Hungary’s new leader promises ‘regime change’ and corruption probe

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar delivers a speech during his swearing-in ceremony. Photo / Attila Kisbenedek, AFP

Peter Magyar, a pro-European Union conservative, was sworn in as Hungary’s new Prime Minister today, closing the chapter on the 16-year rule of his nationalist predecessor Viktor Orban.

The former government insider turned critic whose Tisza Party resoundingly won April 12 legislative elections, vowed he would bring in “regime change”.

That was underlined by the speaker of the new parliament ordering the EU flag to be reinstalled on the building, after a 12-year absence under Orban, just ahead of Magyar taking his oath of office in the legislature.

The EU has been effusive in its welcome of Magyar, seeing his arrival as Hungary’s leader as drawing a line under years of hostility and obstructionism from Budapest.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X said his premiership held “the hope and promise of renewal in these challenging times”.

Magyar’s inauguration drew tens of thousands of people to giant screens around the parliament, where they waved Hungarian and EU flags to watch the ceremony and then party into the night.

Inside the parliament, Magyar vowed: “I will not rule over Hungary; I will serve my country”.

He afterwards addressed his supporters outside, emphasising that the country “belongs to everyone ... and that together we will rebuild Hungary”.

Magyar, 45, has pledged that one of his Government’s first steps would be to create an independent office to investigate corruption over the past 20 years and recover public assets from those who “illegally acquired” them.

He also wants to undo changes introduced under Orban - who fostered close ties with United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin - that eroded the judiciary, media, universities and other institutions.

Tisza won 141 of parliament’s 199 seats, a comfortable two-thirds majority with the power to amend the constitution and push through key reforms.

Among Magyar’s most urgent priorities is unlocking billions of euros in EU funds frozen by Brussels over rule-of-law concerns.

Hungary faces a stagnating economy and deteriorating public services - problems analysts say require deep structural reform.

Andrea Virag, strategy director at the liberal Republikon Institute think-tank, said: “There is a lot of patience and goodwill toward the new Government. But the expectations are through the roof and need to be met in the short-term as well.”

In his inaugural speech, Magyar said many state institutions had “squandered” public trust, reiterating an earlier call for President Tamas Sulyok and other Orban allies to resign by the end of the month.

Orban said last month that he would not take up his seat in parliament for the first time since Hungary’s transition to democracy in 1990. He also skipped the ceremony.

The 62-year-old, who openly championed “illiberal democracy” and curtailed rights, said he would instead focus on the “reorganisation of the national camp”.

- AFP