IDM Short Insights 51: Pro Orbán vs Pro Magyar Demonstrations in Budapest
Viktor Orbán and Péter Magyar, two of Hungary’s greatest political opponents, led marches on one of the country’s most symbolic days. Our colleague Malwina Talik attended both events in Budapest, where Peter Techet explained what role the 23rd October plays in Hungary’s collective memory and what each rival conveyed in their speeches. Watch the latest IDM Short Insights to find out!
Transcript:
1. What was happening in Budapest on 23 October 2025?
“Today, on the 23 October, Budapest is witnessing two large rival demonstrations. The first demonstration is led by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Fidesz Party, and the second one by his largest challenger, Péter Magyar from Tisza.”
2. What does 23 October stands for in Hungarian collective memory?
“On 23 October, Hungary marks the anniversary of the 1956 anti-Soviet revolution, when students and workers rose up against the Stalinist regime. Since the 1990 regime change, its memory has served political purposes — and this year is no different. The opposition invokes the slogan “Russians, go home” to criticize Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s pro-Russian stance, while his party claims that, just like Moscow once did, today Brussels and the “globalists” threaten Hungary’s freedom.”
3. “March for Peace” of Viktor Orbán
“I have just left the first demonstration which was organized by Fidesz and Viktor Orbán. It has undoubtedly gathered a lot of people, however I could have seen most of those from older generations. As every fourth Hungarian is still hesitant about who they will vote for in the April elections, those both rallies are competing for the attention of the undecided as well as for the mobilization of their electoral bases.”
4. How was Orbán’s speech?
““Whoever is Hungarian goes with us,” read the large slogan behind Viktor Orbán as he delivered his speech. The message is clear — and hardly new in Orbán’s rhetoric: only those who vote for him truly belong to the Hungarian nation. As he said more than twenty years ago, after losing the 2002 elections: “The homeland cannot be in the opposition.” This year’s speech came from a politician who, for the first time since 2010, may fear a return to opposition.”
5. Rally of Péter Magyar
“The second rally organized by Péter Magyar and Tisza is just about to start. Magyar himself was for a very long time a member of the Fidesz party but left it in February 2024. Orbán and Fidesz line media labeled this march as a pro-war march and accused Magyar of being Brussels puppet or an Ukrainian agent.”
6. What did Magyar emphasize in his speech ?
“In his speech, Peter Magyar called for overcoming the divisions within society and for Hungarians to reclaim their freedom together. According to independent estimates, more people joined Magyar’s demonstration than Prime Minister Orbán’s. However, the decisive moment will come next April, when the country heads to the polls.”
