REFILE: Thousands of Orban supporters march through Budapest, with four weeks until elections

Record ID: 2365268

  • Title: REFILE: Thousands of Orban supporters march through Budapest, with four weeks until elections
  • Date: 15th March 2026
  • Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (MARCH 15, 2026) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THOUSANDS OF ORBAN SUPPORTERS MARCHING IN BUDAPEST 'PEACE MARCH' (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) MARCH PARTICIPANT, MARIA ERDELYI, SAYING: "Let there be peace. The border should remain closed. Hungarians, young or old should not be sent to the front lines, because this is a senseless war. This is only about money and nothing
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: European Union Fidesz Peter Magyar Tisza Ukraine Viktor Orban election
  • Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
  • City: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
  • Country: Hungary
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA002415415032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thousands of supports of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban marched through Budapest on Sunday (March 15) as the country's feuding political parties gathered for a key show of force four weeks out from a pivotal election.
    In power since 2010, Orban faces what could be his toughest bid for re-election after three years of stagnation, a surge in the cost of living and the rise of a pro-European Union rival seen by many as a viable alternative.
    Orban's Fidesz party and center-right challenger Peter Magyar's Tisza were both due to stage large-scale marches in Budapest to mark Hungary's March 15 national day and rally their supporters, with most surveys showing Tisza ahead by a wide margin.
    Orban has cast the vote as a choice between war and peace, accusing his rivals of plotting to drag Hungary into the war raging in neighbouring Ukraine since Russia's February 2022 invasion, accusations which the opposition has denied.
    But Orban's messages still resonated with supporters gathering in the streets of Budapest and planning to march to parliament to attend a speech by the veteran nationalist leader.
    Magyar has dismissed Orban's campaign as laughable "propaganda," but Tisza has trodden cautiously on Ukraine, saying it opposes any fast-track EU accession for Kyiv and that it would put the issue to a binding referendum if it wins power.
    (Production: Kriszta Fenyo, Thomas Holdstock)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains photographs or artwork. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.
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