Hungarian opposition leader Magyar vows to pull Hungary back toward West in campaign launch

With just weeks before Hungary’s April 12 election, opposition leader Péter Magyar launched his campaign in Budapest on Sunday, pledging to restore Hungary’s Western orientation and democratic norms . A former Fidesz insider, Magyar broke away in 2024 to form the centre-right Tisza party , which has quickly become the strongest challenge to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his 16-year rule. Following a strong showing in last year’s European Parliament elections, Tisza now leads most independent polls, though pro-government surveys suggest a tighter race.

Magyar accused Orbán of economic mismanagement, rising inequality, and corruption , while alienating the EU with a combative foreign policy and close ties to Russia. Campaigning across rural and urban areas, he focuses on low wages, high living costs, and weak public services . Tisza’s platform pledges to unlock billions in frozen EU funds, invest in healthcare and transport, pursue euro adoption by 2030 , introduce tax relief and wealth taxes, strengthen judicial independence, and expand renewable energy. While retaining the southern border fence and opposing illegal immigration, Magyar emphasizes closer alignment with NATO and EU partners , digital privacy, and media freedom.

Orbán frames the election around national sovereignty , arguing that the EU, not Russia, threatens Hungary, while continuing his “illiberal democracy” model that centralizes power and limits judicial and media independence. His policies include energy subsidies and family-support programs that sustain his rural base, alongside international conservative alliances.

Hungary faces persistent economic challenges : inflation, sluggish GDP growth, and frozen EU funds constrain investment. The opposition argues that better governance and EU engagement would improve living standards, particularly in rural areas. Electoral reforms and constituency boundaries favoring Fidesz make Magyar’s path to a parliamentary majority challenging, though grassroots campaigning and outreach to right-leaning rural voters could prove decisive.

Europe is watching closely, as the election outcome will shape Hungary’s alignment with the EU and NATO and influence broader debates on democracy in Central Europe. With less than two months remaining, voters’ choices on sovereignty, the economy, corruption, and international relations will determine whether Orbán’s long rule continues or Magyar leads Hungary in a new direction.