Ahead of Hungary’s pivotal elections, AP’s Budapest team secured a rare and timely exclusive interview with opposition leader Péter Magyar, offering critical insight into a race that could reshape the country’s political future.
Video journalist Bela Szandelszky and correspondent Justin Spike spent months pursuing access, attending rallies across Hungary and building trust despite repeated refusals from Magyar’s team to engage with international media. Their persistence paid off with a late-night sit-down that stretched to more than twice the allotted time.
The interview delivered key insights into Magyar’s challenge to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule, at a moment when Hungary’s direction is under close scrutiny from both the European Union and international allies. The timing added further significance, coming just ahead of a visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance to campaign in support of Orbán.
The resulting all-formats package resonated widely across Hungary, Europe and the United States, standing out as the only detailed interview Magyar granted to a major news outlet.
Judges praised the determination required to secure the interview and its importance to understanding a major international political story.
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