A rally was held in Kossuth Square, in front of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, where tens of thousands of people gathered to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The rally was organized by Peter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer and rising star of the democratic opposition to the Hungarian government. Magyar called for Orban to “return power to the people” with the slogan “Hungarians, stand up. Do not be afraid!” This was the largest protest in Hungary in years and marked Magyar’s entry into the political arena. Magyar announced the founding of a movement called “Be the Change!” and a party that will run in the upcoming European elections in June.
The protest was planned to be held in the capital for weeks, with Magyar leading the second mass protest in less than two weeks in an effort to challenge the nationalist government of the pro-Putin leader. Magyar urged the crowd of protesters to “create a force that all well-intentioned Hungarians can join, ready to work for their country.” The young lawyer, who is also a former diplomat, is known for his stance against corruption and came into the spotlight after the resignation of two key allies of the prime minister in February, including his ex-wife, former Justice Minister Judit Varga. The public dispute between the ex-spouses on social media revealed cases of corruption, helping Magyar gain public attention.
Magyar has not formally joined any political party yet and plans to use these public events to outline his plans to challenge Orban’s party in the upcoming European Parliament and municipal council elections in June. He presents himself as a fighter against corruption, claiming to have first-hand knowledge of it, and advocates for Hungary to align with European values. He challenges the prime minister on the grounds of nationalism, defending “the true interests of Hungarians against the private interests of the circle around Orban.” Polls show that a party led by Magyar could become one of the strongest opposition forces, gathering up to 13% of support, although still far behind Orban’s Fidesz party.
Orban’s party has dominated Hungary since he returned to power in 2010, but Magyar’s initiative on a alleged high-level corruption case has put the government on the defensive. In response, the pro-government media has launched a series of attacks against Magyar, attempting to discredit him by focusing on his personal and family life and attempting to downplay his influence. Even left-wing opposition parties fear the rise of the brilliant young lawyer, as analysts believe that his success could mean their downfall. Despite the challenges and attacks, Magyar remains determined to continue his fight against corruption and for a more democratic Hungary.
