Competing rallies filled Budapest as Viktor Orbán and challenger Péter Magyar staged a show of strength ahead of next spring’s election. Orbán’s 'peace march' moved from a Danube bridge toward Parliament, with chants against EU policy on Ukraine and a banner reading, 'We don’t want to die for Ukraine.' In a speech, he accused Kyiv’s European backers of dragging the EU into war, rejected Ukraine’s EU and alliance membership, and urged a ceasefire. Later at Heroes’ Square, Magyar accused Orbán of impoverishing and dividing Hungarians, spotlighting inflation, poor health care and corruption, while urging inclusion before an April vote.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.