A rising political newcomer hoping to deal a blow to Hungarian Prime Minister mobilized tens of thousands of supporters in Budapest on Saturday in a final show of strength on the eve of a European Parliament election. Péter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer who in a matter of months has , hopes to use a good showing in Sunday's EU elections to propel himself and his movement toward defeating the nationalist Orbán in the next national ballot scheduled for 2026. Once an insider within Orbán's Fidesz party, Magyar has through publicly accusing the prime minister and his allies of corruption and anti-democratic tendencies.
He has drawn thousands of curious spectators on a tour of nearly 200 Hungarian cities, towns and villages in the last two months. In the blazing heat on Saturday, Magyar addressed the sprawling crowd that filled Budapest Heroes' Square, saying that he and his movement would build “a more beautiful, peaceful and happy country” and bring an end to Orbán's 14 years in power. “I was a spark that started the motor of change,” he said.
Recent polls show that Fidesz is likely to take a relative majority of votes in Sunday's election, but that Magyar’s party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA), could gain up to 30% and cause a loss of seats for Fidesz among Hungary’s 21-member delegation in the EU legislature. TISZA has gained its base of support among voters disillusioned by both Orbán's illiberal form of governance and Hungary's traditional opposition parti.