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Hungary’s Opposition Leader Promises a Path to Reconciliation

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Péter Magyar, head of Hungary’s largest opposition party, addressed a crowd of supporters this past Sunday, declaring his intention to salvage Hungary’s international standing if he wins against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the upcoming elections next year.

Magyar, representing the Respect and Freedom (Tisza) party, poses a significant challenge to Orbán’s rule, which has been in place since 2010. Recent survey data indicates that Tisza is gaining traction, surpassing Orbán’s Fidesz party amid growing public dissatisfaction with the economy and Hungary’s isolated stance within the European Union, largely due to Orbán’s contentious policies.

During the rally, Magyar expressed a commitment to revitalizing Hungary’s relationships within the international community, which have been strained by Orbán’s confrontational stance towards the European Union and his alliance with authoritarian regimes in Russia and China.

“We will finally put our common affairs in order,” Magyar asserted. “Our homeland, Hungary, will once again be a proud and reliable ally of NATO. Hungary will again be a full-fledged member of the European Union.”

Orbán’s governance has been branded as “illiberal,” with critics charging that he has systematically dismantled Hungary’s democratic framework. This includes undermining judicial independence and consolidating control over major media outlets in the country.

Since he assumed power in 2010, Orbán has maintained a strong grip on parliament with a two-thirds majority, allowing him to quell opposition with relative ease.

However, shifting public sentiment appears to favor the Tisza party, as Magyar’s campaign highlights pressing economic and societal challenges including rampant inflation, deficiencies in the healthcare system, and accusations of government corruption.

Magyar stated emphatically that the current political system under Orbán is beyond repair: “This system cannot be reformed, cannot be fixed, cannot be improved. This system can only be replaced, and that is what we will do — lawfully, democratically, but with determination, we will cut down the regime.”

Supporters like Nóra Farkas expressed renewed hope for change in the political landscape, reflecting that with a year until the elections, optimism is rising despite past disappointments in 2022. “Anyone who thinks things are going well in this country is blind. Orbán and his circle are the main reason for the problems,” she remarked.

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Béla Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary contributed.

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