In an exclusive interview with DW, Hungary's opposition leader, Peter Magyar, said the majority of Hungarians are seeking a new direction for their country.

He told DW's Senior International Correspondent, Fanny Facsar, that he wants to be seen as the antithesis to right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"One of our main aims is to reunite the nation, to stop the propaganda, to stop the hate speech, and to speak about the reality, the conditions, the state of play of our country," he said.

"Otherwise, we won't be able to restart the Hungarian economy, to rebuild the nation, to bring back or to bring home the EU," he told Facsar.

Orban's challenger calls for honesty about Hungary's issues

Magyar, a former aide to Orban, formed his Tisza (Respect and Freedom) party last year and has since emerged as the top contender to challenge the prime minister in next year's elections.

A cost of living crisis, corruption in government, and Hungary's relations with the EU all stand at the forefront of Magyar's campaign.

"The vast majority of the Hungarian people are against corruption, lies, propaganda, and autocracy, so the vast majority of the Hungarian people want to have a new Hungary in a very short time."

He believes addressing these issues is crucial for restarting the Hungarian economy and securing EU funds.

Magyar touts himself as a conservative alternative to Orban

"Of course, I have a right-wing background, but we are waiting for everybody, and I can promise the Hungarians that we will represent everybody. We don't care whether you are a Fidesz voter, an opposition voter, or an undecided voter."

He admitted, though, that he would keep some of Orban's popular policies, including the benefits of the child and family support system and the southern border fence against illegal migration.

Magyar urges Orban to press Putin for peace in Ukraine

But the differences are stark on foreign policy; Magyar called for Hungary to support Ukraine and push for peace, urging Orban to "convince [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to accept this ceasefire document."

"The ball is in the court of Putin, the aggressor, and I have to strongly call the Hungarian Prime Minister and all the politicians of the Fidesz party to call their ally in the Kremlin and to convince Vladimir Putin to accept at least this ceasefire document," Magyar said.

He emphasized Hungary's European identity and the need to distance Hungary from pro-Russian agendas.

"There is the energy issue, there is the security issue, so we should be in contact with the Russians, with all other countries, but if you go around in Budapest or everywhere in Hungary, they [Hungarians] are pro-Europeans."

He added that the priority for the next Hungarian prime minister would be to fly to Brussels to "negotiate with the European commissions, with all the institutions, and to defreeze the EU funds."

Uncertainty remains

Addressing allegations from Orban that he is a "threat to Hungary's sovereignty," Magyar said singling out an enemy is a well-known tactic used by Orban and his party.

The tactic has been used against opposition parties since 2010, with figures like George Soros and Brussels often targeted to distract from domestic issues.

"They want to distract the attention from the state of play in Hungary," he said.

Regarding concerns about his party being centered around his persona, Magyar assured that it is not a one-man show. He has introduced many candidates and experts, continuously recruiting new members.

While refusing to say whether he'll support LGBT+ rights, Magyar promised to be a leader for all Hungarians. "We have to stand for democracy and the rule of law," he said.

Edited by: John Silk

Editors note: This article was updated after it was first published with more quotes and details from DWs interview with Magyar.