Péter Magyar Holds Anti-Gov't Protest in Front of Parliament
Image by Szilárd Koszticsák/MTI
Budapest became the stage for a large anti-government protest organized by Péter Magyar on Saturday, marking one of the largest such gatherings in recent memory, according to The Guardian.
Magyar, who is the ex-husband of former Minister of Justice Judit Varga and a former ally turned vocal critic of the government, has emerged as one of the most significant challengers to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over the last couple of months. The protest itself drew a massive crowd, which easily filled Kossuth tér in front of the parliament and some of the nearby streets as well.
The essence of the protest was Magyar's vision for Hungary—a plea for a return to European democratic values and an end to the alleged authoritarian drift under Orbán's tenure.
Magyar's address to the demonstrators was both a critique of the current state and a blueprint of his vision for the future. He lambasted the lack of independence in the media and the judiciary, outlined allegations of government corruption, and proposed the formation of a new political party to contest in the European Parliament elections.
He also sharply criticized former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, now the president of opposition party Democratic Coalition, as one of the pillars of the existence of Orbán's system. He added that the duo of Orbán and Gyurcsány has remained unchanged for 20 years. He later called for "a new era in Hungary".
The protest was notable not just for its size but for its atmosphere, blending traditional political speeches with cultural expressions, including music, poetry, and singing, the report noted.
A recent poll by Republikon suggests burgeoning support for Péter Magyar, with his potential party ranking third among decided voters with 15% of voters with a party preference backing him.
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