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Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar walked with a small group of supporters across the border to Romania and was met by supporters in the Romanian city of Oradea on Saturday morning.
The president of the Tisza Party left Budapest 10 days ago, and departed on his journey in an effort to win support from Hungarian communities in Romania and appeal to voters who traditionally vote conservative, as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán provides financial support to ethnic Hungarians in Romania.
“We are not going (to Romania) to escalate tensions or to cause any harm to our Hungarian brothers and sisters living there. We are going there to express our solidarity,” Magyar had said before his departure.
He had announced the march, called the “one million steps for peace and national unity” initiative, in the wake of Orbán’s communion with far-right, anti-Hungarian presidential candidate George Simion ahead of the Romanian presidential elections.
“It has become clear that the corrupt, tired and discredited Prime Minister sees Hungarians abroad as a political product. He tried and is trying to lure you to him not out of faith, not out of commitment, not out of love for his countrymen, but merely to win votes,” Magyar said in a speech to hundreds of people in Oradea.
“And now, in order to retain power, he is trembling, using increasingly crude means, crossing all boundaries, doing whatever he can, regardless of the damage he is doing to the nation,” he added.
The opposition leader recognised Hungarians “long for a country that loves each of its citizens, a country that does not stigmatise, that does not push into exclusion.”
He warned that division, incitement and hatred lead to destruction.
“Orbán’s destruction, hate-mongering and trench-digging are a thing of the past. The final countdown has begun,” Magyar concluded.
The politician told Euronews that he had experienced positive feedback from supporters, but he was also met by counter-protesters who chanted Orbán’s name, and shouted “Traitor!” and “Go home”.
Magyar ended his speech by addressing the Romanian people.
He applauded them for the outcome of their election, and encouraged them to stay on the European path. The politician emphasised the importance of mutual respect between Romanians and the Hungarian community.