Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians filled the streets of Budapest on Thursday in competing demonstrations as supporters of the country’s two main political movements staged mutual shows of strength before next spring’s national election.

Hungarian election season has begun on Oct. 23 with two large scale demonstrations hinting at potential confrontation and a growing political divide. Viktor Orban, the country's longest-serving prime minister,

With the ballot approaching in April, long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — trailing in most polls to his main political rival, Péter Magyar — hopes to use Thursday's show of force to reinvigorate his base that has had its confidence shaken by a series of political scandals and years of high prices and economic stagnation.

With elections due in April, the rival rallies were a standoff between Viktor Orbán and Péter Magyar, his main political challenger who looks set to present the long-serving Hungarian leader with the most competitive ballot in his 15 years in power.

Szellemi honvédelem 1938 óta. Friss hírek hazai, külföldi, sport, kultúra és gazdasági témakörökben. Véleménycikkek és történelmi visszatekintések.

Tens of thousands of people marched in Budapest on October 23 in rival political rallies to mark the anniversary of the 1956 revolt against the communist government that was violently put down by Soviet troops.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto says preparations are ongoing, with only timing yet to be decided - Anadolu Ajansı

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has celebrated his country's role as the host for upcoming talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin.