He comes from the influential Magyar legal family joined Fidesz after the party's defeat in 2002, believing in Viktor Orbán's national-conservative vision.
As a trusted insider, he held high diplomatic positions in Brussels and sat on the boards of state-owned companies. In the meantime, he also devoted himself as a father of three children taking care of the house, which he often likes to emphasize.
However, for many years he remained in the shadow of Judit Varga, his (former) wife, who was one of the most important and popular representatives of Fidesz. This recording with her participation de facto launched Magyar's political career.
Péter Magyar: break with Fidesz and his wife
The backstage of his departure from the government in February 2024 resembles the script of a political thriller.
The spark was a pedophilia scandal that led to the resignation of his ex-wife, Justice Minister Judit Vargi. They were both already divorced at the time, which took place in early 2023.
Two years ago, it came to light that the Hungarian president had pardoned Katalin Novak former deputy director of the orphanage in Bicske, legally convicted of covering up the sexual abuse of minors by the director of this facility.
The decision triggered an avalanche that led to the resignation of Novak and then Varga, who, as the Minister of Justice, countersigned the act of clemency.
Magyar publishes the recording
On the same day, Magyar published a strong entry on Facebook, in which he announced that he was breaking with the ruling camp. He claimed then that “moral rock bottom had been reached” and he himself had been observing corruption from the inside for years, but it was this moment that became the final turning point for him.
A month later, he revealed a recording of his ex-wife, created before the divorce. Varga (then Minister of Justice) admits that in one of the corruption cases, people from the highest levels of power could have influenced the course of the investigation.
Varga spoke about the materials collected by the prosecutor's office – protocols, documentary evidence and draft versions of files – suggesting that before being made public, they were reviewed by people close to the government. The conversation involves pointing out which fragments should be removed or changed so that references to politically sensitive people disappear from the files.
See also: He was part of the system, today he wants to destroy it. Who is Peter Magyar?
Elections in Hungary. Orbán's enemy grew up under his watch
Magyar's political metamorphosis has become the most fascinating phenomenon on the Hungarian political scene in recent years. As a former insider, he struck at the foundations of Viktor Orbán's power with extraordinary force. He created the TISZA party, of which he is the true frontman and sole leader.
His speech at the beginning of 2024 was the spark that awakened the dormant society, and Magyar himself did not spare strong words towards his former colleagues.
“Hungary is not the family business of Viktor Orbán and his son-in-law,” he said, which became the motto of thousands of demonstrators demanding transparency in public life.
Magyar's path to politics was the result of many years of being immersed in state structures. Working in Brussels, according to the Financial Times, he gained a unique perspective on EU mechanisms, which he now transforms into pro-European rhetoric.
“We want a constructive dialogue with the European Union, not a constant war that harms the interests of ordinary Hungarians,” he said.
This image of a pragmatic politician contrasts with the image of a modern father who in Brussels took care of the house and three children, while his then wife developed her career.
The end of “Orbanomics”
In the economic sphere, Magyar proposes a radical departure from the so-called “orbanomics”. According to a Bloomberg analysis, the leader of the TISHA party intends to end the model based on foreign battery assembly plants and focus on the development of small and medium-sized companies.
Instead, it focuses on domestic innovations and attracting specialists such as István Kapitány from Shell. In his speeches, Magyar emphasizes that honesty is the key to success.
“We must stop the theft of public and EU funds, because they should build our hospitals and schools, not the private fortunes of oligarchs,” he claims. His priority is to immediately unblock funds from the KPO by restoring the rule of law.
Pro-Western twist
His vision of foreign policy also assumes a review of toxic energy systems. Magyar announces that it will strive for full independence from Russian raw materials by 2035 and, according to Reuters, wants to disclose secret agreements with Rosatom.
In the regional context, the politician sees Poland as a key strategic partner. He often repeats that “a strong Hungary needs strong relations with Poland to jointly build the subjectivity of Central Europe.”
See also: Change of power in Hungary? This is what Orban's fall means for Poland
