WINNERS
WINNER: Peter Magyar
Without a doubt the biggest winner of 2024 was Peter Magyar who went from resigning all of his government positions and essentially being a nobody to becoming the leader of the biggest opposition party in Hungary with many thinking he could possibly maybe even be the next Prime Minister.
I’m particularly proud of him because you get the impression that he was a bit looked down on or sidelined among Fidesz…they didn’t seem to recognise or appreciate his political skills… It’s cool that he’s been able to show his capabilities and start to achieve his true potential.
WINNER: Independent journalists, political analysts and content creators
Let’s count the ways in which 2024 was huge for independent journalists and commentators:
– This article by Kaufmann Balazs where he revealed that someone who helped protect a paeodophile had been given clemency led to the resignation of the President and Justice Minister and the eventual rise of Peter Magyar
– Gulyas Marton’s interview with Peter Magyar on Partizan kicked off Magyar’s political run and has 2.7 million views on YouTube
– Fabian Peter’s interview with Peter Magyar on Telex reinforced the attention on Peter Magyar and has 1.8 million views
– Puzser Robert’s “Hard Talk” interview with Peter Magyar was hugely anticipated and now has 2.5 million views on YouTube
Programs like “Önkényes Mérvadó” on Spirit FM and “Veto with Ruff Balint” drew a lot of attention YouTube (we’re talking hundreds of thousands of views) as people were hungry for up-to-the-minute analysis and have turned to independent content creators. Political analysts and commentators, like Keri Laszlo, have had a huge second wind and are being invited to do interviews and panel discussions like never before.
See my article on where to go for the best analysis of Hungarian politics for more inspiration on who to follow.
WINNER: Regional Hungary
Twice in 2024 Peter Magyar went on so-called “orszagjaras” where he visited regional cities, towns and villages. He went once in spring before the EU Parliament elections and a second time in fall/winter before Christmas.
The attention on regional Hungary is no doubt helpful as issues surrounding migration, agriculture, conditions in children’s care homes, environmental impacts of factories, dilapidated trains, lack of jobs and the flight of young people from regional areas got renewed attention.
It was also incredible to see how many people in regional Hungary turned out for Magyar’s political events. His speech in Gyor brought tears to my eyes. The turnout in Miskolc took my breath away.
WINNER: The Hungarian people
Competition is needed to bring out the best in people and politicians are no exception. Whether you support Peter Magyar or not, it’s undeniable that having someone to keep Orban to account is no bad thing.
In addition, Peter Magyar has drawn significant attention to issues that matter. Whether it’s conditions in hospitals or children’s care homes to the secret legal migration that Fidesz is allowing… Hungarian people now know more about the state of their country than before.
For non-Fidesz supporters, Peter Magyar also made it possible to once again wave the Hungarian flag with pride. For so long Fidesz made it seem like the only patriotic “true” Hungarians were those that voted for them. If absolutely nothing else, having the national tri-colour reclaimed as a symbol for all Hungarians has been a big win.
LOSERS
LOSER: Viktor Orban
He is still the most powerful person in Hungary, but he’s a loser in 2024 because he had a seriously bad year. You can read about why 2024 was Orban’s annus horribilis here. To put it in a nutshell, his President resigned in disgrace, his Justice Minister resigned in disgrace, his Political Director made shameful comments about the 1956 revolution, Fidesz got its worst results in EU Parliament elections to date, the economy is in the toilet… and that’s before we even mention Peter Magyar who has proven to be a formidable opposition.
As much as it thrills me to put Orban on this loser list, one can only hope he’ll be an actual loser come the next elections.
LOSER: All the smaller opposition parties
Hungary’s opposition party lineup has been ineffectual to the say the least, and in one fell swoop Peter Magyar swept them all off the table and into the dustbin of history.
Tisza became the largest opposition party by a long way and transformed it into a two-party system whereby Fidesz now has one clear competitor…as opposed to a half-dozen little ones that it could easily play whack-a-mole with.
Gyurcsany, DK, MSZP, Parbeszed, Momentum, LMP, Mi Hazank, Jobbik, Masodik Reformkor… have diminished to irrelevancy and retain merely a few percentage points in the polls – if that.
Only my beloved Magyar Kétfarkú Kutya Párt (the “Two-Tail Dog Party” or “The Dogs” as they’re affectionately known) seems to retain some semblance of relevance in Budapest, but their voters would surely support Tisza if push comes to shove.
LOSER: K. Endre
Poor old K. Endre, the former deputy director of a children’s home where the poor kids were being abused. He thought he could protect his paedophile boss and then use his connections to get clemency from the President and Justice Minister, and then live his life as if nothing had happened.
Well, too bad, so sad because now literally everyone knows who K. Endre is and what a loser he is.
LOSER: Vogel Evelin
Peter Magyar’s ex-girlfriend Vogel Evelin thought she could secretly record him, try to extort him, give the tapes to people close to Fidesz in exchange for money, and do a tell-all interview and that people would somehow…side with her. Sorry babe it’s a hard no. She’s in the loser bin for 2024, better luck next time. P.S. how’s your podcast coming along?
LOSER: The office of the President
Fidesz has had bad luck with its Presidents. Schmitt Pal resigned due to plagiarism claims relating to his doctoral dissertation and Novak Katalin resigned because she gave clemency to someone who protected a paedophile.
Given the President is now seen as a “human biro” simply signing everything put in front of them, the esteem of the Office as a genuine check on power has been greatly diminished.
The final nail in the coffin for the role came when the current President, Sulyok Tamas, inexplicably declined to do the annual President’s New Year’s Eve address…..to which Peter Magyar said “I’ll do it!”
LOSER: Tamas Menczer
Poor Tamas Menczer, Fidesz’s Communications Director, must have felt like a big dog as he accosted Peter Magyar outside a children’s home as Peter was trying to hand over Christmas gifts to some of the most down-and-out kids in Hungary.
He got in Peter’s face and told him “Vege van, kicsi!” — a now infamous phrase meaning “It’s over, little guy!” It took poor Peter a moment to regain his composure but then he told Menczer his breath smelt and told him to trot off and get a drink at the pub instead. Then poor hapless Menczer wandered off (presumably to get that drink!?).
What a loser!
Andway, Menczer’s performance was widely criticised as totally unbecoming of the Communications Director of the ruling party, “Vege van, kicsi!” became a slogan Tisza supporters now use against Fidesz, and Tisza went up in the polls.
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