Péter Magyar, the new Hungarian opposition leader, has been making waves in the country’s political landscape. In May, he toured the Hungarian countryside in the east and organized an anti-government demonstration in Debrecen, a city similar in size to Tampere. The turnout was surprising and exceeded recent meetings organized by Fidesz, the ruling party’s right-wing populist counterpart.
According to Gyori Gábor, a political researcher at Globsec think tank, Magyar and his party have become a dominant force in Hungary’s election campaign. In April, Magyar organized demonstrations in Budapest that attracted tens of thousands of participants, which has clearly unsettled Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s grip on power.
Despite facing unfair EU election campaigning from Fidesz through mainstream media and advertising, Magyar has managed to gather large crowds and criticize the government for corruption. The traditional opposition parties have been overshadowed by Magyar’s rise, with his party’s support ranging from 10 to 20 percent in recent surveys.
Magyar is a lawyer and former Minister of Justice who gained attention for his involvement in a scandal related to pedophilia involving high-ranking officials close to the ruling party. Although not running for the EU Parliament, his success has highlighted cracks within the opposition and posed a challenge to traditional power structures.
As the EU elections approach, Fidesz is sticking to familiar themes of criticizing the EU’s direction and advocating for a more nationalist approach. However, Orbán’s stance on Ukraine and Russia has raised eyebrows due to Hungary’s close ties with China and Russia. Additionally, Hungary’s presidency of the EU in July and its intersection with controversial foreign investments have put it under scrutiny from other countries within the EU.
Hungary faces a pivotal moment as its political landscape shifts with new faces like Magyar challenging traditional power structures. As we approach these elections, it remains uncertain how they will reshape Hungary’s political landscape for years to come.
