On Thursday, Budapest was the scene of a large march in support of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, organized by his supporters on the occasion of Hungary's National Day, which commemorates the anti-communist uprising of 1956. Thousands of participants marched through the capital's center, carrying placards with messages such as "We don't want to die for Ukraine," expressing their opposition to Hungary's involvement in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Orbán, considered a close ally of Vladimir Putin, has consistently criticized the European Union's support for Ukraine and called for a ceasefire, without addressing the impact on regional security. At the same time, supporters of his political rival, Péter Magyar, organized a separate rally, highlighting a growing discontent with the Orbán government, which is facing a decline in popularity due to inflation and corruption allegations. Magyar has managed to attract rural voters through a series of public meetings, thereby strengthening his position in polls.