Challenge
The Momentum Movement was launched in 2015 by a group of young people mostly unknown to the public. They unofficially identified as members of "Hungary's first free generation"—meaning people born after or shortly before the fall of the communist regime in 1989. The party rejected left-right allegiances, focusing instead on a pro-EU platform based on modernization and fighting corruption. With no pre-existing public platform, they needed a way to put themselves on the map.
Response
Budapest had officially launched its bid for the 2024 Olympic Games in 2015. Although the public was divided on the issue, the parliamentary opposition had not voiced much disagreement. In December 2016, Momentum launched the "NOlimpia" campaign, calling on citizens to sign a petition for a public referendum on the Olympic bid. Although the party used social media extensively, its direct outreach to voters was especially impactful. Momentum supporters set up stands outside Budapest's metro stations bearing the party logo which soon began attracting large crowds. At these stands, people could sign the petition and talk to the party's representatives. Beyond signing the petition, people wanted to voice their frustration with the present state of Hungarian politics. Momentum framed the referendum not in terms of opposition, but simply of giving citizens a say. This allowed them to tap into feelings of discontent among the voting public.
Outcomes
The petition collected 266,151 signatures – almost double the threshold required for consideration by parliament. Momentum had managed to force a key issue onto the agenda without yet being in parliament. Rather than holding a referendum, the ruling Fidesz party abandoned the Olympic bid. Both during the campaign and in the immediate aftermath, the Momentum Movement received extensive media coverage, both at home and internationally, and its membership grew rapidly.
However, this connection with voters proved difficult to convert to success at the polls. While the party launched further petitions, they were unable to repeat the success of the NOlimpia campaign. There was frustration within the movement that they had not yet been large enough to cope with the influx of interest from potential members generated by the campaign. Although Momentum had some success in the 2019 European Parliament elections, it did not win any seats during the 2022 national elections.
