Hungary's opposition leader, Magyar surges ahead of Orban
The opposition leader in Hungary, Peter Magyar, has garnered more support among voters than the current Prime Minister, Viktor Orban. According to a survey conducted by the Median Institute, Magyar's support has reached 51 per cent, while Orban has obtained 40 per cent.
The report, published on Monday, shows that Magyar leads Orban by 11 percentage points. His affiliated Tisza Party is increasing its lead over Fidesz, securing 46 per cent support compared to Fidesz's 39 per cent.
The survey results are considered "spectacular," noting that Magyar's popularity has surged in just a few months.
It was noted that when Magyar embarked on his opposition career at the beginning of the year, he was only recognisable among those interested in politics. Currently, over 95 per cent of respondents are familiar with his name.
Magyar, previously a long-time member of Fidesz, gained popularity following the February scandal, where it was revealed that former president Katalin Novak pardoned a former deputy director of a children's home who had been convicted of paedophilia. This led to her resignation and marked the end of the political career of Judit Varga, the former Minister of Justice and Magyar's wife.
In a statement, Magyar distanced himself from Orban's government, suggesting that women were being used as scapegoats. He subsequently joined the Respect and Freedom Party (Tisza), which he currently leads.
The survey was conducted by the Median Institute for hvg.hu.
