Hungary opposition challenger says his ‘vision’ can defeat Orban
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Péter Magyar, a former member of the ruling Fidesz party's most elite circle, is determined to persuade Hungarians that Orbán's administration should and can be destroyed.
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Peter Magyar in a rally in Budapest, on March 15, 2024. (AFP)
A new player in Hungary's political sphere has stated that his expertise as a regime insider would help him succeed where other opposition leaders have failed, citing his "crazy" climb in the polls and "vision" as indicators of potential change.
Péter Magyar, a former member of the ruling Fidesz party, is determined to persuade Hungarians that Orbán's administration should and can be destroyed.
In a Guardian interview, Magyr expressed that “Two months ago, nobody knew me in Hungary,” but, "Today, we had the biggest political rally.”
Magyar led a strong march in front of the parliament building on Saturday. The demonstrators chanted and joined hands as Magyar asked them to put their ideological differences aside and work together to establish a better future for the country.
The 43-year-old gained national attention for openly defying the government, going to prosecutors with allegations of corruption, and releasing to the public a recording of his former wife, Judit Varga, the country's justice minister, discussing what Magyar described as high-level corruption.
Aim is to run for EUP elections
He has set himself apart from Hungary's faltering opposition parties by criticizing not only Orban but also some of the government's opponents and inviting conservative, leftwing, and liberal Hungarians to join his movement.
He expressed that his aim is to be able to run for European parliament elections on June 9, citing that “my intention is not to go to Brussels, because I have to build the party in Hungary."
When asked what distinguishes him from previous Hungarian opposition political personalities who attempted and failed to appeal to a broad range of voters, Magyar stated that he was "very experienced" despite being new. He elaborated on his many years working in Brussels as a diplomat, his past involvement in the Fidesz party, and touted a "vision about Hungary."
Government authorities have attempted to diminish Magyar's prominence and have frequently refuted his charges of wrongdoing.
Government-controlled channels are publishing hundreds of stories daily denouncing his vision and persona. The media has focused on Varga's latest charges that he abused her throughout their marriage. Magyar, who has shared living arrangements with Varga for their three children, has disputed the charges, calling them part of a "propaganda campaign".
