“In 11 months, we will be living in a completely different country, a humane Hungary,” Magyar shouted in the square. The small crowd erupted in cheers.

When Peter Magyar arrived in Tapiobicske, a sleepy village outside of Budapest, on May 16, dozens of people gathered in the main square to greet him. Some residents gave him flowers, boxes of pastries, or homemade pálinka, a brandy made from fruit. Others waved at him from their windows and gardens, and drivers passing by shouted encouraging words.

When Peter Magyar arrived in Tapiobicske, a sleepy village outside of Budapest, on May 16, dozens of people gathered in the main square to greet him. Some residents gave him flowers, boxes of pastries, or homemade pálinka, a brandy made from fruit. Others waved at him from their windows and gardens, and drivers passing by shouted encouraging words.

“In 11 months, we will be living in a completely different country, a humane Hungary,” Magyar shouted in the square. The small crowd erupted in cheers.

It was the third day of Magyar’s week-and-a-half-long walk from Budapest to Oradea, a Romanian town with a large Hungarian population. He had embarked on the 185-mile journey, entirely on foot, in an effort to connect with voters and raise support ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary election slated for April 2026, even if that meant earning a few blisters along the way.

“We are taking the message of love to Hungarians outside of our borders, because we believe that all Hungarians are one, whether they live in Hungary, in the Carpathian basin, or elsewhere in the world,” Magyar explained. “There’s no right or left wing, only Hungary.”

With his campaign for unity, the center-right, pro-Europe Magyar has risen to become the most popular politician in Hungary in just one year, according to independent polls—surpassing strongman Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the leader of the Fidesz party who has ruled the country for 15 years.

Before he became the leader of the Hungarian opposition, Magyar (whose name means “Hungarian”) was a Fidesz insider employed by state-owned companies. But after breaking with the party in 2024, the 44-year-old lawyer is now gearing up for a decisive 2026 election.

A lot is on the line for the Central European country of 9.6 million people.