Peter Magyar, leader of Hungary's emerging opposition force, the Tisza Party, pledged a peaceful and responsible regime change at a party congress on July 12, unveiling a raft of reform proposals and a slew of election promises. The head of the Tisza Party outlined a sweeping vision for reform under a potential Tisza-led government and promised the names of candidates in November.

Some 3,000 participants packed the sports hall in Nagykanizsa, a southwestern Hungarian city of 43,000.

In his keynote speech, addressing supporters at an event titled A well-functioning country, Magyar declared the party's readiness to govern, promising to pivot Hungary away from what he described as the "dead end of the past twenty years." He stressed that change would be rooted in national unity and pragmatic policy, saying: "There is no left and no right, only Hungarian," which stands in contrast with the deeply divisive policies of the Fidesz government.

The former Fidesz insider, now a vocal critic and biggest challenger of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, pledged a comprehensive reform agenda dubbed the "Hungarian New Deal," including massive investments in social and market-based housing, rail and transport upgrades, green energy modernisation and education reform. He vowed to reverse the brain drain by luring back skilled workers to Hungary.

Magyar also promised an overhaul of the public healthcare system, pledging HUF500bn (€1.25bn) in additional annual funding, alongside tax cuts on medicine and healthy food. Pensioners, he said, would receive a HUF200,000 voucher available for food and health services.

As for financing these measures, Magyar pledged that these goals would be financed partly by unfreezing EU funds and a new National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, a proposed anti-corruption super-agency aimed at investigating alleged abuses of the government.

The 44-year-old politician received the biggest applause when he announced the launch of the new government agency with the task of reclaiming stolen public wealth. While legal challenges to such efforts are likely, the proposal targets opposition voters seeking accountability and justice after 15 years of Fidesz rule.

Magyar also made more controversial claims, such as suggesting the Orban family and his childhood friend, Hungary's richest man, Lorinc Meszaros, should be personally liable for future government debts.

The party leader also outlined details of selecting candidates for the election, which will involve a two-tier primary process, including local voter input. Local Tisza chapters will propose three candidates in all 106 constituencies, followed by a public vote to determine the final nominee. According to party officials, this competitive structure is aimed at surfacing potential issues with candidates early and sustaining grassroots engagement.

While party leadership is still expected to wield some influence, the approach stands in stark contrast to Fidesz's highly centralised model, where, according to independent media, candidates in the last election cycle were summoned to Viktor Orban's residence for approval.

The party will unveil the list of candidates in 106 constituencies at the next party congress, due in November.

Magyar criticised pro-government media for downplaying the significance of the event, accusing state-aligned outlets of deliberately using pre-congress images to depict a half-empty venue.

Fidesz seized on the absence of candidates at the weekend congress, saying it shows the opposition party is unprepared to govern.

The remarks by caucus leader Mate Kocsis are part of a broader strategy by Fidesz to question the organisational readiness of Tisza.