Armin Langer

This paper examines the role of religious organizations in Hungary's political landscape under Viktor Orbán's regime since 2010. Despite nearly half the population identifying as non-religious, Jewish federations MAZSIHISZ—Alliance of Hungarian Jewish Congregations—and EMIH—United Hungarian Israelite Congregation—have played pivotal roles. While MAZSIHISZ occasionally criticized the government, EMIH aligned closely with Orbán, helping shield the regime from antisemitism accusations. This loyalty resulted in government rewards, such as media allocations and the establishment of institutions like Milton Friedman University. This study addresses the gap in literature regarding these federations' influence, highlighting how the authoritarian state has instrumentalized religious communities.