The close-up picture of Peter Magyar's crotch has become a mainstream story in pro-government media, just a day after the EP debate on October 9.

Viktor Orban’s vast and powerful propaganda machine is in full damage control following the humiliating EP debate last week. Hungary’s strongman has grown accustomed to criticism from Western leaders and the MEPs in the EP, but on October 9 he faced an unprecedented barrage of criticism, after unveiling Hungary’s six-month presidency programme.

Fidesz spin doctors have attempted to divert public attention from the debate, where the government’s and Orban’s isolation became crystal clear. Instead, they have resorted to personal attacks on Magyar once again.

On Friday, October 11, Magyar’s former girlfriend, Evelin Vogel, posted an interview on social media, accusing him of aggressive behaviour during and after their relationship, claiming he continues to harass her even after their breakup. Vogel and Magyar became a pair in the spring, in the early days of Magyar’s political career.

The former Fidesz cadre said his former girlfriend has blackmailed her and her party, and now she has turned to Fidesz to smear him for money, allegedly HUF5mn (€12,500) per month, according to the opposition leader.

In her Facebook post, keen-eyed viewers noticed from the reflection in Vogel’s iris that she was using a teleprompter and presumably professional lighting and audio equipment. This seems to support Magyar’s claims that Fidesz is using the woman as part of a coordinated smear campaign.

The interview, which was likely pre-recorded, was preceded by one of the most absurd and surreal news reports in Hungarian media history, according to independent outlets.

TV2, Hungary’s second-largest broadcaster, ran a segment in its evening news lasting over two minutes, in which the head of the Tisza Party, wearing tight trousers, was seen fiddling with his pocket.

The camera zoomed in on his genitals, circled in red, with the narration stating: "Peter Magyar was touching his genitals," or "he was adjusting his penis in front of the cameras." The report added: "The politician, likely flustered, was probably trying to draw strength for his speech."

TV2’s 6 o’clock news, watched by around a million people, is the second most popular news channel after RTL, which remains critical of the government. The coverage came after a close-up image of Magyar’s groin spread swiftly on social media, shared by Orban-loyal outlets and MEP Tamas Deutsch, who also spoke at the EP session on Wednesday.

The story took an even more absurd turn when the anchor says the scenes had surprised even the "most seasoned analysts". The analyst reflecting on the scene was a pro-Orban influencer, who is believed to be attracted to his own sex.

Noticing the blunder, the propaganda channel later removed the story and reposted a shorter version, cutting it by 35 seconds and omitting the sensitive content.

Daniel Deak, the senior analyst at the pro-government 21st Century Institute, told local media that he did not request his comments be removed from the news segment.

Fidesz has switched to "panic mode", but this has become contra-productive, commented Peter Magyar citing fresh polls, which showed that among decided voters Fidesz' lead has shrunk to just 4pp, with Tisza polling at 35%.

According to Szabolcs Dull, the former editor-in-chief of Index.hu, which pro-government businessmen took over in late 2020, Fidesz launched this below-the-belt campaign to divert public attention from the handshake incident and reshape the narrative. The image depicted Peter Magyar standing and offering a handshake to the seated Prime Minister, who hesitated for a few seconds before responding.

More importantly, the campaign aims to undermine Magyar's credibility and suitability as a political figure. Fidesz hopes that such stories will diminish public confidence in his leadership capabilities, Dull added.