The World Briefly
April 08, 2024Pain and Gain
Hungary
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Tens of thousands of Hungarians protested in front of parliament in Budapest over the weekend in one of the biggest demonstrations in years, supporting a former government insider who has emerged as a serious challenger to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the Guardian reported.
The protests were organized by attorney Peter Magyar, the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga, who was once a member of the inner circles of Hungary’s ruling party, Fidesz. He rose to prominence recently as an influential opposition figure after he produced evidence of alleged corruption in Orbán’s government, mounting the biggest political crisis the prime minister has faced in his 14-year tenure.
Orbán has long been accused of cracking down on the country’s democratic institutions and press to consolidate his grip on power. He has also long been criticized for maintaining warm relations with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and clashing with other members of the European Union.
But the more recent corruption allegations are his first real threat domestically, analysts say.
Addressing a crowd of students, pensioners, and families on Saturday, Magyar said he wanted to steer his nation toward Europe and make it more meritocratic. He announced that he would launch a new party to run candidates for European and local elections.
Protesters told reporters that Magyar deserved his chance, as they considered the current opposition “hopeless to fight Orbán.”
A recent poll estimated that Magyar’s prospective party would rank third in a general election, winning 15 percent of votes.
Magyar made headlines in February when he released an audio recording in which Varga was allegedly heard commenting on government aides tampering with a high-profile graft case. The leak dealt an additional blow to Orbán’s government, which had faced an unprecedented public outcry following a scandal over a presidential pardon granted to a man convicted of child abuse.
The prime minister’s spokesperson told the Guardian, “Such characters come and go.”
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