Challenger to Hungary’s Orbán makes final vote push, sensing victory. Nine hours prior. Paul Kirby, editor digital european cu sediul la Budapesta pentru BBC. On the eve of Hungary’s fiercely contested and pivotal election, the two leading contenders are pushing their campaigns to the final moments, with Péter Magyar seeking to terminate 16 years of uninterrupted dominance by Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party. “We’re at the gates of a two-thirds majority victory.” “Let’s gear up and push for the final 903m!” he urged cheering supporters, before posing for selfies. His last campaign stop will be in the northeastern second city, Debrecen, as Orbán—who’s trailing in most polls—addresses a rally in Budapest. But the largest rally occurred Friday night, when tens of thousands of Hungarians packed the capital’s Heroes’ Square and nearby streets for an anti-Fidesz concert. “I feel it in my bones something’s going to change,” said first-time voter Fanni, who traveled with her mother from a village two hours south. “I wouldn’t vote for [Magyar] under ideal circumstances, but this is our sole opportunity.” Getty Images via AFP. Orbán’s greatest challenge stems from widespread public discontent, which has been effectively unified behind a single opposition force led by a former Fidesz insider who defected. The Fidesz leader received a boost from a two-day campaign appearance by US Vice-President JD Vance, followed late Friday by President Donald Trump’s commitment to “use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy” should Orbán secure victory. Despite Hungary’s modest population of 9.6 million in this landlocked Central European country, Orbán has positioned himself as a major global figure. He maintains close ties with both Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, while serving as a persistent irritant to his EU counterparts and neighboring Ukraine. Péter Magyar, the ex-Orbán associate now challenging for control in Hungary.
