ATV conducted an interview with Bence Tordai, where the presenter, forgetting his role as an interviewer, threw it into Bence Tordai's face without some indignation: "Why is it that they don't tell the ÁSZ action that this is actually the same as if the CÖF is financing the Fidesz election campaign. A domestic NGO that legally receives money from abroad...

"If a man exposes himself, he should not be surprised if he is shot at." This Remarque quote came to mind when Bence Tordai was explaining in ATV's Szigorlat program that the State Audit Office had threatened the opposition parties with a fine of more than HUF 3 billion because they financed their campaign with American money.

After the Magyar Nemzet reported in detail what the 1.7 billion forints went to, it is difficult to give a credible explanation for what the opposition has so far denied by thousands that it had anything to do with the rolling dollars. Gyurcsány did not even speak on the matter.

In Tordai's anemic explanation, he tried to de-nationalize - in other words: de-communize - the Audit Office. "It seems that the party state audit office is cracking down on the opposition parties." The continuation of the explanation is also thought-provoking: "It is more than unpleasant that roughly a year and a half of our resources are taken away. (…) But we have no particular illusions as to how independent the SAO is in this matter. So if they can be professionally convinced that the money they think went to the parties did not go to the parties, then we will do a test. But let's face it, this is decided in Viktor Orbán's head."

Professionally, it is of course possible to convince the State Audit Office if there were substantial data to support the fact that no money was spent on the opposition's campaign. However, there are no such data, in fact the available data support the exact opposite. How did it go, but how much, how did it go in the campaign.

Tordai, who used to be brazenly intrusive and raucous, now argued very restrainedly against the ÁSZ, cutting the opposition's joker onto the table: the responsibility of the prime minister. In other words, Tordai makes it likely that there was no investigation, because "let's face it, this is decided in Viktor Orbán's mind."

The independent/objective presenter, András Somos, could also notice this energized explanation, who gently told Bence Tordai that they were not emphasizing the role of CÖF-CÖKA in the campaign for the government parties.

Forgetting his role as an interviewer, he threw it in the face of Bence Tordai without some indignation: "Why is it that they don't say to the ÁSZ action that it is actually the same as if the CÖF financed the Fidesz election campaign.

A domestic NGO that legally receives money from abroad from people with Hungarian citizenship or from those who have established a civil monastery abroad. This is the same construction as what the CÖF did, but not only in the election campaign. It's out now. I went close to see where it says Civil Solidarity Forum. You'll be shocked, I just couldn't find it.” It was also a lot for Emília Krug. He tried to take the edge off Somos' statement by announcing on air: "We were able to hear free legal advice."

However, Somos' intervention is bleeding from several wounds. In addition to misrepresenting the role of a journalist, one should, for example, be aware, if someone criticizes, that the informative poster titled Háborúpártiak was not published by the CÖF, but by one of its companies, Kövess nyms 2022 Kft.

Furthermore, it is also true that the CÖF website states: "We do not accept foreign donations."

There is therefore no mention of Hungarian citizens living abroad as donors, nor of the civil organizations established by them. There is no direct state money in CÖF either.

They once received funds from Szerencsejáték Zrt., which also had precise usage goals stipulated in the contract. You may also know that CÖF's income typically comes from a wide range of micro-donors. For example, Átlátszó regularly reports CÖF to NAV, but so far they have never found anything objectionable.

So even if the independent-objective Somos would help the opposition wholeheartedly, this does not change the essence. According to Máté Kocsis, "Hungarian legislation is clear, they do not allow this, and whoever commits it, i.e. accepts foreign money, then even double the amount must be paid back as a kind of sanction, because the law does not tolerate it."

Let's quote Remarque again: "If a man exposes himself, he should not be surprised if he is shot at."

Author: József K. Horváth / Magyar Hírlap