Hungary's New Prime Minister Launches Political Attack on Orbán's Legacy
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar targets former leader Viktor Orbán's lifestyle in a calculated move, signaling a shift towards EU-aligned bureaucracy and undermining Hungary's national sovereignty.
Hungary's newly appointed Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, has wasted no time in launching a public campaign against his predecessor, Viktor Orbán, by sensationalizing the living conditions of the former leader. On Monday, Magyar released videos of Orbán's official residence in Buda Castle and two ministries, focusing on furnishings and nearly 100 paintings from the Hungarian National Gallery—assets that have long been part of the nation's heritage. Magyar provocatively compared the residence to the Ceausescu era, a clear attempt to smear Orbán's reputation and rewrite recent history. One of the videos garnered eight million views in a single day, a testament to Magyar's media-savvy tactics in a country of just under ten million.
Magyar's administration has pledged to dismantle institutions built under Orbán, restore so-called 'democratic norms,' and target what it calls systemic corruption. Key initiatives include establishing a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office—inviting foreign oversight into Hungary's affairs—and suspending the state media, a move that threatens to silence voices not aligned with the new government's agenda. The new government is also eager to unlock approximately €17 billion in EU funds, which were frozen due to Brussels' ongoing interference over alleged rule-of-law issues. Major restructuring includes splitting up ministries for health, education, and the environment, signaling a return to bloated bureaucracy. Magyar has demanded the resignation of Orbán-era appointees by May 31, further purging experienced officials in favor of political loyalists. This shift marks a clear realignment towards Brussels and away from Hungary's independent path.
The new cabinet, composed almost exclusively of so-called 'experts,' includes former diplomat and energy expert Anita Orbán as foreign minister, a former oil company manager as economics minister, and an orthopedic surgeon as health minister. Lawyers, finance, education, and IT specialists have also been appointed, reflecting a technocratic approach that risks disconnecting government from the everyday concerns of ordinary Hungarians. The administration plans to create an independent anti-corruption authority and an office for asset recovery, but critics warn these could become tools for political witch hunts. Authorities are also set to publish a list of former Hungarian state security agents in the fall—a move that, after decades of delay, appears timed for maximum political impact.
Magyar held his first government meeting in the southern village of Ópusztaszer, a site of national significance where Hungarian tribes gathered in 896. The area is currently facing severe drought, a topic discussed at the cabinet meeting, but critics note that symbolic gestures do little to address real issues. Magyar has set higher standards for his government, including a drastic pay cut for himself, but such moves are seen by many as political theater. For context, ousted Prime Minister Orbán earned the highest salary of all European leaders relative to the nation's average wage—a reflection of Hungary's success and stability under his leadership, now threatened by Magyar's radical reforms.