40 Million Euros to Dollars: Hungary’s 2017 Anti-Soros Propaganda Campaign
The Hungarian government spent over 40 million euros, a staggering sum equivalent to tens of millions of US dollars, in 2017 on advertising for two “national consultations” and disseminating their “results.” This information came to light following a freedom of information request filed by Atlatszo, revealing the detailed budget of these propaganda campaigns. A significant portion of these funds, nearly one-third, went to businesses connected to Lőrinc Mészáros, a close associate of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
alt text describing detailed spending breakdown of the Hungarian government's propaganda campaign
Dissecting the Distribution of 40 Million Euros
Throughout 2017, Atlatszo monitored the government’s propaganda spending. Data obtained at year-end for a fee of 375 euros, after converting scanned PDFs into usable spreadsheets, revealed the 40.5 million euro expenditure on advertising and communication related to the “national consultations.” These campaigns, which blanketed Hungary with anti-George Soros posters, urged citizens to “stop” the Hungarian-born billionaire. The anti-Soros and anti-migration campaigns ran from April to November, with a brief summer pause. Converting 40 Million Euros To Dollars reveals the substantial financial investment in this endeavor.
Mészáros: The Primary Beneficiary
Lőrinc Mészáros, mayor of PM Orbán’s hometown, Felcsút, emerged as the largest beneficiary. His Mediaworks print and online publications, along with his Echo TV channel, received 12.8 million euros for disseminating anti-Soros advertisements. Following Mészáros, András Tombor, a close business associate of Orbán’s advisor Árpád Habony, and Odex, an outdoor advertising company, secured the second and third highest amounts, respectively.
Government-Tied Media: A Lifeline of Funding
These state-funded campaigns serve as a crucial financial resource for the media empire aligned with the Orbán government. A substantial portion of the 40.5 million euros went to these media outlets for carrying the anti-Soros ads. Mediaworks, owned by Mészáros, received the lion’s share, with 11.5 million euros. Other beneficiaries included New Wave Media, owned by the son of the central bank chief, and various other pro-government outlets like Magyar Idők, Figyelő, Demokrata, Magyar Hírlap, and pestisracok.hu. This funding mechanism underscores how 40 million euros translates into significant support for the government’s media allies.
Conclusion: 40 Million Euros – A Question of Transparency
The expenditure of 40 million euros raises questions about transparency and the use of public funds in Hungary. The substantial investment in a targeted propaganda campaign, with a disproportionate amount directed towards government-connected entities, warrants further scrutiny. Understanding the equivalent of 40 million euros to dollars underscores the magnitude of this spending and its potential impact on the Hungarian media landscape.
Data and Sources
A detailed breakdown of the 2017 propaganda campaign costs can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Iv3rnOB1FaJwL4iogUGJS-HU8G88e_QdCgzvqvX5EHs/edit?usp=sharing
The original PDF documents received from the ministry are available here:
- https://kimittud.atlatszo.hu/request/tajekoztato_kampanyok_2017_marci
- https://kimittud.atlatszo.hu/request/tajekoztato_kampanyok_2017_majus
- https://kimittud.atlatszo.hu/request/tajekoztato_kampanyok_2017_juniu
- https://kimittud.atlatszo.hu/request/tajekoztato_kampanyok_2017_iii_n
- https://kimittud.atlatszo.hu/request/tajekoztato_kampanyok_2017_oktob