Magyar to meet Hungarian president as Trump says next PM ‘a good man’
Magyar to meet Hungarian president as Trump says next PM ‘a good man’
Péter Magyar, the leader who challenged Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule, is set to engage with Hungary’s president in an effort to expedite his transition to power following Sunday’s decisive election win. President Tamás Sulyok, who has rejected Magyar’s call to resign, is anticipated to name him as the successor. Magyar’s party, Tisza, has gained momentum over two years, securing a parliamentary majority of two-thirds in the recent vote.
Magyar’s public appearances on state media platforms resumed on Wednesday, a significant shift from his earlier criticism of their coverage. During the broadcasts, he declared his plan to halt their news output and establish a new regulatory body to guarantee press freedom. “Every Hungary deserves a public service media that broadcasts the truth,” he stated to Kossuth radio, emphasizing his goal was not personal retaliation despite frequent insults from the media.
“I think the new man’s going to do a good job,” said Donald Trump, addressing ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl. The U.S. president had previously encouraged Hungarians to vote for Orbán, his close ally, but now praised Magyar as “a good man” for his role in challenging the incumbent.
The outgoing prime minister was also invited to the meeting, signaling potential collaboration between the old and new leadership. Magyar broke from Orbán’s Fidesz party in March 2024, rallying broad public backing for his campaign. His efforts led to the downfall of Orbán’s government, which had dominated Hungarian politics for over a decade.
Magyar accused Orbán’s allies of controlling 70-80% of the media, spewing 300 daily lies and denying his party airtime on state TV. However, this changed on Wednesday, with Kossuth radio and M1 TV providing him a platform. In his remarks, he condemned the outlets for spreading propaganda and outlined his vision for a more independent media system.
Hungary’s economy has stagnated under Orbán’s leadership, prompting Magyar to engage with Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, to unlock frozen EU funds. An estimated €17bn has been withheld due to rule-of-law concerns, while an additional €16bn in defense loans remains pending. EU leaders are pressing for reforms, particularly after Orbán’s veto on €90bn in Ukraine aid.
Interestingly, Orbán is expected to serve as interim prime minister during an upcoming EU summit in Cyprus. Despite his electoral loss, he has yet to publicly address the outcome, instead posting a message on Facebook: “The work begins. Let’s reorganise ourselves and keep fighting for the Hungarian people!” His party, he claims, will rebuild its strength in the coming months.