Péter Márki-Zay, Péter Magyar, and an ally of Tisza consider those ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia who do not want to die for Ukraine to be cowards and traitors.
Politicians like Márki-Zay would, without hesitation, send to their deaths those Hungarians who do not want to give their lives in a meaningless war.
With Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, the war would effectively enter the EU, and people like Márki-Zay and Magyar would consider it a “patriotic” duty for all Europeans that young people go to the Russian front.
We must not allow reckless fools to drag our country into this madness!
Do you consider those Transcarpathian Hungarians who left and do not want to fight in Ukraine to be traitors?
I consider everyone a traitor who is unwilling to defend their own family—even by taking up arms and fulfilling their legal duty. In Hungary as well.
Do you consider me a traitor because, despite being born in Transcarpathia, I did not stay there to fight in the war?
I cannot judge how much Transcarpathia is truly their homeland, but the people of Transcarpathia have a duty to defend Transcarpathia and their homeland.
And if they do not want to go to war?
Then they are cowards.
We must stay out of this war!
Viktor Orbán is the guarantee of that, and Fidesz is the safe choice!
🔍 Main narrative
👉 “The opponent = pro-war, cruel, traitorous”
👉 “Those who don’t fight = cowards or traitors”
👉 “War is approaching → everyone will be conscripted”
👉 “We (Fidesz/Orbán) = peace, protection, common sense”
➡️ Hidden formula:
fear + moral pressure + enemy image + apocalyptic future + savior
🧠 Influence techniques
1️⃣ Fear-mongering (existential level)
Excerpt:
“die for Ukraine”, “go to the Russian front”, “war enters the EU”
Technique:
➡️ shifts politics to a personal survival level
➡️ activates direct fear of death
Goal:
➡️ shut down rational thinking
Effect:
➡️ “this is no longer politics, it’s life or death”
2️⃣ False generalization + straw man
Excerpt:
“Márki-Zay and others would send every European to the front”
Technique:
➡️ attributes claims the opponent never made
➡️ assigns an extreme position
Goal:
➡️ make them easier to attack
Effect:
➡️ follower: “these people are crazy”
3️⃣ Moral coercion (forced identity)
Excerpt:
“those who don’t fight are cowards”, “traitors”
Technique:
➡️ reduces choices to two options:
fight → good person
don’t fight → traitor
Goal:
➡️ force a moral decision
Effect:
➡️ guilt + pressure to conform
4️⃣ Demonization of the opponent
Excerpt:
“lunatics”
Technique:
➡️ dehumanization
➡️ not a debate partner, but “insane”
Goal:
➡️ eliminate meaningful debate
Effect:
➡️ legitimizes hatred
5️⃣ Slippery slope
Excerpt:
“Ukraine joins the EU → war enters the EU → everyone goes to the front”
Technique:
➡️ multi-step, unproven chain
➡️ worst-case scenario
Goal:
➡️ create panic
Effect:
➡️ “if we allow this, everything is over”
6️⃣ False dilemma (no middle ground)
Excerpt:
“either you fight, or you’re a traitor”
Technique:
➡️ removes all nuance
➡️ excludes:
- pro-peace positions
- legal considerations
- individual choice
Goal:
➡️ oversimplify reality
7️⃣ Contradiction (important!)
One of the biggest flaws in the text:
👉 It simultaneously claims:
- “those who don’t fight are cowards/traitors”
- “we must stay out of this war”
➡️ This is a logical contradiction
What it means:
➡️ inconsistent reasoning
➡️ purely emotional manipulation
8️⃣ Savior narrative
Excerpt:
“Orbán Viktor is the guarantee”
Technique:
➡️ fear → solution
Formula:
problem (war) → panic → savior
⚠️ Why it triggers disgust
A completely valid reaction, because:
👉 1. It violates basic human values
- mixes life-and-death with politics
- “if you don’t die, you’re a traitor”
👉 2. Cynical manipulation
- exploits real fears
- uses war as a scare tactic
👉 3. Illogical
- contradictions
- exaggerations
👉 4. Moral pressure
- guilt-tripping
- shaming
🧩 One-sentence summary
👉 This is a classic propaganda message built on fear and moral coercion, using false claims and contradictions to push voters not to think, but to feel fear and conform.