Hungary politics: Polling disputes and legal scrutiny of Matolcsy

Hungarian political landscape is currently marked by conflicting polling data and legal scrutiny of former officials. Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, announced a commissioned poll claiming the party’s support has risen above 65 percent, widening the gap with Fidesz. This claim has drawn criticism from the Medián research institute, which noted that such political publications must adhere to professional ethics by disclosing the sample size, methodology, and the specific research firm used.

Independent data from the 21 Research Center and Republikon Institute present a different trend, suggesting a slight decline in Tisza Party support—ranging from 60 to 64 percent among decisive voters—while Fidesz has seen a modest increase to approximately 25-26 percent. Political analyst Gábor Török noted that these politically motivated data releases may serve the interests of various factions.

Separately, György Matolcsy, the former central bank governor, is facing legal scrutiny. He was questioned as a suspect regarding allegations that officials at the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) used supervisory powers to exert pressure on Erste Bank in 2023. Matolcsy has denied the allegations, calling them ‘false tales,’ and his legal team has filed a complaint requesting a review of the basis for the suspicion.