Fear of Orban began to fade

Exclusive. Peter Magyar is one of the most visible figures in modern Hungarian politics, who has become the main opponent of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in recent months. His rapid rise began in February 2024, when he, a previously little-known lawyer and ex-husband of the ex-Minister of Justice Yudit Varga, issued a sharp criticism of the ruling Fidesz party and Orban himself, accusing them of corruption and the creation of a "mafia state". This step was a turning point, bringing Magyar out of the shadows and into the forefront of the opposition movement.

Who is Peter Magyar?

Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer and internationalist, has long been part of the Orbán regime. He held various positions in state structures and was associated with Fidesz through his career and marriage to Yudit Varga, one of the party's key figures. However, after a high-profile scandal in early 2024 related to the pardon of an accomplice of a pedophile, which led to the resignation of President Katalyn Novak and Varga's departure from politics, Magyar publicly distanced himself from power. He announced his retirement from public office and began an active campaign against Orban.

In March 2024, Magyar founded the party "Tisza" (Tisza - "Respect and Freedom"), which quickly gained popularity. His charisma, sharp tongue and insider knowledge of the mechanisms of power allowed him to mobilize tens of thousands of supporters. By the time of the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Tysa took second place, gaining about 30% of the vote, which was a sensation compared to Fidesz's 44%. This was the best result of the opposition during the last 14 years of Orbán's rule.

Opposition to Orban

The Hungarian opposition has long remained divided and unable to mount a serious challenge to Orbán, who has held power since 2010 thanks to strong support in the provinces, control over the media and conservative rhetoric. However, the appearance of Magyar changed the balance of forces. His approach differs from the traditional opposition: he does not associate with "old" parties, criticizes their inefficiency and bets on a wide range of voters - from the right to liberals.

Peter Magyar uses the anti-corruption agenda as the main weapon. For example, in March 2024, he published a recording of a conversation with Yudit Varga, where she described the interference of Orban's aides in the corruption case. This increased mistrust of the authorities and drew attention to his campaign. His rallies, such as the action on March 15, 2025 in Budapest, gather huge crowds - up to hundreds of thousands of people, which makes them the largest in recent decades. At one of these rallies, he declared: "Hungary is waiting for spring, we will put an end to Orban's winter together," and also addressed Orban in Russian: "It's all over. Or, if you understand better — comrades, that's the end."

The current situation

By March 2025, the opposition led by Magyar shows significant growth. Polls show that Tisa is either catching up or ahead of Fidesz. For example, in January 2025, the Magyar Party was in the lead with a margin of 9%, which reflects the fatigue of part of the Hungarians from Orbán's unchanging leadership. The opposition demands early elections (the next ones are scheduled for 2026), and the political crisis in Hungary is deepening.

Orban, in turn, is trying to maintain his position, accusing his opponents of calling for a "color revolution" and increasing pressure through the state media. However, his traditional trump cards — anti-immigrant rhetoric and the image of a "defender of the nation" — are losing their effectiveness against the background of internal scandals and economic difficulties.

Prospects

Magyar positions himself as a politician capable of returning Hungary to "European values" to improve relations with the EU and put an end to corruption. However, his long-term success depends on whether he can maintain his popularity and build a strong party structure. Some analysts doubt whether it is a temporary phenomenon or even a "power project" to release steam, although there is no evidence for this.

For Hungary, Magyar became a symbol of hope for change. His confrontation with Orban is not only a struggle of personalities, but also a test of the stability of the authoritarian system built over the past 14 years. At the moment, in March 2025, the political spring in Hungary seems more and more real.

Ingenes LaszloFor Newsky