released on social media, shows Szentkirályi speaking solemnly as the camera pans to a car boot revealing a seemingly abducted man tied up with tape. The implication? That Hungary’s security would be gravely at risk if Ukraine were allowed into the EU.
Szentkirályi claims that EU enlargement to include Ukraine would open the floodgates to cross-border crime, exploiting Hungarian fears about sovereignty and safety.
But the stunt has backfired.
Outrage from Opposition and Public
Ferenc Gelencsér, an opposition MP, immediately denounced the video as a “dangerous fake” and announced plans to report it to the police for potentially disturbing public order. In a strongly worded statement, he said such tactics are not only unethical but verge on inciting panic.
Even more bizarrely, it later emerged that the supposed “victim” in the car boot is in fact a staff member from Orbán’s own office — raising questions about who authorised the video and the extent of state involvement.
Orbán’s Anti-EU Campaign Intensifies
Hungary is currently holding a national consultation on Ukraine’s EU membership, pushed by Prime Minister Orbán and his allies. Though framed as a “referendum”, the vote carries no binding legal weight. Still, it is being used to gauge public sentiment and justify Hungary’s increasingly obstructive stance within the EU.
Orbán himself has already voted “no”, arguing that Ukraine is not ready and that its admission would destabilise the region. Critics argue the campaign is just another attempt to isolate Hungary from Europe and fan nationalist fears.
Rising Tensions and Misinformation
The video is part of a broader strategy to stir suspicion and fear about Ukraine among Hungarian voters. By employing extreme visuals and thinly veiled disinformation, Orbán’s allies seem intent on shaping public opinion through shock tactics rather than honest debate.
Calls are growing for Hungarian authorities to investigate whether the video violates laws against incitement and public disorder, especially considering its use of what now appears to be a staged kidnapping scenario.
At a time when Hungary’s relationship with both Brussels and Kyiv is already tense, such tactics risk further isolating the country on the international stage.
As pressure mounts, both at home and abroad, the question remains: how far is Orbán’s circle willing to go to block Ukraine’s EU ambitions?
