As always, in 2025 Political Capital focused on providing reliable, fact-based analysis of Hungary’s political developments for domestic and international stakeholders. Our work included policy briefs, analytical papers, op-eds, background discussions, and both public and closed-door events. Due to the exceptional political situation, our election-related activities intensified significantly from September onward.
Political Capital in 2025
2025-12-23
As Hungary heads toward its most competitive general election in twenty years, Political Capital’s work in 2025 has centered on election-related topics – such as the impact of the electoral system and campaign analysis – as well as broader themes including Hunfluence, disinformation, polarization, and social media advertising. We worked to provide independent, evidence-based analysis at a time when facts were increasingly contested, institutions were under pressure, and public trust was eroding.
Domestic politics ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections
The domestic political context of 2025 was defined by preparations for the 2026 parliamentary elections, which for the first time since 2006 appear genuinely competitive and uncertain in outcome. At the same time, government-led disinformation campaigns reached unprecedented levels, further distorting the public sphere and undermining trust in democratic institutions.
Special attention was paid to the use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns, particularly AI-generated visual content. Political Capital treated AI-driven disinformation as a standalone focus area, systematically monitoring and documenting its use during the campaign period.
Research and policy work
- Similar to the 2024 European Parliament and local election campaigns, Political Capital monitored political advertisements on Google and Meta – Hungary's two main social media platforms – prior to the 2026 parliamentary elections. The government won the social media advertising competition by a landslide. They accounted for 87% of total spending in 2025.
- Political Capital conducted a research on political polarization and the rapid emergence of a bipolar party system, examining voter attitudes, electoral trust, and perceptions of democratic procedures.
- A major policy initiative of the year was the development of guiding principles for a future electoral reform. Political Capital set out to create a framework that would help decision-makers design a fair electoral system – one that complies with international electoral principles and guidelines – when a future electoral reform takes place.
Authoritarian influence and foreign policy challenges
Research into authoritarian influence remained a core pillar of Political Capital’s work. In 2025, the institute continued to analyze the impact of Russia, China, and other authoritarian actors on European democracies, with particular attention to Central and Eastern Europe.
Key areas included voting behavior in the European Parliament, the cohesion and fragmentation of Europe’s radical right, and Hungary’s role within the European Union. Hungary’s EU presidency received special scrutiny, assessed as politically disruptive despite delivering some policy outcomes. The Western Balkans also remained a focus, with research highlighting the agency of small states navigating growing geopolitical pressure.
Disinformation, media resilience, and youth engagement
Political Capital further strengthened its work on disinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories. As coordinator of the Hungarian Digital Media Observatory, the institute combined research, fact-checking, media literacy, and international cooperation to counter misleading and false narratives. Political Capital’s studies conducted in the framework of the HDMO in 2025:
- The Houdini Ads - How political advertisements slip through Google’s and Meta’s filtering systems
- Area of operation?
- The future of the anti-disinformation ecosystem and possible challenges
Youth-focused projects addressed the growing vulnerability of young people to disinformation, pairing empirical research with interactive workshops and practical tools aimed at strengthening critical thinking and democratic resilience.
Radicalization, extremism, and hate speech
Political Capital continued its long-standing work on radicalization and extremism, participating in major international projects addressing anti-LGBTQI+ hate speech, far-right mobilization, antisemitism, and antigypsyism. These initiatives combined comparative research, policy recommendations, and direct engagement with policymakers and civil society actors across Europe, reinforcing Political Capital’s role as a recognized expert hub in this field.
Events and public debate
Creating spaces for substantive debate remained a priority. In 2025, Political Capital organized 20 events, ranging from small expert workshops to large international conferences. The Budapest Forum once again served as a flagship event, bringing together political leaders, experts, and civil society for the fifth time representatives from across Europe to discuss democratic resilience, geopolitics, and Hungary’s pre-election political landscape.
Political Capital in numbers
- Over 500 domestic media appearances
- Over 100 international media appearances
- Over 20,500 Facebook followers with 1.4 million views
- 590 Facebook posts
- 20 events
- 3,700 X followers
- 1,900 Instagram followers
- 1,850 LinkedIn followers
- Highlighted event: the fourth Budapest Forum, with nearly 400 guests.
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