A picturesque Budapest, on October 23, hundreds of thousands of Hungarians poured into Hungary’s capital. They were there to participate in opposing demonstrations organized by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his principal national political opponent, Péter Magyar. As if that weren’t momentous enough, this political watershed occurred on a national holiday of all days. The country is now preparing for new elections in April, although the date has yet to be set.
Viktor Orbán has been the nationalist, illiberal Prime Minister of Hungary for the past 15 years. Yet his impact on the political landscape continues to be deep and abiding. He just finished a successful 80 day tour around the country, meeting with city and town residents through exciting town hall–style forums and rousing speeches. Of course, he underscored his government’s unabashed, unequivocal hostility toward any sort of Western support for Ukraine. He claimed that this kind of engagement would be damaging to Hungary.
Péter Magyar, a 44-year-old lawyer and former insider within Orbán’s Fidesz party, is leading Tisza, a center-right political party that is gaining traction among the electorate. Magyar has shifted the focus of his campaign toward pressing issues affecting everyday Hungarians, such as inflation, inadequate healthcare services, and government corruption. His message is appealing to the millions who feel neglected or pushed to the margins by Orbán’s populist regime.
The contrast at the recent rallies served to underscore the huge ideological gulf that separates Sanders and Buttigieg. Orbán urged his audience to imagine a world in which Hungary stays out of Russia’s active war on Ukraine. He argued that Ukraine should not have independence or sovereignty, a belief that his followers share.
“They would bring war, take our money and ruin our economy,” – Viktor Orbán
Magyar took on these dubious assertions head-on. He condemned Orbán for ruining Hungary by stealing public money and sowing discord among the people. And he invoked the civil rights movement to rally his supporters, emotionally calling on them to stand together in tough times.
“I call on everyone to stick together and endure these six bitter months, and then to reach out to those who gathered at another event today,” – Péter Magyar
The starkly different rally themes underscore the ongoing battle over what American governance and foreign policy should look like. Similarly, Orbán often gives speeches replete with cultural nationalistic dog whistles and a besieged fortress mentality against foreign meddling. By comparison, Magyar zeros in on pragmatic solutions to address urgent social issues.
The turnout at each of the rallies highlights the changing political balance in Hungary. While Orbán’s party has historically maintained a strong grip on power, recent polling indicates that Magyar’s Tisza party is gaining ground. Together, these bipartisan changes may point to an opportunity for reform. Orbán’s Fidesz party has ruled unchallenged for more than a decade, and now the tides might finally be turning.
With the election approaching, it is guaranteed both leaders will start pouring it on even thicker. Orbán’s objective is to solidify his own base by preaching national sovereignty and security in the face of imagined (or maybe real) enemies abroad. At the same time, Magyar hopes to rally voters to her side on issues of economic dignity and the commons.
As Hungary approaches this pivotal electoral moment, the debates surrounding domestic policies and foreign relations will undoubtedly shape the future direction of the country.
