Thousands mobilised at demonstration by Orbán’s challenger in Hungary

Péter Magyar, a rising challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has promised to bring an end to governmental corruption and a declining quality of life in the Central European country. In a recent political demonstration in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, Magyar drew a crowd of about 10,000 supporters, marking what he called the largest countryside political demonstration in the country’s recent history.

Addressing the crowd, Magyar expressed the sentiment of many Hungarians who are tired of the ruling elite and the divisive tactics of the current government. He emphasized the need for cooperation, love, unity, and peace in Hungarian society, contrasting it with what he described as the ruling party’s propaganda machine.

Magyar, a former insider within Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, has been vocal in denouncing Orbán’s leadership as a “mafia state” and has launched his own party, TISZA (Respect and Freedom), to challenge the current government. TISZA has announced plans to run candidates in both the European Union elections and local council elections in Budapest.

With a growing support base and recent polls showing TISZA gaining traction among voters, Magyar’s campaign is gaining momentum as the election approaches. Despite Orbán’s longstanding hold on power in Hungary, Magyar’s message of change and reform seems to be resonating with a significant portion of the population.

As Magyar continues his tour of the country, drawing large crowds of supporters in rural areas where Orbán has traditionally been popular, the upcoming election promises to be a closely watched and potentially transformative moment in Hungarian politics.