The Hungary ‘Expert’ Discredited on Twitter

 “»I have been helping her understand the details of the system for two years,« says Viktor Szigetvári about a certain Princeton professor. She »is using my analyses on numerous points,« says the former campaign manager and veteran of Socialist Party politics and now co-chair of Gordon Bajnai’s opposition political party, Together 2014. (...)

Viktor Szigetvári served in the Gyurcsány Government, was the Socialist Party campaign manager during the Gyurcsány era and is now co-chairman of Gordon Bajnai’s opposition political party called Together 2014. While we don’t agree on much, I’ve known Mr. Szigetvári for some time as a fellow political scientist and respect him as knowledgeable and experienced in the field of political campaigns. (...)

But in the course of their conversation, we learn that Szigetvári has »had many personal meetings« with Scheppele. He adds that the »last time we had a lengthy dinner together was a month and a half ago«.

»I have been helping her understand the details of the system for two years,« Szigetvári tweets at one point. She »accepts my expertise,« he says, and »she has used/is using my analyses on numerous points«.

You see the problem. The professor, always presented with her Princeton affiliation and as an independent expert, is now peddling a story about how Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary election will not be free and fair, but this so-called expert is drawing her conclusions seemingly entirely from sources deeply embedded in opposition political parties.

The professor is quoted regularly and has been a guest contributor on Paul Krugman’s blog at the New York Times. She has even been called upon to testify as a Hungary expert at a U.S. Congressional hearing. Rarely does she acknowledge Szigetvári or his political foundation in her work. When she does, she never states the political affiliation of her sources. She does not cite sources – or have lengthy dinners with sources? – from the other side.”