Hungarian Leader Begins Nationwide Anti-War Tour
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has launched what he calls an "anti-war roadshow," turning his opposition to European support for Ukraine into a central campaign message ahead of next year's elections.
The rightwing leader of the Fidesz party initiated this weeks-long campaign with an assembly on Saturday in the north-western city of Győr. Orbán declared through a Facebook post before the event, "Those who want peace will join us."
Political Context and International Dimensions
The series of rallies comes just one week after Orbán's visit to Washington DC, where he met with former President Donald Trump. During their meeting, Trump agreed to grant Hungary a one-year exemption from US sanctions on importing Russian oil and gas.
This agreement provides significant support for Orbán, who has maintained power for 15 years, during a period of economic uncertainty for the country. According to political insiders, another key objective of Orbán's American trip was to persuade Trump to visit Hungary for a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Orbán has consistently maintained ties with Putin, despite criticism from other European governments, and has repeatedly warned about the risks of an escalating war in Ukraine.
Growing Domestic Opposition
However, Orbán's political dominance faces a serious challenge from Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz insider whose Tisza party now leads in some independent polls. In a striking display of political competition, Magyar organised a rival event in Győr on the same day as Orbán's roadshow launch.
Magyar countered Orbán's messaging in his own Facebook post, stating, "Fidesz is the party of war and hatred, while Tisza works for peace at home and around the world."
The Hungarian leader has positioned himself as a voice of reason against what he describes as a failed EU-led campaign to arm Ukraine. Yet his critics, both domestically and within the EU, believe the rightwing politician maintains excessively close ties to Putin and have labelled him the Kremlin's "Trojan horse" within the European bloc.
Ukraine as a Domestic Political Football
Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have significantly deteriorated due to Hungary blocking steps toward Ukraine's EU accession and Orbán's continued refusal to impose sanctions on Russia. The issue of Ukraine, which shares a border with Hungary, regularly features in domestic political discourse.
Pro-Fidesz media outlets have accused Magyar of collaborating with Ukrainian secret services, even referring to him as "the Hungarian Zelenskyy." This year, billboards have appeared across Hungary depicting a sinister-looking Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by the caption: "They would take Ukraine in the EU. We would pay the price."
The impact of such messaging extends beyond political circles. Vlada, a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman living in Hungary who fled at the start of the invasion, expressed concern about these tactics. "When families come here from the frontlines, where they've been under bombardment for years, these posters can trigger bad feelings again," she said, requesting only her first name be used to protect her identity and relatives still living under Russian occupation in Ukraine.
Economic Concerns Versus Foreign Policy
Political scientist Dániel Róna, director of the independent 21 Research Centre, suggests Fidesz may attempt to "turn the election into a referendum on war and foreign policy." However, Mátyás Bódi, an expert at Electoral Geography, questions whether this strategy will prove sufficient amid Hungary's cost of living crisis.
Electoral Geography's polling currently indicates a 7% lead for Tisza over Fidesz. After 15 years of Fidesz governance, Hungarians are grappling with inflation, a failing healthcare system, and deepening problems in education—areas where voters now show greater trust in Tisza, according to recent research from independent pollster Policy Solutions.
While Orbán maintains an advantage on foreign policy, particularly regarding peace and migration, Bódi notes that "we don't see parties winning elections based on foreign policy." This reality sets the stage for a compelling political battle as Hungary approaches its April 2026 elections.
