According to reports from the British newspaper Financial Times, the Kremlin has launched an information campaign intended to assist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ruling conservative party, Fidesz, in their efforts to win the parliamentary elections scheduled for April. The campaign aims to bolster Fidesz’s popularity through a partnership with an organization called Social Design Agency (SDA), which has ties to the Russian authorities and is currently under Western sanctions.

The SDA's strategy involves portraying Orbán as a 'strong leader with friends around the world,' positioning him as the sole candidate capable of maintaining Hungary's sovereignty. This narrative suggests that Orbán, who has often been critical of Western policies, is presented as a protector of national interests against external influences. In contrast, his main opponent, leader of the centrist-right party Momentum, Péter Magyari, is labeled as a 'Brussels puppet,' aiming to undermine his credibility among Hungarian voters.

Despite this strategy, the SDA has been cautious about making direct connections with Hungarian officials, recognizing that overt support from Russia could potentially harm Orbán's image. Thus, the campaign appears to be conducted through indirect means, utilizing social media to reshape public perception without drawing direct ties to the Kremlin. The broader implications of this campaign raise questions about foreign influence in domestic politics and the motivations behind Orbán's governance, as well as the relationships between Hungary, Russia, and the West during a period of heightened geopolitical tensions.