Péter Magyar: Hungary’s next leader energised voters but is ‘ dark horse’

Ex-government insider turned Orbán critic is authentic and passionate but his proposed policies are short on details

As a child growing up in Budapest, Péter Magyar had a poster of https://www.theguardian.com/world/viktor-orban">Viktor Orbán – at the time a leading figure in the country’s pro-democracy movement – hanging above his bed.

Orbán was one of several political figures who adorned his bedroom, Magyar told a podcast last year, hinting at his excitement over the changes sweeping the country after the collapse of communism.

Now Magyar, 45, has been the driving force behind the ousting of Orbán, whose 16 years in power https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/jun/01/he-is-the-strongman-who-inspired-trump-but-is-viktor-orban-losing-his-grip-on-power">transformed the country into a “petri dish for illiberalism”.