Historic Transition in Budapest
The pro-European centre-right leader Péter Magyar has officially taken office as Hungary’s prime minister, marking the conclusion of Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure. Magyar’s inauguration ceremony on Saturday was a significant event, during which he invited citizens to join him in "writing Hungarian history" and to "step through the gate of regime change." This ceremony followed a decisive victory by Magyar’s opposition Tisza party in the recent parliamentary elections.
The election result triggered widespread celebration in Budapest and beyond, as Orbán’s populist, nationalist government, which had been regarded by some global far-right groups as a model, was replaced.
From early morning, crowds gathered in the square outside Hungary’s neo-Gothic parliament building to watch the inaugural session broadcast on large screens. The crowd cheered at every sight of Magyar and expressed disapproval of lawmakers from Orbán’s Fidesz party and the far-right Our Homeland party.
Many attendees had traveled long distances to witness the event. Erzsébet Medve, 68, who came from Miskolc in north-eastern Hungary, expressed her emotions:
"This is the first time I feel like it’s good to be Hungarian. I feel like I could cry."
As a schoolteacher, Medve had long been frustrated by the lack of funding in the education system under Orbán’s government, which she believed had sufficient resources but did not allocate them appropriately.
Sitting beside her, Marianna Szűcs shared her hopes for the future:
"Now we feel like our children and grandchildren have a future here."
During her remarks, the crowd erupted in cheers when Ágnes Forsthoffer, the newly elected speaker of the house, announced the reinstatement of the European Union flag at the parliament building, which had been removed by Fidesz in 2014.
Szűcs also revealed personal hardships linked to the previous government, stating that two of her children had emigrated abroad and lost their jobs, apparently due to her criticism of Fidesz. She expressed hope that they would be able to return to Hungary under the new administration.
Election Outcome and Political Shift
The Tisza party’s landslide victory, securing 141 of the 199 parliamentary seats, was a remarkable achievement for Magyar. Until recently, he was a relatively unknown former member of Fidesz’s elite. Magyar emerged publicly in early 2024 after breaking with Fidesz, exposing what he described as a corrupt system where officials expanded their power and wealth at the expense of ordinary citizens.
This new parliament is the first since Hungary’s democratization in 1990 without Viktor Orbán, whose political career evolved from a pro-democracy activist to a Russia-friendly figure admired by the US Maga movement.
Orbán, 62, recently announced plans to reorganize his right-wing populist and nationalist movement following the election defeat.
Magyar, 45, has pledged to use his substantial parliamentary majority to dismantle the structures established by Orbán, who had filled the judiciary, media, and state institutions with loyalists in an effort to transform Hungary into a "petri dish for illiberalism."
Policy Directions and Symbolic Changes
Internationally, Magyar has committed to restoring Hungary’s strained relations with the European Union and collaborating with the bloc to unlock billions in frozen EU funds.
Symbolic gestures underscored this shift during the swearing-in ceremony: multiple anthems were performed to honor Hungary’s EU membership, its significant Roma minority, and ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries. Additionally, Vilmos Kátai-Németh, a lawyer who is visually impaired, was appointed as the country’s first minister with a disability, overseeing social and family affairs. Over a quarter of the new parliamentarians are women, marking a record high in Hungary’s post-communist history.
Since the election, Magyar has taken actions reflecting his commitment to change, describing the previous era as a "two-decade-long nightmare." He has vowed to reform state media, which had served as a mouthpiece for Orbán, requested resignations from Orbán-era appointees, held meetings with EU officials, and returned millions of Hungarian forints donated by an Orbán-linked supporter.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Magyar and his government face significant challenges. Efforts to improve Hungary’s deteriorating public services must contend with a stagnating economy and a budget deficit. The response of Orbán loyalists embedded in the media, academia, and judiciary to the new administration’s reforms remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, the mood on Saturday was jubilant as people from across Hungary gathered to commemorate this pivotal moment. At a Tisza party booth, supporters queued to purchase merchandise, while others waved Hungarian flags.
Although left-of-center and liberal parties will be absent from parliament for the first time since 1990, Budapest’s liberal mayor quickly called for unity to celebrate the end of Fidesz’s dominance and to honor those who resisted the previous regime.
Gergely Karácsony, who had previously allied with Orbán, wrote on social media:
"Teachers fired, civilians and journalists humiliated, small churches torn apart. We can finally leave this era behind us – but first, let us remember the everyday heroes and express our gratitude with a farewell to the system."
