Rhythm nation: politician’s viral dance moves mark new, optimistic era for Hungary | Hungary
As Hungary’s Péter Magyar took office, ousting Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power, the day-long event on Saturday was filled with symbolism, from the return of the EU flag to parliament to the playing of the European anthem Ode to Joy.
However, the 56-year-old, who is claimed to be the new health minister, and more specifically his dance moves, may have become the most powerful symbol of Hungary’s new political era.
While Magyar and the Tisza party were preparing to be sworn in ahead of Saturday’s inauguration, Zsolt Hegedűs’ phone started ringing.
Hegedűs, an internationally renowned orthopedic surgeon who has worked for the NHS in the UK for more than 10 years, said most of the messages were from people wanting to know the same thing.
“’Dr. Hegedűs, you will start this celebration, won’t you?’ There were tons of messages saying: or ‘Is there going to be dancing?’” Hegedűs told the Guardian.
This was a reference to the viral moment he starred Last month, when Tisza was celebrating a landslide victory when she broke into an impromptu dance that sparked joy across the country and beyond.
He was determined to avoid a repeat performance on Saturday, insisting that his previous dance had been a singular, sudden burst of emotion.
Even when he was told that singer Jalja, whose song he admired, would be giving a concert, and tens of thousands of people flocked to parliament to attend the ceremony and the sprawling dance party that followed, he continued to persist.
But hours later, emotions won out again. “When the music started… I could see the audience was looking forward to it,” he said. “I didn’t want to disappoint people”
The full-throttle dance moves, complete with air guitar, by Hegedűs, who is expected to be put forward as health minister this week, have gone viral again, reflecting the joy that has gripped much of Hungary since the election.
A day later he was still enjoying the moment. “I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster and it’s still hard to understand,” she said. “The love and reception I received from people both during and after the event was like I had fans; they started celebrating me like a rock star.”
Hegedűs described his flashy moment as a potential path forward as he prepares to focus on the monumental task of repairing Hungary’s crumbling healthcare system.
“It doesn’t mean I’m going to start dancing in parliament, but I want to use this popularity to encourage people to adopt a health-conscious lifestyle and focus on mental health,” he said, listing the numerous health benefits of dancing.
“Go out, dance, be together. Let’s stop playing with our gadgets. Let’s enjoy the moment,” he said, adding that perhaps it was time for Hungary to return to the old days. Tançazit refers to the community dance halls that were once common throughout the country.
But he also noted the broader context, describing the dance as an embodiment of how much has changed across the country in recent weeks. “The burden started to lift off people’s shoulders,” he said.
The visual landscape was an example of this; Orbán’s defeat had seen the ubiquitous billboards that sought to raise fears of the EU, Ukraine and others gradually disappear from Hungary’s streets.
“People no longer need to walk past those war posters and hate-mongering propaganda to get to work. No more visual pollution or that awful mental health-damaging propaganda,” he said. “It’s a breath of fresh air.”
