A RISING challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban drew tens of thousands of supporters to a rally in the capital Budapest at the weekend.

Peter Magyar, an ex-member of the authoritarian leader’s political circle who used to be married to former justice minister and Orban ally Judit Varga, has shot to prominence in recent weeks through his allegations of entrenched corruption and cronyism among the country’s leaders.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Magyar announced his creation of a new political community aimed at uniting conservatives and liberals disillusioned by Mr Orban’s governance and the fragmented, ineffectual political opposition.

“Step by step, brick by brick, we are taking back our homeland and building a new country, a sovereign modern European Hungary,” he claimed, adding that the protest was “the biggest political demonstration in years.”

Mr Magyar broke ranks with Mr Orban’s government in February following a political scandal that led to the resignation of his ex-wife and the president.

He has vowed to found a new party that will contest elections to the European parliament and local councils this summer.