Peter Magyar was erstwhile a associate of the Fidesz Orban ruling organization in Hungary since 2010. In February 2024, after he came to light scandal related to the pardon of the then president Katalin Novak of a convicted individual for concealing pedophilia, however, powerfully cut off from the government and became active with the organization of respect and Freedom (Tisha). Although the group had not previously been active in political activity, the situation changed dramatically. One year before the parliamentary elections in Hungary, most polls ahead of Fidesz Orban.
The rhetoric of Magyar, who is at the head of the opposition party, hits increasingly susceptible ground, as evidenced by a crucial rally that gathered in Budapest on Saturday.
Attila Kisbenedek / AFPPeter Magyar in Budapest, March 15, 2025.
— Those who deceive their own people should end up in a dumpster of history. Our time has come,” he said to over 50,000 supporters. After that, he announced that Tisha would conduct a nationwide poll.
It is intended to address 12 key economical and political issues — thus Tisha wants to hear the “voice of the nation”. Her leader besides harshly criticized Orban's government, accusing him of corruption and promised that if he won next year's election, he would normalize Hungary’s relations with the European Union.
— Hungary deserves more, Hungary wants to live again. Spring has come, and together we will end the winter of Orban," he said.
Worse speech towards critics
The call for "the end of the winter of Orban" was a consequence to the words of the Hungarian Prime Minister, which he gave during a speech on the occasion of Hungarian National Festival. In it he announced that he would "make Easter clean," to get free of “bugs” — that is how he named political opponents and critics of his government.
Prior to the thousands of Fidesz supporters, Viktor Orban announced that the parliament, in which his organization now has a two-thirds majority, will adopt a law in the coming weeks on the dismantling of the "financial machin" abroad, which he stated "bought" politicians, journalists, judges and civilian society activists.
He besides announced that he would introduce stricter measures against political opponents. In any cases, this may be a temporary suspension of Hungarian citizenship to people with dual citizenship. Moreover, last week, his organization proposed a fresh amendment to the Hungarian Constitution that would let specified people to be expelled from the country "if their actions endanger national sovereignty, public order, territorial integrity or sovereignty of Hungary".
Preparations for elections
These announcements caused outrage both in Hungary and abroad.
“Viktor Orban utilized the openly Nazi rhetoric present (on Saturday) to dehumanize members of the Hungarian society who have different views than himself,” said Time Szabo, a Green organization dialog Euro MP (Parbeshed). Orban's words besides criticized the independent press, noting that it was the first time that ultranationalist politicians treated their opponents in an inhuman way.
The tightening of the speech towards political opponents may be a consequence to the uncertain situation of Fidesz. Viktor Orban has been Prime Minister for the 4th consecutive word since 2010 (previously held the office from 1998 to 2002). Political happiness seems to leave him, however.
In most polls, his organization gains 40% of support and ranks second — for Tisza's opposition group, which out of 45 percent support He is considered the favourite of next year's elections.
Orban, however, does everything to prevent the opposition from winning. He changed electoral ordination many times to stay in power. Fidesz late introduced a number of changes to the election map to aid him in the elections. The most crucial is Budapest, where the ruling organization reduced the number of constituencies from 18 to 16, despite the population growth in the city. The fact that Fidesz usually has mediocre results in Budapest was surely crucial erstwhile making this decision.
