Hungary’s long-time premier Viktor Orban and his main opponent Peter Magyar are set to stage rival marches in Budapest on Sunday, both pushing allegations of foreign interference four weeks before the elections.
Facing an unprecedented challenge to his 16-year-rule, Orban has accused the EU and Ukraine of helping the opposition.
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Tensions between the nationalist leader and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reached new heights last week, when Zelensky appeared to issue a direct threat against Orban and Hungary detained and then expelled a group of Ukrainian bank employees.
Billboards casting Zelensky in a negative light have also sprung up in recent weeks across the country.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Magyar has accused the Moscow-friendly Orban of seeking the Kremlin’s help to stay in power.
This followed reports by regional investigative outlet VSquare and the Financial Times of a covert Russian social media campaign to boost Orban and weaken the opposition.
- ‘Peace march’ -
Both camps have pushed to mobilise their supporters for Sunday’s mass gatherings ahead of the April 12 election.
Government sympathisers will gather in a park for a “peace march” across a bridge over the Danube river to parliament. The nationalist premier will give a speech in front of parliament at 1:00 pm local time (1200 GMT).
Since Orban’s return to power in 2010, gatherings in support of the ruling Fidesz party, dubbed “peace marches”, have routinely been held.
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