IT
HR
NL
FR
JA
RO
RU
ES
TR
Orbán’s challenger Péter Magyar was told not to go to his now-famous interview
Péter Magyar, president of Hungary’s opposition Tisza Party, has reflected on the moment he decisively entered Hungarian politics, revealing that several people had tried to dissuade him from giving the now-famous interview in February 2024.
Exhausting eighteen months behind Péter Magyar
Speaking in a personal, Christmas-themed conversation with journalist Nóra Szily, Magyar described that interview as a point of no return in both his public and private life.
The discussion focused on the early stages of his political career and the personal toll of his rapid rise. According to Magyar, when he walked into the Partizán studio, only his mother and “one or two others” knew about it. Several people urged him not to go ahead, but he ignored their advice. “I went in anyway,” he recalled. “And when I came out, they said: ‘Right, then now you have to go all the way.’ It’s a bit like stepping onto a rope stretched over a chasm – once you start, you can’t turn back.”
The interview was just the start
That interview – which currently has 2.8 million views on YouTube – marked Péter Magyar’s public break with Hungary’s long-dominant National Cooperation System (NER) and propelled him into the role of the most prominent political figure outside the ruling Fidesz party. Since then, he has faced intense pressure, both mentally and physically, which he admits is often difficult to bear. “Not only emotionally, but physically as well, it’s hard to carry the burden that comes with this work,” he said, adding that the pace of events often leaves him little time to reflect on it.
Magyar also spoke candidly about how unprepared he initially was for political life. He said he “jumped in very amateurishly” around eighteen months ago, without fully understanding what lay ahead. The first six months, he explained, were driven largely by momentum. It was only after the European Parliament elections in June last year that he paused to reassess. “I sat down, thought things through and spoke with several people. We came to the conclusion that this can only be done in a more organised way,” he said.
How to stay calm and lively while travelling across the country
As HVG reported, when asked about the coping mechanisms he has developed, Péter Magyar was frank about their limitations. He said he has learned to count to ten and not to panic – something that proved essential when addressing large crowds for the first time. He recalled his debut speech on Andrássy Avenue on 15 March, when he faced tens of thousands after previously speaking to no more than 120 people in a corporate setting. “It was a shocking experience,” he said. “They practically had to push me onto the stage.”
In the interview, Péter Magyar also noted that, just like Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, he sleeps only three to four hours a night, and nowadays he lives far more disciplinarily, writes his own speeches, and finds renewed energy while travelling across the country to meet supporters.
But then, why did he lie about not having plans for becoming a politician?
Just as he lied about not accepting the EMP seat.
Just as he lied, that he don’t try to become PM.
And btw, he started by backsabbing his own wife.
I doubt anyone can trust this guy. Even his supporters. His only support comes from Orbán-derangement-syndrome, and after he looses next spring, he’ll be forgotten, like MZP.
This is the conclusion I reach a few months after he appeared.
Though I was impressed with the force of his personality and his verbal skills, he looked to me very unreliable.
Though he will probably improve Marki-Zay’s results against Orbán, in 2024, in the end, his primary constituency will come from those whom you correctly have identified – Orbán-Derangement Syndrome Sufferers, like Cseh Katálin and Bedö David.
Speaking of Bedö David, I was amused by his ventures out into the rural areas, where he encountered Hungarians who were entirely unmoved by his Budapestan Lefist logic.
Even one Gypsy Bedö interview was firmly in Orbán’s court, and politely repudiated the urbanite at every turn.
Mouton, you are a russian lives in the USE who is able to write with diacritics? Ö???
Come on and try not to sound like a robot. which you are! 😀
Magyar is gifted with a forceful and charismatic personality.
He does not, however, have a background in politics, nor has he ever owned and run a business – things which require one to develop excellent people skills.
I think his personality is best suited to art or some form of entertainment – like a radio show host.
He would also make a great heavy metal singer.
He sure seems like a breath of fresh air after such a long Fidesz ruling that has lead us to be financially at the bottom of the barrel in EU.
Im glad to see he is able to change his mind when needed at new situations and able rise for the leader role. He seems to be able to get us up from this downward spiral that Fidesz has us locked in.
I wonder who actually believes in Fidesz propaganda and these pro-Russia trolls above who are desperately trying to discredit him.
Bear in mind that if it happens that undeniable evidence is brought up about him that he physically assaulted his wife, Ill be the first to cast the stone. But so far its just been a bitter ex (who happens to be a hard-core Fidesz member) spreading nasty rumors months after their break-up with zero evidence.
“He seems to be able to get us up from this downward spiral that Fidesz has us locked in.”
Why do you think that?
Effectively pointing out the deficiencies of the incumbent administration is one thing; -significantly changing the direction of a country is a very different thing.
To do the latter you not only need a comprehensive vision, for the ENTIRE country, you need an extremely effective managerial style, backed up by an effective political organization.
As to a vision, his ideas could seem attractive for urban areas, but, I do not see that Magyar has an effective vision for rural agricultural Hungary. Those ieads his platform has, that are attractive to me, are those already in place with Fidesz.
As to managerial skills : his resume reflects no managerial experience.
As to an effective political organization behind him : I cannot find any. Yes, there are names on his party list, but, they have never functioned as an organization before.
Do they even have a mayor of a small town?
In light of this, it is hard to see how at a majority of Hungarians will support this, or, at least, in this election.
Perhaps after another 2,4, or 6 years, Magyar and Tisza will; have more experience, more posts,, and, therefore, will seem more solid.