Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is receiving backing from a far-right Serbian influencer as the country approaches its parliamentary elections.
Mario Bojić, known for spreading conspiracy theories and pro-Russian narratives on his YouTube channel with around 130,000 followers, recently published a report from Budapest portraying Orbán as a defender of Europe against “Islamic terrorists.” In the same report, opposition candidate Péter Magyar was described as a “puppet” of the European Union.
According to Bulcsu Hunyadi of the Budapest-based Political Capital Institute, Bojić’s support may indicate the existence of a broader network of influencers and media figures allegedly organized by the Kremlin to bolster Orbán’s campaign.
Bojić did not respond to requests for comment from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Orbán’s ruling Fidesz has been in power since 2010. However, ahead of the April 12 elections, opinion polls suggest a lead for the opposition TISZA Party led by Magyar.
Despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Orbán has maintained close ties with Russia. Recent reports in U.S. media have also highlighted alleged links between Russian intelligence services and senior Hungarian officials.
