WINNERS
WINNER: Magyar Peter
Without a doubt the biggest winner of 2024 was Magyar Peter 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 be the next Prime Minister.
WINNER: Independent journalists and political analysts
Let’s count the ways in which 2024 was huge for independent journalists and commentators. Here are just some examples:
– This article by Kaufmann Balazs where he revealed that someone who helped a paeodophile had been given clemency led to the resignation of the President and Justice Minister and the eventual rise of Magyar Peter.
– Gulyas Marton’s interview with Magyar Peter on Partizan kicked off Magyar’s political run and has 2.7 million views on YouTube
– Fabian Peter’s interview with Magyar Peter on Telex reinforced the attention on Magyar peter and has 1.8 million views
– Puzser Robert’s “Hard Talk” interview with Magyar Peter 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. Political analysts and commentators like Keri Laszlo have had a huge second wind being invited to interviews and panel discussions like never before.
WINNER: Regional Hungary
Twice in 2024 Magyar Peter 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, lack of working public transport, 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 Magyar Peter or not, it’s undeniable that having someone to keep Orban to account is no bad thing.
In addition, Magyar Peter 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 who are proud of their country, it was also a win as Magyar Peter once again made it OK to take Hungarian flags to rallies and to wear the flag pin with pride. It’s hard to explain, but Orban’s Fidesz had tried to claim that only they were true Hungarians. Having the national tri-colour reclaimed as a symbol for all Hungarians was worth it if nothing else.
LOSERS
LOSER: Orban Viktor
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 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, his Party got its worst results in EU Parliament elections to date, the economy is in the toilet… and that’s before we even mention Magyar Peter who has proven to be a formidable opposition, draws thousands of people to his political events week in week out, and who isn’t falling victim to Fidesz’s dirty tricks.
LOSER: K. Endre
Poor old K. Endre (the former deputy director of a children’s home where the poor kids were being abused) thought he could protect his paedophile boss and then use his connections to get clemency from the President and then that no one would ever find out and he could keep living his life as if nothing had happened. Too bad, so sad because now literally everyone knows who K. Endre is and what a loser he is.
LOSER: Vogel Evelin
Magyar Peter’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.
LOSER: The office of the President
Fidesz has had bad luck with its Presidents. Schmitt Pal resigned due to plagiarism claims of his doctoral dissertation. Novak Katalin resigned because she gave clemency to someone who protected a paedophile. Given the President is seen as “human biro” signing everything put in front of them, the esteem of the position which is meant to be a check on power has been greatly diminished.
The final nail in the coffin for the role came when the current President, Sulyok Tamas, inexplicably gave up on the annual President’s New Year’s Eve address…..letting Magyar Peter step in and do it for him.
LOSER: Menczer Tamas
Poor Menczer Tamas thought he was a big dog as he accosted Magyar Peter outside a children’s home as Peter was trying to hand over Christmas gifts to the kids. He got in Peter’s face and told him “Vege van, kicsi!” a now famous phrase meaning “It’s over little one!” But over for whom? His performance was widely criticised as unnecessarily aggressive, and unbecoming of the Communications Director of the ruling party.
