Péter Magyar vows to pursue those who ‘plundered’ Hungary, after election win

Lead

Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect, Péter Magyar, has pledged to pursue those who “plundered, looted, betrayed, indebted and ruined” his country, promising “a new era” after a landslide election victory over his far-right predecessor Viktor Orbán, as reported by The Guardian.

Magyar, whose centre-right Tisza party won at least 138 of the 199 seats in parliament, said the full election results should be confirmed by 4 May and he hoped his government could be installed the next day.

“Our country has no time to waste,” he said during a wide-ranging press conference on Monday, according to The Guardian. “We will do everything in our power to ensure this truly marks the beginning of a new era ... The Hungarian people didn’t vote for a simple change of government, but for a complete change of regime.”

Coverage comparison

Coverage of Magyar’s victory and his subsequent statements has focused on his anti-corruption agenda and the implications of his supermajority. The Guardian’s report emphasizes the end of Orbán’s rule and the beginning of a new era, while TASS, the Russian state news agency, highlights Magyar’s specific plans for a special government agency to fight corruption. Both outlets carry similar quotes from Magyar, though their framing differs: The Guardian is critical of Orbán’s legacy, while TASS maintains a neutral tone.

Key claims

Magyar’s plans include establishing a national assets recovery agency, as reported by both The Guardian and TASS. According to TASS, Magyar said the agency would employ “the best lawyers and investigators” and that he promised they will succeed. The Guardian also reports that Magyar announced the creation of such a body, aiming to ensure that “political and economic criminals” who “stole from the country” are held to account.

Magyar has also vowed to restore the independence of the judiciary. TASS quotes him as saying he relies on the help of the judiciary, which “must become independent again rather than remain under government control.” The Guardian similarly reports that his government would “restore the independence of the judiciary and ensure freedom of the media.”

In addition, according to The Guardian, Magyar’s government plans to join the European public prosecutor’s office and to amend the constitution to limit the prime minister’s term. These claims are not mentioned in the TASS report and have not been independently verified.

Magyar’s Tisza party made anti-corruption efforts a central issue of its campaign, according to TASS, accusing the current prime minister and his close circle of using government funds for personal enrichment.

Perspectives

The Guardian’s report places Magyar’s victory in the context of Orbán’s 16 years in power, describing how his four successive governments “comprehensively eroded the rule of law” and “packed the courts with judges loyal to him.” The Guardian also notes that Hungary’s EU funds have been blocked due to Orbán’s policies, a claim that appears in that outlet’s report but has not been independently confirmed.

According to The Guardian, EU leaders have reacted enthusiastically to Magyar’s victory. The report also mentions that both US President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin backed Orbán.

Magyar, a former Orbán loyalist, has expressed readiness to work with Orbán, who will remain a member of parliament. TASS quotes him as saying that Orbán had congratulated him by phone and that they had discussed the prime minister’s responsibility to the people. “I also told him that we will now share responsibility for reuniting our beloved Hungary,” Magyar said, as reported by TASS.