Péter Magyar’s revolt: The insider challenging Hungary’s Viktor Orbán – POLITICO

Few outside Hungary’s tight political circles had heard of Péter Magyar — until he unleashed a blistering critique of the government, complete with a secret audio recording of his wife, then Justice Minister Judit Varga.  

The 2023 recording — made without Varga’s knowledge — captured her describing alleged government interference in a corruption case. It helped fuel an explosive scandal that propelled Magyar from a mid-level civil servant into a political force, setting him up to mount the most serious challenge yet to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power.

As Magyar rides a commanding lead in the polls ahead of the April 12 parliamentary election, he has galvanized disillusioned voters across the political spectrum, turning his upstart Tisza movement into a vehicle for those seeking to end Orbán’s rule.