A growing number of Hungarian journalists are exposing the
thoroughly corrupt regime of Hungarian PM Viktor
Orban, Kateryna Shymkevych, an expert with the Analytical Center for Balkan
Studies, told NV Radio on March 9.
Shymkevych noted that previously most of the criticism of Orban’s patronage system, built up over more than a decade in power, came from international institutions and NGOs.
“More and more Hungarian, independent reporters are showing that Orban is totally corrupt,” she said.
“I’ve even compared him to former Ukrainian figures — he’s surpassed [former PM] Pavlo Lazarenko and [fugitive former president] Viktor Yanukovych in how much he’s stolen. Orban is hanging on now, but he will have to answer for all this.”
Parliamentary elections in Hungary will take place in April,
with Orban’s ruling Fidesz party facing a threat of being dislodged for the
first time since 2010: opposition party Tisza leads Fidesz 38% to 32% in
opinion polls.