Confronting Goliath – Who Controls the Story?
The CEU Democracy Institute cordially invites you to the second event of its series titled „Confronting Goliath: Hungarian Authoritarian Elections in a Comparative Perspective” (coordinated by Bálint Mikola), which aims to provide theoretical and comparative reflections on the prospects of democratic restoration in Hungary.
To attend in person, please register here: https://forms.office.com/e/d4qAbYcM4j
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/wBpvgEBbbB8
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/wBpvgEBbbB8
This panel brings together leading experts to examine how state-aligned media, independent outlets, and global platforms shape what citizens see, believe, and share. Who is government propaganda really targeting – core Fidesz voters, disengaged low-information citizens, or the opposition? How have Google’s and Meta’s restrictions on political advertising reshaped online campaigning and resource allocation? How did Péter Magyar manage to break through a structurally unequal media landscape, and to what extent did his strategic use of social media algorithms contribute to his rise? Finally, what recent shifts in media financing reveal about power, dependence, and sustainability in Hungary’s information ecosystem? By situating current developments in a broader comparative and historical perspective, the discussion will assess whether the 2026 election represents continuity in media dominance – or the emergence of new vulnerabilities in the system.
Speakers:
Péter Krekó (Political Capital, CEU Democracy Institute)
Veronika Kövesdi (ELTE BTK, ELTE TK)
Bálint Mikola (CEU Democracy Institute)
Péter Krekó (Political Capital, CEU Democracy Institute)
Veronika Kövesdi (ELTE BTK, ELTE TK)
Bálint Mikola (CEU Democracy Institute)
Chair:
Alexander Bor (CEU Democracy Institute)
Alexander Bor (CEU Democracy Institute)

