Zsolt Hegedűs, the orthopaedic surgeon tipped to become Hungary’s health minister, has once again captured the nation’s attention with his viral dance moves. The 56-year-old, who spent over a decade working for the NHS in the UK, danced at the inauguration of Prime Minister Péter Magyar on Saturday, sparking joy across the country.
Hegedűs first went viral last month when he broke into an impromptu dance after the Tisza party’s landslide election victory. Despite initially vowing not to repeat the performance, he was moved by the crowd’s enthusiasm as singer Jalja performed. “When the music started … I could see that the audience had been waiting for this so eagerly,” he said. “I didn’t want to let down the people.”
The dance, complete with air guitar, was shared widely online, reflecting the optimism that has swept Hungary since Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule ended. Hegedűs described the moment as an emotional rollercoaster, saying, “The love and the reception I received from people … they started celebrating me like a rock star.”
Looking ahead, Hegedűs plans to channel his popularity into promoting health and wellbeing. “It’s not that I’m going to start dancing in parliament, but I want to use this popularity to encourage people to adopt a health-conscious lifestyle and focus on mental wellbeing,” he said. He urged Hungarians to “go outside, dance, be together” and suggested reviving community dance halls known as táncház.
Hegedűs also highlighted the broader changes in Hungary since the election, noting the disappearance of divisive billboards. “Now people no longer have to walk to work past those war posters and hate-mongering propaganda,” he said. “This is a breath of fresh air.”
