Grassroots volunteers boost Peter Magyar’s bid to unseat Viktor Orban

TLE DESK: A growing network of first-time volunteers is supporting opposition leader Peter Magyar’s campaign to unseat Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has remained in power for 16 years. Krisztina Menczel, a 41-year-old beautician, said she had previously stayed out of politics, as had many others.

She is now actively canvassing in Jászfényszaru, a central town long viewed as a stronghold of Orbán’s Fidesz.“Canvassing has a strong effect,” she said. “Even people who prefer not to share their political views are willing to speak with us.”Magyar, once part of the political establishment, is positioning himself as an alternative to Orbán’s “illiberal” system, promising to address corruption and improve state services.

Ahead of the April 12 election, there are indications that Fidesz’s support in smaller towns such as Jászfényszaru, with around 6,000 residents, may be weakening.

Orbán, who has taken a critical stance towards neighbouring Ukraine and often diverged from the European Union consensus, has traditionally relied on favourable media coverage to maintain support.

By contrast, Magyar’s TISZA Party has focused on direct engagement. Supporters have been encouraged to promote the party through personal networks and by displaying campaign materials at homes and local businesses.

Menczel said she became involved after attending one of Magyar’s campaign visits last August. She now devotes several hours daily to canvassing and managing local social media outreach.

Magyar’s rise in 2024 followed a political scandal involving a child abuse pardon, which analysts say weakened confidence in the government. Economic concerns had already contributed to public dissatisfaction.

According to Zoltan Lakner, editor of the Jelen weekly, the scandal marked a turning point for many voters. After campaigning extensively across the country and building a presence online, Magyar led the TISZA party to second place in the 2024 European elections. He then encouraged supporters to establish local groups, known as “TISZA islands”, to coordinate grassroots efforts.

The party reports that approximately 4,000 such groups have since formed, including in rural areas where opposition activity had been limited. These groups initially organised community events such as charity initiatives and local discussions before moving into structured campaigning. Lakner described the movement as a “revolution of entrepreneurs”, highlighting the role of small business owners.

He noted that participants tend to prioritise practical outcomes over ideological debate. Changing local dynamics. Some members of these grassroots groups were later selected as candidates in the party’s November primaries. Many are professionals without prior political backgrounds. Bulcsu Zsiga of the Centre for Fair Political Analysis said this has increased their appeal among voters disillusioned with traditional politicians. However, he added that inexperience remains a concern, and the party has attempted to manage this, including by limiting media exposure.

Zsiga also said the involvement of locally recognised figures has helped reduce what he termed a “spiral of silence” in pro-government rural areas, where opposition supporters have often felt isolated. Campaigning has, however, carried risks. Menczel said a relative of a local Fidesz representative stopped visiting her business after she shared a photograph with a TISZA candidate online.

In a more serious case, retailer Eszter Somfai reported that her home address was published online following a data breach last November involving details of around 200,000 supporters.

Despite these incidents, campaigners say they remain committed. “We are not discouraged; we continue to campaign openly,” Menczel said. She added that more people in her community appear willing to express their views, and that a fair electoral process could influence the outcome.