Hungary’s Incoming PM Peter Magyar Moves to Dismantle Orbán’s State Control

Hungary’s incoming leader Peter Magyar has moved rapidly to dismantle the vast institutional control established during outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power, Bloomberg reported on April 15.

Following a landslide election victory for his Tisza party, Magyar immediately targeted state media and demanded the resignation of the president appointed by his predecessor.

In a tense state radio interview—his first in over a year and a half—Magyar criticized the broadcaster, stating it had spread fear and despair among the population. Comparing the network’s coverage to propaganda in North Korea and Nazi-era Germany, he vowed to shutter the news operation and relaunch it as a genuine public service, according to Bloomberg.

“It’s not about me. It’s about every Hungarian person’s right to public media that broadcasts the truth,” Magyar stated, emphasizing that his government’s actions would not be driven by revenge.

Hours later, Magyar arrived at Buda Castle to meet with President Tamas Sulyok. During the meeting, Magyar demanded that the head of state resign once the new government is officially formed, accusing Sulyok of being morally unfit by acting as a “signature machine” for Orbán’s power grabs. Magyar later told reporters that the president agreed to an accelerated transition timeline—likely forming the new government on May 6-7—and said he would “consider” the demand to step down.

In addition to political reforms, Magyar outlined plans to reclaim state shares in two of Hungary’s largest corporations: oil refiner Mol Nyrt. and pharmaceutical maker Gedeon Richter Nyrt. Orbán had previously transferred these lucrative assets to an academic foundation specifically designed to propagate his “illiberal democracy” ideology.

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Magyar’s actions for the restoration of democratic norms mirrors the actions of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in 2023, whom Magyar plans to visit on his first foreign trip. Dismantling Orbán’s media juggernaut and restoring the rule of law will be essential for Hungary to access more than $20 billion in frozen European Union funds, which were suspended due to widespread concerns over corruption and political interference, Bloomberg wrote.

Beyond restructuring domestic institutions, Peter Magyar is repositioning Hungary’s stance on European financial mechanisms and foreign relations. Following his historic victory, the incoming Prime Minister confirmed that his administration will not block the European Union’s €90 billion ($106 billion) loan package for Ukraine.

This vital aid was previously stalled by outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who used his veto power after accusing Kyiv of deliberately disrupting Russian oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline. However, as Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified, the transit halt was actually caused by a Russian strike on key energy infrastructure near the western Ukrainian town of Brody—not by any actions taken by Kyiv.

While emphasizing that Hungary—alongside Czechia and Slovakia—will not participate in the €90 billion ($106 billion) loan due to its own difficult financial situation and the urgent need to recover frozen EU funds, Magyar criticized the previous government’s shifting stances and promised consistent communication.

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