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Magyar meets president amid push for early transition
Hungary's incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, met President Tamás Sulyok on Wednesday to press for a rapid handover of power following his party's decisive victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections. Sulyok, who has resisted calls to resign, is widely expected to nominate Magyar as the next leader, with a target start date of May 5.
Media overhaul tops agenda
Magyar made his first appearance on state-run media in 18 months, using the platform to announce plans to suspend news programming on public broadcasters. He accused outlets like Kossuth Radio and M1 TV of spreading propaganda under Viktor Orbán's government, vowing to establish a new regulatory body to ensure press freedom.
"Every Hungarian deserves public media that tells the truth," Magyar told Kossuth Radio. "This isn't about revenge-though my family and I were attacked daily."
His interviews grew confrontational as he directly challenged hosts over their coverage, which he claimed disseminated 300 falsehoods about him daily during the campaign.
Breaking with Orbán's legacy
Magyar's Tisza party secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority on Sunday, ending Fidesz's 16-year rule. He split from Orbán's party in March 2024, rallying public support amid frustration over corruption scandals and EU funding freezes tied to rule-of-law violations.
Hungary's economy has stagnated under Orbán, with €17 billion in EU funds suspended and another €16 billion in defense loans pending approval. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signaled urgency in a Tuesday call with Magyar, stressing the need to "restore rule of law and realign with European values."
EU aid and Orbán's lingering influence
Magyar dismissed Orbán's veto of €90 billion in Ukraine aid as irrelevant, citing Hungary's opt-out from the loan package last December. However, the process to lift the veto remains unclear, and Orbán-who will remain caretaker prime minister until the transition-may still play a role. EU leaders are set to address the issue at an informal summit in Cyprus on April 23-24.
Orbán has stayed largely silent since his defeat, posting on Facebook that Fidesz would "reorganize and keep fighting for Hungarians."
International reactions
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who campaigned for Orbán, called Magyar a "good man" in an interview with ABC News. "I think he'll do a good job," Trump said, despite his prior endorsement of Orbán.
