Magyar vows ‘new era’ in Hungary
Budapest, HUNGARY—Within hours of becoming Hungary’s prime minister-elect, Peter Magyar pledged on Monday to usher in a “new era” after defeating longtime nationalist leader Viktor Orban in an election seen as a blow to hard-right populism.
Orban, a self-described “thorn” in the European Union’s side, who was backed by US President Donald Trump and maintained close ties to Moscow, was ousted in Sunday’s ballot after 16 years in power.
Hungarians fed up with corruption handed the conservative Tisza party of former government insider Magyar a decisive victory, with a two thirds majority in parliament. The vote saw a record turnout and Magyar’s achievement received widespread international praise.
‘Illiberal democracy’
Magyar, 45, said he would do “everything in our power” to ensure the “beginning of a new era.” Hungarians “didn’t vote for a mere change of government, but for a complete regime change,” he declared.
He began by promising on Monday to limit the prime minister’s mandate to two terms, “a total of eight years” or half the time that Orban had spent at the helm.
In power since 2010, Orban has transformed the central European country of 9.5 million people into a model of “illiberal democracy,” making wide-ranging reforms that restricted civil rights and the independence of the judiciary, media and academia.
Orban, 62, frequently clashed with Brussels, which has frozen billions of euros in funds over rule-of-law concerns.
Magyar said he was “willing to take on” reforms, including antigraft measures, to seek to unlock the funds.
‘No time to waste’
He urged President Tamas Sulyok, an Orban ally, to convene parliament “as soon as possible.”
The president has 30 days, until May 12, to call a session. And Sulyok said he had invited party leaders to a meeting on Wednesday.
“Our country has no time to waste. Hungary is in trouble in every respect. It has been plundered, looted, betrayed, indebted and ruined,” Magyar told reporters.
Many EU leaders welcomed Magyar’s win. The Kremlin said it hoped for “pragmatic” relations with Hungary’s new government, while China—which Orban also courted—congratulated Magyar.
Magyar thanked Moscow and Beijing for “being open to pragmatic cooperation, just as Hungary is.”
Orban conceded defeat on Sunday, saying the message was “painful but unambiguous.”
Magyar was a long-standing supporter of Orban and his Fidesz party before becoming his most serious challenger.
He stepped into front-line politics just two years ago, promising to fight corruption and offering better public services.
He garnered support against a backdrop of economic stagnation and despite an electoral system skewed in favor of Orban’s Fidesz.
