By Krisztina Than

HODMEZOVASARHELY in Hungary (Reuters). Peter Marki-Zay has completed the calculations: To win next year’s elections, he will need to convince the undecided young people and the disenchanted former Prime Minister Viktor Orban supporters.

Father of seven, the 49-year old Catholic conservative knows that it will be difficult to remove Orban and Fidesz, his social conservative nationalist party. Fidesz has been successful in winning three consecutive parliamentary victories over the last 12 years.

Marki-Zay ended 18 years Fidesz control in Hodmezovasarhely, where he was elected mayor. He believes that he can forge broad coalitions of voters looking for change.

Marki-Zay, a political outsider without any party affiliation was surprised to win the primary election last weekend to head the six-party opposition alliance which is currently running neck-and-neck with Fidesz in opinion polls.

We must win the election in the country. Und es it is the undecided voter… mainly undecided former Fidesz votes, who are not happy w/the opposition but are also fed up with Fidesz’s doing,” he stated to Reuters in Hodmezovasarhely’s ornate town hall, southeastern Hungary.

Marki-Zay said that they want to see change, but have not seen any alternative. He voted in Fidesz 2010 and became disillusioned with the corruption it has allowed to flourish.

FAMILY MASTER

His family-man image, provincial roots and current threat to Orban’s power pose the greatest threat in over a decade. This is not surprising, given that Fidesz’s home base in Hungary’s small towns and villages where it’s anti-immigrant, nationalist rhetoric resonates deeply.

Marki-Zay was also a strong performer in Budapest during the primary race. She promises to combat corruption, hold politicians accountable, maintain some Fidesz policies like tax breaks for families and repair Hungary’s fractured ties to the European Union.

Marki-Zay was a five-year-old university graduate in engineering and marketing. He lived in Canada with his family for five years before returning to Hungary in 2009.

After studying how U.S. elections work, he built a grassroots organization that depends on donations and volunteers.

He stated, “My goal is for my seven children… to not have to leave this country… Young people desire a country that they won’t have have to flee.”

The appeal of his stamina, clear speaking, and status as outsider unaffected or scandal-free are particularly appealing to younger voters.

Marki-Zay’s approach is more than just saying that the current government must go. Daniel Strausz (19 years old) enjoying a beer at the Tisza River in Szeged’s nearby university town.

He stated, “We require a change in the regime.”

Strausz is a student of teacher training and said that he may move to Austria if the results of the 2022 elections are not favorable. He is fed up with political divisions within Hungarian society.

HONESTY

Reuters was told by Marki-Zay that he will make it more affordable for poorer students and offer cheap housing in the municipality to young people.

He also proposed to repeal legislation banning the distribution of material in schools that promote homosexuality or gender change. This was strongly criticized by human rights groups as well as the European Union.

Orban’s hopes of being reelected were buoyed by Hungary’s solid economic recovery following the coronavirus epidemic.

The unemployment rate is at an all-time low and there are labour shortages that drive up wages. However, inflation has risen to 5%. Many voters don’t like Orban’s autocratic tendencies and the rise in political connections of his business community.

This opens up opportunities for opposition.

Marki-Zay’s sincerity is impressive. Krisztian Kovacs (29), who owns a flower shop in Szeged’s busy market square, said that he dares speak out what other people would not.

Marki-Zay doesn’t really want to make any changes, he just criticised the things that aren’t good about the current system.

Infighting between Marki-Zay’s wide coalition of socialists, liberals, and disillusioned conservators in the countdown until the election will be a possibility. This is anticipated to occur in April.

Fidesz charges Marki-Zay with signing a deal with the left political party to raise taxes and return to power. However, it finds it difficult to condemn a man that seems to represent the traditional values Orban proudly champions.

Marki-Zay stated, “Seven children, a practicing Catholic, and a conservative — really, there is nothing Fidesz could say against me personally.”