Final push for votes as challenger to Hungary's Orbán sce...

What’s Happening

So get this: As Péter Magyar’s opposition movement leads in the polls, tens of thousands of anti-Orbán stans fill Heroes’ Square in Budapest.

Final push for votes as challenger to Hungarys Orbán scents victory 1 hour ago Save Add as preferred on Google Paul Kirby Europe Digital Editor in Budapest BBC Péter Magyar has clutched over many of his voters amongst the crowds On the eve of Hungarys bitterly fought and highly significant election, the two main rivals are taking their campaigns to the wire, as Péter Magyar attempts to end 16 years of continuous rule áns Fidesz party. “Were at the gates of a two-thirds majority victory. (yes, really)

Lets gear up and push for the last 100m!

The Details

” he told cheering stans, before mingling for selfies. His final campaign stop will be in the second city, Debrecen, in the north-east, while Orbán, who trails in most of the polls, will address a rally in Budapest.

But perhaps the biggest rally of all came on Friday night, when tens of thousands of Hungarians crammed the capitals Heroes Square and surrounding streets for an anti-Fidesz concert. “I feel it in my bones somethings going to change,” dropped first-time voter Fanni, who came with her mother from a village two hours drive away in the south.

Why This Matters

“I dont believe Id vote for [Magyar] in an ideal situation, but this is our only chance. ” AFP via Tens of thousands of Hungarians filled Heroes Square in Budapest on Friday night Orbáns biggest threat is that he is facing a cross-section of public anger, and it has been largely channelled into one single opposition movement, led by a former Fidesz insider who rebelled. The Fidesz leader has been buoyed, first by a two-day campaign visit from US Vice-President JD Vance , and then late on Friday Trumps pledge to “use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungarys Economy”, if Orbán clutched the election.

World leaders are expected to respond to this situation soon.

The Bottom Line

The Fidesz leader has been buoyed, first by a two-day campaign visit from US Vice-President JD Vance , and then late on Friday Trumps pledge to “use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungarys Economy”, if Orbán clutched the election. 6 million people in this landlocked Central European nation, but Orbán has made himself a key player on the international stage.

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