BUDAPEST — Tens of thousands of Hungarians gathered in Budapest on Thursday at rival rallies, as the government and the opposition each look to drum up support ahead of tense elections next year.

 

Nationalist Viktor Orban is facing an unprecedented challenge to his 15-year premiership from opposition leader Peter Magyar, who has been campaigning against what he calls a "corrupt" political elite.

 

Addressing a "peace march," Orban -- who has close ties with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine -- blamed Brussels for impeding Trump's "mission" to try to end the war in Ukraine.

 

"Brussels has decided to go to war. If Brussels did not hinder the US president's peace mission, the war would already be over," Orban told tens of thousands of supporters in front of parliament, waving Hungarian flags.

 

"Those who believe they are supporting a change of government [in Hungary] are in fact supporting war, whether they realise it or not," Orban added.

 

Magyar will address a separate gathering of his supporters later Thursday.

 

'Root for peace'

 

Trump and Putin said last week they plan to hold a summit on the war in Ukraine in the Hungarian capital.

 

Although Trump said Tuesday he had shelved the planned summit for now, the announcement has strengthened the hand of Orban, according to analysts.

 

"I really root for this peace meeting to happen. I trust that everything will be fine," 72-year-old pensioner Istvanne Ambrozi told AFP at the "peace march".

 

The crowd arrived at the parliament square after marching through central Budapest, many walking behind a banner saying "We don't want to die for Ukraine".

 

In a rival rally by Magyar, dubbed a "national march", tens of thousands also gathered in Budapest, marching behind a banner calling for "system change", as they waited for their leader to speak.

 

'Stars align'

 

Gatherings in support of the ruling Fidesz Party, dubbed "peace marches" even before Russia's war in Ukraine and Hungary's self-proclaimed pacifism, have routinely occurred before elections since Orban's return to power in 2010.

 

This time, the rally coincides with a national day commemorating Hungary's 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, crushed by Moscow with overwhelming force.

 

Later Thursday, Orban will head to Brussels for an EU summit on support for Kyiv.

 

Keeping the public focus on the war is considered helpful for the ruling party.

 

"The stars are aligned favourably for Orban," Agoston Mraz, head of pro-government Nezopont Institute think tank, told AFP ahead of the rallies, noting that the premier has long been arguing for a US-Russia deal to end the conflict.

 

And even if there is no breakthrough, Orban's position will be strengthened, because he "can claim he has done everything in his power" to bring an end to the war, Mraz added.