This is where we are now: Tisza voters are hoping that the Ukrainians will soon carry out the death threat against Viktor Orbán! Bravo!!
In one month there will be a change of government. What? A change of government in one month — though perhaps we won’t even have to wait that long. That’s what Tisza supporters keep writing. What do you mean, how so? Well, Viktor Orbán has been threatened with death by Ukrainians — along with his children and grandchildren — and they are hoping the Ukrainians will actually carry out their promise. So they wouldn’t have to wait until April 12 for a change of government; the Ukrainians would take care of it sooner.
Where do you get that from? They are writing it one after another in Facebook comments. Trolls? Not trolls. These are Tisza supporters.
1️⃣ Enemy Demonization
Excerpt
“The Ukrainians issued life-threatening threats against Viktor Orbán and his children and grandchildren.”
Technique
An external actor (Ukraine) is portrayed as a direct, personal threat.
Key elements
- death threat
- family in danger
- foreign enemy
Goal
- to demonize the opponent
- to trigger a strong emotional reaction
Effect
The reader no longer sees a political conflict but rather:
➡️ an existential attack against a family.
2️⃣ Criminalizing the Opposition Camp
Excerpt
“They hope the Ukrainians will actually carry out their promise.”
Technique
Supporters of the political opposition are framed as if they were:
➡️ hoping for an assassination
This is an extreme moral accusation.
Goal
- to morally delegitimize the opposition
- to move the political debate onto a moral battlefield
Effect
The reader may begin to perceive:
➡️ “the opposition is not a political rival but immoral.”
3️⃣ Collective Labeling
Excerpt
“These are the Tisza supporters.”
Technique
A few comments are projected onto an entire political community.
This is a classic case of:
➡️ collective guilt framing.
Goal
- to turn a political camp into a single negative stereotype
Effect
The reader no longer sees individual commenters but rather:
➡️ “Tisza voters” as a homogeneous enemy group.
4️⃣ Strawman Argument
Excerpt
“They hope the Ukrainians will deal with him earlier.”
Technique
The opponent’s position is presented in an extreme form and then attacked.
Most likely the claim is based on:
- a few comments
- trolls
- or extreme opinions
→ which are then generalized.
Goal
- to create an easily attackable opponent
Effect
The reader may feel that:
➡️ “the opposition has a sick mindset.”
5️⃣ Dramatic Dialogue Framing
Excerpt
“What? How is that possible? Well…”
Technique
The speaker imitates a question-and-answer dialogue.
This is a common populist rhetorical style.
Goal
- to create the feeling of a natural conversation
- to make the message easier to absorb
Effect
The message feels like a spontaneous truth rather than a constructed argument.
6️⃣ Replacing Evidence with Anecdotes
Excerpt
“You can see it in Facebook comments.”
Technique
The claim relies on non-verifiable sources:
➡️ Facebook comments.
Goal
- to create the appearance of evidence
Effect
The reader may feel:
➡️ “this is really happening.”
7️⃣ Creating Moral Panic
The narrative connects three elements:
- death threats
- a foreign enemy
- a domestic political opponent
This forms a classic moral panic structure.
Goal
- to mobilize the political camp
- to provoke strong emotional reactions
Effect
The reader may begin to feel:
➡️ “the country is in danger.”
Summary
Balázs’s communication follows a typical populist propaganda structure:
1️⃣ external enemy (Ukraine)
2️⃣ internal traitor (Tisza)
3️⃣ death threat narrative
4️⃣ family in danger
5️⃣ Facebook “evidence”
Together these create a highly emotional mobilization narrative.