Péter Magyar arrives in Oradea after “One Million Steps” march: A turning point in Hungarian opposition politics – VIDEO

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has completed a symbolic, week-long march from Budapest to the Romanian city of Nagyvárad (Oradea), marking a dramatic moment in Hungary’s political landscape and signalling a new era of engagement with ethnic Hungarians beyond the country’s borders.

The event, which drew hundreds of supporters and significant media attention, shows growing discontent with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and highlights the rising momentum of Magyar’s Tisza Party ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.

A march born of protest

Péter Magyar, leader of the centre-right Tisza Party, announced his “One Million Steps” march on 12 May, shortly after Orbán indicated he could cooperate with George Simion, the far-right Romanian presidential candidate known for anti-Hungarian rhetoric and actions. Orbán’s remarks, delivered at a high-profile event in Tihany, deeply unsettled Hungary’s ethnic community in Romania and prompted Magyar to embark on his journey as a show of solidarity and protest.

Magyar began his march at Budapest’s St. Stephen’s Basilica, having just filed a legal complaint against Orbán. Over the next ten days, he travelled on foot through rural Hungary, engaging with communities that have traditionally supported Fidesz, Orbán’s ruling party. The march culminated on Saturday morning as Magyar and a swelling group of supporters crossed the border at Ártánd, entering Nagyvárad to a crowd of more than a thousand people, HVG reported.

A message of unity and renewal

In his speech at the final stop, Magyar addressed both Hungarians at home and those living abroad, declaring, “The era of destruction, incitement, and division is over—the final countdown has begun!” He accused Orbán of betraying the interests of ethnic Hungarians in Romania for political gain, comparing the prime minister’s actions to those of former PM Ferenc Gyurcsány, who opposed dual citizenship for Hungarians abroad in 2004.