These are the 13 images that encapsulate Peter Magyar’s rise in 2024.
1. Where it all began... *that* Partizan interview
During the first weeks of the clemency scandal (when it was revealed the President and Justice Minister gave clemency to someone convicted of aiding a paedophile) the Justice Minister’s ex-husband – Peter Magyar – gave a 1 hour 35-minute interview to Partizan. You can watch it here. In it he proclaimed “a few families own half the country” and he listed his disillusionment with the ruling party that he was once a part of. This interview led to one thing and then the next…next minute Magyar’s new Tisza party is neck and neck with Fidesz in the polls. The interview has been watched 2.7 million times so far on YouTube.
2. March 15th rally
Just 33 days after the Partizan interview, Peter Magyar’s first rally (coinciding with Hungary’s commemoration of the 1848 revolution on March 15th) had a huge turnout. Incredibly, more people showed up than at Orban’s event.
3. Truck mascot - Ricsi
At Peter Magyar’s earliest events, someone on his crew started turning up in the below truck named Ricsi. It was spray painted in the colours of the flag. It shows the down-to-earth, startup nature of the fledgling party. And MP’s ability to have some fun. It also acts as a portable stage that he just jumps onto when making a speech. I haven’t seen Ricsi since Autumn — let’s hope it makes a return in Spring 2025. In the meantime, you can buy a Ricsi mug at the official webshop here.
4. Celebrating the EU Parliament election results
I love this photo because it encapsulates the joy that many felt after months of nervous worry about how the EU Parliament elections would turn out. In the end, Tisza got almost 30% of the vote and Fidesz achieved it’s worst result in EU Parliament elections to date.
5. Orban and Magyar face-off in person
This is *the* iconic photo of the year. Although Orban and Magyar have met many times before as they used to run in the same circles, this is the first time the two had met since MP left Fidesz and launched Tisza. This photo is at the European Parliament where both made speeches. MP walked over to Orban, and Orban shook his hand although didn’t stand up. To me the photo represents the old dog and the new pup. It also represents MP’s courage. And it represents Orban’s unsurety (he has previously refused to shake hands with opposition leader’s). And maybe even his begrudging respect for the matchup that is about to play out.
6. Peter Magyar takes a thermometer to hospitals
Hungary’s healthcare system is famously bad. I like to refer to it is a Pripyat after Chernobyl. During a historic heatwave in Budapest over the summer, Peter Magyar took to the hospitals to showcase the dilapidated conditions and that even the AC was not working in many spots. This photo represents Magyar’s willingness to pound the pavement and highlight the real issues that have remained unresolved by the current government.
7. Non-stop work ethic
Out of several photos Peter Magyar has posted of himself getting around on trains, I love this one the most because it shows his tireless work ethic. Trains have also been in the news in 2024 because they keep running off the rails — much like the government to be fair.
8. The disgusting state of State-run children's homes
Peter Magyar also spent much of 2024 highlighting the appalling conditions in state-run children’s care homes. This is one of the images he posted. The Fidesz government should resign in disgrace right now.
9. Making light of attacks - one fruit at a time
After the public broadcaster made fun of Peter Magyar adjusting his private parts (seriously) at the EU Parliament, he doesn’t simply ignore it and let himself be poked fun at. He tackles things head on. In this case he posted photos of himself with bananas. For me, this photo epitomises his resilient and quick-witted character, which is one of the things that makes it so hard for Fidesz’s ridiculous attacks to stick.
10. It's a movement
Beyond getting large crowds at his rallies and speeches, and a huge amount of YouTube views and Facebook likes, you can tell that the people love Peter Magyar based on how they swarm around him. And it’s all kinds of people from young men to middle-aged women.
11. The Menczer moment
This is one of the iconic moments of the year, where Fidesz’s Communications Director Tamas Menczer accosted MP as he was trying to give Christmas gifts to some of the most vulnerable kids in the country — those in state-run care homes.
Menczer got in MP’s face and tried to intimidate and embarrass him by saying “It’s over, little one!” The whole ridiculous scene was filmed by the scrum of media surrounding them.
Anyway, it’s not over Menczer, not by a long shot. And go brush your furry yellow teeth please.
12. With the people
I love this photo because again it shows Peter Magyar with the real people of the country. In this case a homeless person who turned up at Tisza’s food kitchen pre-Christmas. I can’t remember the last time I saw Orban genuinely interacting with real people…. Let alone shaking the hand of a homeless person.
13. This family photo goes crazy on Facebook
Peter Magyar has no doubt had a tough year on the family front. His wife made many not-great claims about him. And Peter Magyar has himself spoken about his differing political opinions with his eldest son. But this Christmas photo with his two youngest kids went bananas on Facebook – getting more than 150,000 likes. This is far beyond the norm, which is around 20-50,000 likes per post. For me, this image epitomises the groundswell of support for him.
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