Peter Magyar, the former Orban ally vying for power in Hungary

Peter Magyar, a 45-year-old former Fidesz party insider, is campaigning with the urgent message “Now or never” as he targets the 12 April elections, where opinion polls hint at a potential victory. His challenge to Viktor Orban’s leadership marks the most significant risk to the prime minister’s rule since his initial four-term win in 2010.

Magyar’s slogan traces its roots to a 19th-century revolutionary poet’s call to defend the homeland. Following over 100 campaign events, his message has been condensed to “Now,” with “or never” omitted to heighten its urgency. He plans to visit all 106 constituencies, delivering up to six speeches daily.

Last year, he embarked on a 300km (185-mile) trek from Budapest to the Romanian border, aiming to “reunite” the nation and sway traditional Fidesz supporters. Magyar has pledged to address corruption and boost the economy. He also aims to attract Hungary’s Roma community, a group often overlooked, and unlock billions in EU funds that have been frozen due to rule-of-law concerns.

Orban has labeled him a “puppet” of the EU and Ukraine, while Magyar has emphasized his commitment to being the “real party of peace” and distancing himself from Brussels. His self-confidence stems from a deep understanding of the rival he faces, having spent years within Fidesz’s inner circle.

A Defection Triggered by Scandal

A scandal involving President Katalin Novak’s decision to pardon an individual linked to covering up sexual abuse in a state-run children’s home sparked Magyar’s defection. Novak resigned, as did his ex-wife, Justice Minister Judit Varga, who had co-signed the pardon. The fallout left two prominent Fidesz women to bear the brunt of the blame.

“I do not want to be part of a system where the real decision-makers hide behind women’s skirts,” he wrote on Facebook.

Magyar realized this was his opportunity. His gradual disillusionment with the party began after the scandal, which disrupted his wife’s political trajectory. Varga had been destined for Fidesz success, becoming justice minister in 2019, nine years after Orban’s return to office. Her career was abruptly ended, leaving Magyar to seize the moment.

The Turning Point

The YouTube interview went viral, with Magyar later telling the BBC it was not a premeditated act. “My mother urged me to stay, but I chose to leave,” he explained. “Everyone understood the risks of challenging the government in Hungary.”

Magyar’s high-profile marriage to a Fidesz leader had ended by 2023, yet he remained a key figure within the party despite limited public recognition. His alignment with Orban’s social conservative agenda was evident from his early years. Born to two legal professionals, including a senior judge, he grew up in a politically engaged household. A former Hungarian president became his godfather, further embedding him in the political sphere.

Magyar attended an elite Catholic boys’ school in Budapest before studying law at a Catholic university during Orban’s first prime ministership (1998–2002). After Orban’s initial election loss, Magyar joined Fidesz, and his wife, Judit Varga, rose to prominence as justice minister in 2019. He later worked as a diplomat at Hungary’s Brussels mission and managed Orban’s European Parliament affairs. His role also included board positions at state-owned companies. His growing disillusionment with the party was a slow process.