Sex, health, child abuse scandals threaten Orban reelection
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2026 9:16 pm
https://www.dw.com/en/sex-health-child- ... a-75958974
Hungary is no stranger to extremely polarized election campaigns.
For decades now, Victor Orban has — whether in government or in the opposition — followed the same playbook: Starting months ahead of the polls, he has run campaigns that suggest the very survival of the Hungarian nation is at stake.
In these campaigns, he styles himself as the only one who can save Hungary and its people from evil and the threat of destruction at the hands of the country's enemies.
Hungary is due to elect a new parliament on April 12, and this time, the campaign is more negative than ever.
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The first of these scandals relates to serious violence and the sexual abuse of minors at a juvenile facility in Budapest. New aspects of the story have gradually been coming to light over the past few months.
The facility, which was more or less a brutal prison for young offenders, has since been closed. Leaked videos have shown shocking scenes of staff violence at the facility.