Overview
- Viktor Orbán led a government-backed 'peace march' on Hungary’s 1956 memorial day, repeating that Hungary will not provide money, weapons or troops for Ukraine.
- Péter Magyar addressed a separate 'national rally' at Heroes’ Square, presenting a pro‑EU, anti‑corruption platform and drawing large crowds chanting for political change.
- The White House canceled a proposed Trump–Putin meeting in Budapest, and the United States imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, raising questions about potential effects on Hungary’s Russian crude supplies.
- EU funding to Hungary remains partially frozen over rule‑of‑law concerns, a key opposition critique as Magyar pledges to restore relations with Brussels and unfreeze the money.
- Fidesz has mounted an aggressive messaging campaign against Magyar, including AI‑generated videos and unproven foreign‑influence claims, as both camps cast Thursday’s turnout as a test of momentum before the April 2026 election.