(BUDAPEST) – Hungary’s incoming prime minister Péter Magyar faces an urgent legislative sprint to unblock frozen European Union funds and dismantle the systemic corruption infrastructure left by Viktor Orbán’s sixteen year administration, according to Katalin Cseh, a Hungarian MP from the Momentum Movement.
Speaking on the programme “World Talks,” Cseh outlined the formidable challenges awaiting the new government following the Tisza Party’s crushing electoral victory. The transition of power has been marred by reports of outgoing officials destroying sensitive documents, particularly those concerning sanctions against Russia, a development Cseh described as deeply concerning though unsurprising given the previous regime’s close ties to Moscow.
Cseh stated that the new prime minister inherits a country where public services and the rule of law have been severely degraded. “He urgently needs to assure the anti-corruption reforms that are needed to bring back to Hungary the EU funds that were frozen due to the previous government’s corruption,” she said. The deadline to secure the release of these funds falls in August, leaving Magyar a narrow legislative window.
However, Cseh expressed confidence that with a supermajority in parliament, the Tisza Party possesses both the political mandate and the legislative tools to enact the necessary judicial and institutional reforms. The alternative, she noted, is a continuation of a system wherein EU monies were funnelled into the pockets of regime aligned oligarchs rather than supporting public services and small businesses.
The transition has been further complicated by the reported destruction of government documentation by officials of the outgoing Fidesz administration. Cseh acknowledged the reports, stating, “This is of course deeply concerning also not very surprising because I am pretty sure that the outgoing administration has a lot that they would love to hide at this point.”
She specifically referenced the conduct of the previous foreign minister, suggesting that the nature of Budapest’s relationship with the Russian dictator’s regime and the sharing of confidential information warranted serious investigation by newly independent judicial authorities. Cseh noted that Magyar himself had previously characterised certain actions by the former foreign minister as potentially amounting to treason warranting a life sentence.
A constitutional standoff also looms with President Tamás Sulyok, a former Fidesz loyalist who has indicated he does not intend to vacate the ceremonial post. Magyar has publicly demanded Sulyok’s resignation, declaring him “unsuitable to embody the unity of the Hungarian nation” and “unworthy to be the guardian of the rule of law in Hungary.”
While acknowledging that the Hungarian presidency holds largely ceremonial powers, Cseh warned that the president retains the ability to exercise a veto over legislation. She expressed hope that Sulyok would respect the overwhelming electoral mandate granted to the new government and refrain from acting with “malicious intent” to impede the legislative agenda.
Looking beyond Hungary’s borders, Cseh predicted a radical shift in the country’s foreign policy orientation. She expressed confidence that Péter Magyar’s government would pivot sharply away from the Kremlin and firmly re anchor Hungary within its Western alliances, namely the European Union and NATO.
This realignment marks a significant departure from the Orbán era, which was characterised by obstructionism within the EU and overt coordination with the Russian dictator’s foreign policy apparatus. The restoration of independent courts, the re establishment of media freedom at the public broadcaster, and the healing of deep societal divisions were all cited by Cseh as foundational tasks for the new administration as it seeks to rebuild Hungary’s international standing and domestic democratic integrity.
Be First to Comment