Covid-19 as a tool to target democratic institutions and values : the case of Hungary

Abstract

The Covid-19 epidemic in Hungary contributed to the decline of democracy in two ways. The direct effect was the declaration of a state of emergency by the government and the shift to decree government (from spring 2020 until now, first with reference to the epidemic, then later with reference to the war in Ukraine). The indirect effect has been spreading disinformation about the EU and the domestic political opposition in the context of the epidemic. Disinformation erodes the public trust in institutions, including the media itself, and poses a threat to democratic values and political processes. Based on data from international empirical research the paper shows the process of the breakdown of democracy and the accompanying legitimating media discourses.