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.