Hungary’s election winner, Péter Magyar, urged the president on Monday to convene parliament quickly to form a new government, hoping to assume the role of prime minister by 5 May. With a significant mandate, he pledged to work with other European countries and end the Viktor Orbán-era obstruction of Europe-wide policies.
At a press conference in Budapest, Magyar promised to restore the rule of law, overhaul government structures to combat corruption, and establish new ministries to address issues like public health, environmental protection, and education. While opposing fast-tracked EU membership for Ukraine amid the ongoing war, he suggested that Hungary could “opt out” of participating in a €90-billion EU loan for Ukraine due to its financial struggles.
Magyar described his Tisza party’s achievement of a super-majority as a mandate not just for a change of government, but for a complete regime shift. He thanked Moscow and Beijing for their congratulations but emphasised that Hungarians want to write their own history.
With his party winning 138 of parliament’s 199 seats, Magyar has the authority to reverse much of the legislation enacted under Orbán’s rule. However, potential challenges lie ahead that could impede the ambitious changes many Hungarians desire.
Historic win
Magyar’s victory sparked jubilation on the streets of Budapest late Sunday, with tens of thousands, many young, celebrating what they see as a hopeful shift for Hungary. They believe Orbán’s defeat will lead to a freer, happier nation aligned with European democracies. Drivers honked their horns and played anti-government songs, while marchers chanted in excitement.
Bulcsú Hunyadi, an analyst with the Budapest-based think tank Political Capital, noted that although Tisza’s constitutional majority grants it broad powers to reverse many of Orbán’s policies, Hungary’s key institutions are still led by individuals who have been entrenched in their positions for many years. In his efforts to consolidate control over Hungary’s democratic system, Orbán appointed loyal allies to head crucial institutions, including the media authority, public prosecutor’s office, and the Constitutional Court. In several instances, mandates were extended or new appointments made before the current terms had expired—actions that effectively kept loyal leadership in place for years, regardless of subsequent changes in government.
Magyar has urged such officials—including Hungary’s president—to resign voluntarily. However, Hunyadi emphasised that beyond this appeal, “they don’t really have any other tools to remove these people.”
Pressure from the EU
Magyar has expressed concerns about Orbán and his administration, alleging mismanagement of Hungary’s economy and social services, as well as the permitting of widespread corruption. He contends that this mismanagement has led to the concentration of significant wealth among a small circle of well-connected individuals, leaving the average Hungarian citizen at a disadvantage.
To address these issues, Magyar has committed to holding accountable those responsible for these alleged abuses and plans to establish an Office for the Recovery and Protection of National Assets to reclaim what he considers to be the ill-got gains of Orbán’s associates.
During his campaign, Magyar emphasised his intention to secure the return of billions of euros in EU funding that have been frozen due to corruption and rule-of-law concerns associated with Orbán’s governance. Furthermore, he pledged to introduce the euro in Hungary by 2030, a proposal that Orbán’s government had previously opposed.
Analyst Hunyadi highlighted that Magyar’s administration will face significant pressure from the EU to swiftly implement necessary reforms to gain access to these frozen funds, which are vital for Hungary’s struggling economy. “There are specific deadlines for unfreezing the funds; they will need to enact certain laws and reforms by August of this year, which is only a few months away,” he noted.
Tisza’s election has raised optimism across the EU that a new government in Budapest will shift Orbán’s previously confrontational approach toward Ukraine and facilitate assistance to the nation as it continues to contend with the ongoing Russian invasion. Orbán has utilised his veto power within the EU to block sanctions on Russia and to block critical funding to Kyiv, stating that he would not permit discussions on Ukraine’s EU membership to resume.
In a statement on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha remarked that the rhetoric employed during Orbán’s election campaign, which he described as manipulative regarding Ukraine, is now behind them. “We anticipate that the election results will contribute to the normalisation of political relations,” Sybiha stated.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
