lørdag 11. april 2026

Hungary: Scandal, fear and hope ahead of vote

Peter Magyar is still only Hungary's opposition leader but he's already talking as though he was elected prime minister, listing the new government's top domestic and foreign policy priorities and saying he wants to reach out to those who don't vote for him.

Magyar, a 45-year-old lawyer and ex-diplomat who has been the face of the opposition in Hungary for the past two years, is not short of self-confidence. But during the course of this campaign and, above all, over the past few weeks, Magyar, who heads the center-right Tisza party, seems to have undergone a transformation — he acts as if he has already won Hungary's April 12 vote and is now overseeing the transfer of power.

Magyar's attitude reflects the mood of many in Hungary. Dissatisfaction with current Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his governance has been growing for some time.