Orbán Accused of Communist Secret Police Collaboration by Former Prime Minister
Orbán had to inform on the behavior of other soldiers in his unit when he served in the city of Zalaegerszeg, according to statements reported by the news site Telex.hu. Miklós Németh, who led the Hungarian government between 1988 and 1990, maintained that former Prime Minister Orbán cooperated with the communist secret service during his basic military service in the early 1980s.
Fidesz spokesperson Bertalan Havasi rejected the allegations. Havasi stated that Orbán never collaborated with the communist counterintelligence and was never recruited. According to the Fidesz spokesperson, the last communist prime minister of Hungary is pushing these claims to assist “modern-day communists,” a term the opposition party Fidesz uses for the current ruling Tisza party led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar. Havasi added that Németh is spreading “the same glaring lie.”
Recruitment Attempts During Military Service
Former Prime Minister Orbán addressed the allegations directly in a post on Facebook. He stated that authorities attempted to recruit him during his military service, but he refused to cooperate. “Later, they constantly watched me, my wife, and my opposition colleagues, deployed informants against us, and placed bugging devices in our workplaces, apartments, and even in our bedrooms,” Orbán wrote.
The political clash comes as Hungary prepares to confront its communist past through newly opened documentation. State archives will begin gradually declassifying communist secret police files starting Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The process will make public between 60,000 and 80,000 names of informers and regime confidants. The ruling Tisza party is thus fulfilling one of its pre-election promises.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Archive Release
When will the communist archives open in Hungary?
The state archives containing files from the communist secret police will begin opening gradually starting Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
How many names of informers are set for publication?
Authorities will publish between 60,000 and 80,000 names of regime informants and confidants once the documents are unclassified.
Who served as Hungary’s prime minister between 1988 and 1990?
Miklós Németh held the office as Hungary’s last communist-era prime minister during those years.
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