Hungarian rally challenges PM Orban ahead of elections

Thousands in Hungary rallied against Prime Minister Orban, a nationalist leader, with Peter Magyar leading a 10,000-strong protest in Debrecen, challenging Orban’s dominance

Just weeks before European Parliament and local elections scheduled for early June, thousands of Hungarians rallied on Sunday to protest against Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for his nationalist stance.

In what was seen by some as a significant challenge to Orban’s dominance, Peter Magyar, a former member of the government, organized a rally of about 10,000 people in the eastern city of Debrecen, a stronghold of Orban’s ruling Fidesz party.

Magyar’s rally signaled growing opposition sentiment, despite Fidesz’s historical dominance in Debrecen, which won nearly 60% of the vote in the last elections, compared to one-third for the opposition.

Throughout the rally, Magyar criticized one of Orban’s key policies, highlighting the inadequacy of child support allowances in Hungary and questioning their credibility on a European scale.

Orban defended Hungary’s allocation of funds, noting that Hungary allocates the largest share of its economy to support families in the EU.

However, Magyar called for a complete overhaul of the social support system, emphasizing the need for targeted aid based on social needs.

Accusing Hungary of being run by a privileged elite, Magyar promised to dismantle this system if elected.

International observers accused Orban of diverting EU funds to Fidesz-linked businessmen in order to consolidate his power, a claim Orban denied, arguing that the level of corruption in Hungary is not exceptional compared to other countries.

Despite these allegations, the agency responsible for overseeing EU funds lacks the authority to fully investigate possible abuses and has requested additional powers to address these concerns.

Source: Reuters