The article argues that Máté Kocsis falsely claimed that “farmers hate Péter Magyar,” based on a video shared by the pro-government outlet Mandiner from a farmers’ protest in Strasbourg.
Key point of criticism:
- The people presented as “farmers” in the video are not independent, ordinary farmers, but Fidesz-linked political actors:
- One is Cseh Tibor András, secretary general of MAGOSZ and a founder of a Fidesz-aligned digital civic circle.
- The other is Soltész András, the Fidesz mayor of Tiszaszőlős.
- Despite this, Kocsis and Mandiner framed the confrontation as if it reflected the general opinion of farmers against Péter Magyar.
Péter Magyar’s position:
- At a press conference in Strasbourg, he said the Mercosur agreement should be renegotiated.
- Unlike the European People’s Party, the Tisza Party would support referring the agreement to the European Court of Justice, arguing it was adopted in violation of EU law.
- Magyar also stated that Fidesz had no real presence at the protest, while earlier supporting the Mercosur deal, which he says is harmful to Hungarian agriculture.
Wider context:
- According to AFP, thousands of farmers protested at the European Parliament against the EU–Mercosur free trade agreement.
- Opponents argue the deal would damage European farmers, weaken food safety and environmental standards, and accelerate deforestation in South America.
- Supporters claim it is strategically necessary to strengthen the EU’s economic and geopolitical position amid U.S. trade wars and growing Chinese influence.
Overall conclusion:
The article concludes that the claim “farmers hate Péter Magyar” is misleading and propagandistic, as it relies on two Fidesz-affiliated figures being presented as representatives of farmers as a whole, while the real protests involved a broad and politically diverse group of European farmers opposing the Mercosur agreement.
