**Hungary’s Opposition Leader Peter Magyar Walks to Romania in Bid for Ethnic Hungarian Support**
Hungary’s opposition leader, Peter Magyar, embarked on an 11-day, 300-kilometer walk from Budapest to Oradea in northwestern Romania, seeking to rally support from ethnic Hungarians ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. His journey, dubbed the “million-step walk,” was a symbolic challenge to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s long-standing rule, emphasizing unity and democratic change. Magyar’s arrival in Oradea—a city with a significant Hungarian minority—drew enthusiastic crowds, with locals greeting him as a potential leader who could end Orbán’s “dictatorship and division.” The walk marked a strategic move to connect with ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries, a key voter bloc historically aligned with Orbán but now showing signs of discontent.
**Why Ethnic Hungarian Support Matters**
Ethnic Hungarians in Romania and other neighboring nations hold emotional and political significance for Hungary, stemming from the post-WWI Treaty of Trianon, which redrew borders and left millions of Hungarians outside the country. Orbán’s government has long courted this diaspora through financial support and dual citizenship policies. However, his recent endorsement of Romania’s pro-Russian, anti-Hungarian presidential candidate George Simion alienated many, creating an opening for Magyar. Polls suggest Magyar’s Tisza Party could defeat Orbán’s Fidesz, capitalizing on frustration over corruption, failing public services, and Orbán’s divisive rhetoric. Magyar’s focus on reconciliation and European integration contrasts sharply with Orbán’s nationalist agenda, resonating with voters weary of polarization.
**A New Political Era for Hungary?**
Magyar’s campaign blends criticism of Orbán’s authoritarian tendencies with hopeful messages of peace and unity, aiming to heal Hungary’s fractured society. His walk—a first in Hungarian politics—symbolized grassroots engagement, as he listened to citizens’ grievances along the way. While Orbán retains leverage through financial aid to diaspora communities, Magyar’s momentum suggests a shifting political landscape. If he can sustain this appeal, the 2026 election could mark a turning point, ending Orbán’s 16-year dominance. As Magyar declared in Oradea, “the countdown has begun”—a signal that change may finally be on the horizon for Hungary.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.dw.com/en/magyars-million-steps-to-romania-and-to-power-in-hungary/a-72675806.