Since assuming office in May, Hungary’s new prime minister, Péter Magyar, has initiated an extensive transformation program aimed at dismantling the entrenched structures established under his predecessor, Viktor Orbán. Over Orbán’s 16-year tenure, his government gradually consolidated power through a system of soft autocracy, influencing various facets of Hungarian society, including the media, religion, and culture. Magyar’s administration is reversing this trend with unprecedented speed.
A significant early move in this process was the replacement of Tamás Sulyok, a president accused by Magyar of enabling the erosion of the rule of law, with András Baka, a former president of Hungary’s supreme court who was previously removed from his judicial position by Orbán’s government—a dismissal later deemed unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights.
Hungary’s national day last Thursday marked the return of news bulletins to the main state television channel, which had been off the air for six weeks. Ending the prior administration’s overt bias in state media was a central promise of Magyar’s election campaign. His victory came despite an electoral system widely seen as favoring Orbán and his Fidesz party, reflecting a broad-based mandate for change.
Magyar’s government has also tackled corruption and clientelism, which are estimated to have involved the misappropriation of over €100 billion ($117 billion) in public and European Union funds during Orbán’s rule. To address this, a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office has been established to investigate and recover such assets. Additionally, Hungary has committed to working with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to enhance the fight against financial crime on a continental level.
The transition toward restoring Hungary as a pluralistic European democracy remains a work in progress. Magyar currently leads what is effectively a national unity government with support spanning the political spectrum. Some concerns persist regarding constitutional changes intended to bar many former Fidesz lawmakers from future office, prompting András Baka to caution against actions perceived as retribution against Orbán’s supporters.
Nevertheless, Magyar’s comprehensive approach to dismantling Orbán's legacy appears to resonate with the public, as reflected in high approval ratings. The European Union has set a deadline for Hungary’s government to demonstrate substantive progress on anti-corruption reforms to unlock over €10 billion in previously frozen funds. Successful disbursement of these resources could mark a turning point in the EU’s relationship with Hungary, which had been strained under the former administration.
“I was not elected simply to change the government, but to change the regime,” Magyar stated shortly after taking office. Three months into his tenure, his efforts have begun to translate into a quiet but profound political shift in the country.