Retired Major General József Horváth was formerly a high-ranking official in both civil counterintelligence and military intelligence and is now head of Hungary’s Office for the Protection of Sovereignty. His past in the communist-era III/III secret service and involvement in political manipulation (e.g. the MDF scandal) raise concerns about his democratic credentials and current influence. The Office for the Protection of Sovereignty investigates foreign influence, including media and civil society and receives significant state funding (HUF 4 billion). The office has been accused of targeting watchdogs like Átlátszó while enjoying funding levels rivaling the budgets of small newspapers. Átlátszó and Transparency International are being labelled as foreign-funded political pressure groups, accusing them of undermining sovereignty, sending data abroad, and being tools for foreign interests to discredit Hungary. Their goal is to frame investigative journalism and civil society activism as hostile or illegitimate.

This video was produced by Átlátszó.