On 23rd October hundreds of thousands of Hungarians filled the streets of Budapest in what became one of the largest opposition rallies in recent Hungarian history.
The anti-Orbán rally was led by Péter Magyar, the 44-year-old leader of the opposition Tisza Party, who has emerged as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's main challenger ahead of elections in April 2026. The demonstration took place at Heroes' Square and surrounding central Budapest avenues, deliberately scheduled on Hungary's national holiday commemorating the failed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising that was crushed by the Red Army.
Protesters chanted "Russians go home!"—a refrain from the original 1956 rebellion that now serves as a modern reference to Orbán's close ties with Moscow. Many demonstrators drew explicit parallels between the 1956 Soviet crackdown and Russia's current war in Ukraine. The rally featured performances and photo exhibitions commemorating the 1956 uprising.
Don't forget to watch YouTube videos with an ad blocker or even better a browser with an inbuilt ad blocker like Vivaldi or Opera.
The anti-Orbán rally was led by Péter Magyar, the 44-year-old leader of the opposition Tisza Party, who has emerged as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's main challenger ahead of elections in April 2026. The demonstration took place at Heroes' Square and surrounding central Budapest avenues, deliberately scheduled on Hungary's national holiday commemorating the failed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising that was crushed by the Red Army.
Key Messages and Atmosphere
Magyar delivered a powerful speech accusing Orbán of impoverishing Hungary through corruption and misuse of public funds, while turning Hungarians against one another. He specifically attacked Orbán for what he called rebuilding a one-party state that "concentrates power, supervises and controls the press, and rules his home country with fear". In a particularly pointed criticism, Magyar stated: "The politician who once demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops is now the Kremlin's most loyal ally".Protesters chanted "Russians go home!"—a refrain from the original 1956 rebellion that now serves as a modern reference to Orbán's close ties with Moscow. Many demonstrators drew explicit parallels between the 1956 Soviet crackdown and Russia's current war in Ukraine. The rally featured performances and photo exhibitions commemorating the 1956 uprising.
Political Context
This demonstration represents a critical moment in Hungarian politics, as Orbán faces the most competitive election of his 15-year tenure. Magyar is currently leading in most polls despite Orbán's long dominance. The 44-year-old lawyer and former Fidesz party insider burst into political prominence last year, focusing his campaign on bread-and-butter issues affecting ordinary Hungarians: persistent inflation, poor healthcare, and government corruption allegations.Don't forget to watch YouTube videos with an ad blocker or even better a browser with an inbuilt ad blocker like Vivaldi or Opera.
Last edited: