The invention relates to a radial press comprising two yokes (6,7) and a plurality of cheek plates. The press yokes are arranged on a plane that is perpendicular to the press axis (51). They are located diametrically opposite the press axis and can be moved towards each other in a straight line by means of a drive unit (31), whereby the direction of movement (A) is perpendicular to the press axis (51). At least one part of the cheek plates that are disposed in the press yokes (6, 7) has slide surfaces that respectively cooperate with a control surface (17, 18, 21; 22) of one of the press yokes (6, 7) or an adjacent cheek plate in such a way that all of the cheek plates can be moved in a uniform manner onto the press axis (51) when the press yokes (6, 7) move closer to each other. The drive unit comprises at least one cross slide (31) which is associated with one press yoke (7) and which can be displaced in a position that is perpendicular (B) to the direction (A) of the press yokes (6, 7) as they move towards each other, whereby the displacement of said cross slide is converted into a movement of the associated press yoke by means of a deflection device (32).