Péter Magyar, a pro-European centre-right leader, has been officially sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister, marking the conclusion of Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure in power. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Saturday and was preceded by a month of anticipation following Magyar’s Tisza party winning a landslide victory in parliamentary elections.

Magyar’s Vision for a New Hungary

During the ceremony, Magyar invited citizens to join him in “writing Hungarian history” and “stepping through the gate of administration change.” The new prime minister emphasized the long and bumpy road ahead for the nation. He assured the crowd of supporters outside parliament that Hungarians could finally rejoice and that “today, every freedom-loving person in the world wants to be a little Hungarian.”

Magyar also praised the citizens for their role in defeating what he described as “the most vicious tyranny.” He added, “You have taught the country and the world that it is the most ordinary, flesh-and-blood people that can defeat the most vicious tyranny,” to which the crowd responded with roaring applause.

Orbán’s Legacy and Magyar’s Promises

Magyar told parliament that under Orbán’s leadership, Hungary had become the most corrupt country in the EU. He stated, “Orbán’s associates and the elite have a long way to go until they are confronted with what they have done,” and vowed to seek justice against those who had attempted to “steal everything” even in the final hours of the previous administration.

The new prime minister reiterated his earlier calls for Orbán-era appointees to resign, asking them to do so by the end of the month. He specifically named Tamás Sulyok, the president who had recently nominated him to form a government, as the first to step down. The crowd outside parliament roared their approval at this statement.

Public Response and Hope for the Future

Outside the parliament, the crowd was filled with hope and joy. Many had traveled hours to attend the ceremony. Erzsébet Medve, 68, who had come from Miskolc, said, “This is the first time I feel like it’s good to be Hungarian.” Medve, a school teacher, had long been frustrated by the lack of funding for the education system under the previous government.

Sitting next to Medve, Marianna Szűcs, 70, expressed her hope for a more livable country. She said, “Now we feel like our children and grandchildren have a future here.” Szűcs mentioned that two of her children had moved abroad after losing their jobs, seemingly due to her criticisms of the Fidesz government.

As the inaugural session was broadcast on large screens, the crowd cheered at each glimpse of Magyar, while some booed lawmakers from Fidesz and the extreme right Our Homeland party. The return of the EU flag to the parliament building after it was taken down by Fidesz in 2014 was met with loud cheers from the crowd.

Magar’s Tisza party won 141 seats in the 199-seat parliament, a result that stunned many as Magyar was previously an unknown figure in the political setting. He had gained attention in early 2024 after turning against Fidesz and exposing the inner workings of what he described as a “rotten” system.

Magyar has vowed to use his large majority to undo the systems built by Orbán, who had stacked the judiciary, media, and state with loyalists to create a “petri dish for illiberalism.” Magyar also plans to rebuild Hungary’s relationship with the EU and work with the bloc to uncover billions in frozen EU funds.