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Orbán faces unprecedented challenge as Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party surges in EU elections
‘Occupy Brussels! No migration. No gender. No war!’ was Viktor Orbán’s theme at a rally in Budapest on 1 June 2024. Photograph: Dénes Erdős/AP
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ruling Fidesz party suffered a serious political setback in the recent European Parliament election. Early results show that the Fidesz party is on track to have its worst performance yet, with a new political force making significant gains.
According to the Politico report, Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who has emerged as a strong opponent, led his newly created Tisza party to roughly 30% of the vote. With 99 percent of the ballots tabulated, Tisza has 29.7 percent, highlighting Hungarian voters’ rising displeasure.
Fidesz and its minor coalition allies got 44.6 percent of the vote, falling short of predictions and indicating a significant loss from their previous dominance. Fidesz has only fallen below 50 percent once in the last two decades, in 2004, when it registered 47.4 percent. The current preliminary results would give Orbán’s party 11 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), while Magyar Tisza would get seven seats.
“This is a monumental victory for Péter Magyar and a staggering blow to Fidesz,” stated Péter Krekó, executive director of the Political Capital research group adding that “Fidesz now faces a serious contender.”
Magyar, previously a high-ranking Fidesz official and the ex-husband of former Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga, has successfully captured public sentiment by addressing issues of corruption and governmental overreach. He entered the political fray earlier this year, promising to reclaim billions in European Union funds that have been withheld due to concerns over Hungary’s adherence to the rule of law.
“This marks the downfall of Orbán’s reign, signaling the start of a new era,” declared Magyar following the election results.
Orbán, however, maintained a defiant stance, celebrating victories in simultaneous local elections held across Hungary. “We have won critical battles on multiple fronts today,” he proclaimed at a rally in Budapest.
The election witnessed an impressive voter turnout, with 58.7 percent of eligible voters participating, a significant rise from the 43.4 percent turnout in the 2019 European Parliament election.
