The election race in Hungary was kicked off with rallies of many thousands in Budapest. They clearly show how deep the division is in Hungarian society regarding Russia and the war against Ukraine.
Years ago, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban began using holidays that should unite the entire country to stigmatize, denigrate and literally destroy his critics. And it is precisely on these days - again and again - that the poisoned public atmosphere is felt very oppressively.
However, this year's October 23 surpassed everything - on the day of tribute to the anti-communist revolution of 1956, which was bloodily suppressed by the Soviet Union, tens of thousands of supporters of both political camps participated in election demonstrations in Budapest, accompanied by violence - the embodiment of the two Hungarys that will clash in the parliamentary elections in April 2026.
Viktor Orbán used this October 23 to attack his opponents and all dissenting people. “Whoever is Hungarian is with us”, read the huge sign in front of the parliament, where Orbán gave his speech. He called “misguided people” those who do not support him and his Fidesz party.
Orban's opponent - Peter Magyar, who with his Tisza party has a good chance of defeating the long-serving prime minister, made an effort to use a rather conciliatory tone in his speech at Heroes' Square. And when his supporters picked up the recent usual exclamations of "Dirty Fidesz", he quickly raised his voice in front of the microphone to silence them. However, a large part of his speech was dedicated to declaring himself and his party the winners of the elections and announcing a radical change in the system.
A show of force from both camps
The demonstration around Orban was called the "Peace March", Magyar's - the "National March". Therefore, even in advance, the independent media in Hungary defined this year's October 23 as a "match" and a "show of force" between the two political camps and asked: "Who will win the day - Magyar or Orban?" or: "Where were there more people?".
The public-law media, which by law is obliged to be balanced, but in fact is loyal to Orban, mentioned the event of the opposition party Tisza only indirectly. The private media, loyal to Orban, as usual, railed against Magyar's party, calling it a "puppet of Brussels" and a "warmonger". According to independent experts, the participants in the Fidesz demonstration were between 85 and 90,000, and in the Tisza demonstration - between 160 and 170 thousand.
Orbán's speech - a perfidious masterpiece
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was an anti-communist uprising, directed entirely against Russia as an empire and colonial power, including under the slogan "Russians, go home!", written on walls and on Soviet tanks. The same slogan was used during the events of 1989/1990 and during the election campaign by Orbán, who was then still a liberal, albeit radical. His 1989 call for Soviet troops to leave the country made him famous.
On October 23, Orbán delivered a truly perfidious masterpiece: he described the Hungarians' 1956 freedom struggle as unique, did not mention Moscow, the brutal Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956, or Russia's war against Ukraine, but accused the world of the past of having "abandoned Hungary." At the same time, he discredited Ukraine's current struggle for freedom and said that Hungary was the only country in Europe that was on the side of peace. "Brussels decided to go to war," Orbán declared. The EU's financial support for Ukraine was "an investment by Brussels." But since Brussels had no money, European citizens and Hungarians would be forced to "reach into their pockets".
For the first time in his speech, Orbán indirectly acknowledged that there was a mood for change in the country. "There are many Hungarians who believe that they are standing up for something good if they support Brussels and the candidates of the Brussels puppet government", the prime minister pointed out, referring to his opponent Magyar. These "misguided people" must be made aware that "Brussels is not a help, but a threat".
Populism without incitement
The conservative-minded Péter Magyar has the talent to counter the narratives of Orbán and Fidesz with their own weapons, i.e. with a certain dose of populism, without inciting against others. For example, regarding support for Ukraine or the issue of migration, he does not completely distance himself from Orbán's positions, but he highlights the prime minister's double standards, saying, for example, that he incites hatred against migrants, praises an ethnically pure Hungary, but at the same time allows tens of thousands of non-European workers into the country.
Overall, Magyar represents in a certain sense a democratic version of Fidesz - against the backdrop of widespread dissatisfaction with Orbán's regime, his corruption scandals and luxury properties, as well as fatigue from the exaggerated polarization that Orbán constantly imposes.
In his speech on October 23, Magyar drew a parallel between 1956 and the current situation and promised that after his election victory, which he has already confidently announced, he will completely break with Orbán's regime and the post-communist era of social-liberal governments. For a new Hungary, "honesty, morality, respect and solidarity" will be important - this will be a Hungary without oligarchs, a Hungary that does not turn to the East, but remains in the EU and NATO. His latest assurance caused a storm of applause - as well as loud cries of "Russians, go home!".
More of a success for Tisza
Magyar, who was also a member of Fidesz, entered the political scene in Hungary only a year and a half ago. During that time, he and his Tisza party managed to rocket to the top of the polls. Some analysts even predict that he could get a two-thirds majority.
Since the summer, Magyar has been on a major 80-day campaign tour, and announced that from November 5th until election day, he will travel around the country again. His election marathon has been dubbed “Road to Victory”.
Overall, observers see yesterday's demonstrations as a success for Magyar and his Tisza party. Political scientist Gabor Török said that Orban's opponent has proven that he can match Fidesz in terms of mass mobilization, something that no other opposition party has been able to do before. The HVG portal summed it up as follows: “Hungary is not Fidesz”.