Hungarian Elections: Who is Péter Magyar and Why is he Threatening Orbán?

Parliamentary elections are taking place in Hungary on May 12, and the Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar , is the main favourite according to opinion polls.

Politico writes about this.

His victory could be a turning point for both the country’s domestic policy and its course within the EU and NATO.

From the man of the system to his criticism

Madjar’s political path is closely linked to the ruling elite. In his youth, he joined the Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán .

For a long time he remained in the shadows, while his ex-wife Judit Varga became the Minister of Justice.

The turning point came in 2024 after a high-profile scandal: Madjar released a recording of Varga speaking about officials’ interference in corruption cases. This damaged trust in the government and made him a public whistleblower.

His main advantage is the image of an “insider” who knows the system from the inside.

Strategy: No mistakes of predecessors

Madjar took into account the opposition’s failure in the 2022 elections, when candidate Péter Marki-Zay lost to Orbán.

Key findings:

avoid loud statements about the war and Ukraine;
do not create broad coalitions;
centralize communication within the party.

In particular, Madyar limited party members’ communication with the media to avoid manipulation and scandals.

At the same time, his position on Ukraine is reserved – he opposes rapid accession to the EU and the supply of weapons.

One-man campaign

Tis’s party is essentially built around Madjar himself. He travels extensively across the country, sometimes visiting up to six cities a day, and makes effective use of social media.

However, even among his comrades, there is growing concern that the leadership style is becoming increasingly centralized and similar to the Fidesz model.

Protest candidate

Madjar’s fame is due not only to his campaign, but also to the situation in the country:

economic difficulties;
high inflation;
dissatisfaction with corruption.

For many Hungarians, it is a way to change power.

As MP Tímea Szabó noted, voters are “voting not for Tisza, but against Fidesz.”

What’s next?

Madyar is currently the leading contender to replace Orbán. However, expectations for him are very high, ranging from fighting corruption to swift reforms.

If he fails to live up to these expectations, the current wave of support could just as quickly turn against him.