Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán shouted at protesters during his own pre-election rally in Győr, a city always considered a stronghold of his party. Some people there met him with placards and shouts about corruption and the economic crisis, HVG reports .
Viktor Orbán at the rally. Photo: hvg.hu
During his pre-election tour, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke on March 27 in Győr, a city that has supported his Fidesz party for decades. This time, however, he faced a record number of protesters. Their large presence in the square apparently unbalanced Orbán, and he began to shout at them:
"You support the Ukrainian course! You are not on the side of Hungarians. You want a Ukrainophile government and to give Hungarian money to Ukraine!"
Political scientist Gábor Török from Budapest University notes that such a communication style is uncharacteristic for Orbán — he usually behaves calmly during pre-election rallies. Such a sharp reaction could affect the course of the campaign.
"If the remaining two weeks go the same way, it doesn't bode well for the government," Török noted in a conversation with HVG.
Széchenyi Square, where the rally with Orbán took place, was not entirely filled with his supporters — they waved flags and posters in front of the stage, but on the edge of the square were anti-Orbán protesters.
It is also reported that men in black blocked an adjacent street, holding onto each other, preventing protesters from entering the square. As the number of protesters increased, police entered the square, and Orbán's supporters and opponents were in close proximity. No serious clashes occurred between them.
The city of Győr is an epicenter of political struggle. Four years ago, the Fidesz party won there, but the results of the 2024 European Parliament elections showed a narrow gap: 40.5% for the ruling party versus 36% for the opposition "Tisza" party.
The election campaign in Hungary is taking place against the backdrop of serious scandals. Orbán could lose power for the first time in 16 years, as Péter Magyar's opposition "Tisza" has a significant lead and could even gain a constitutional majority. Voting is scheduled for April 12.
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