Peter Magyar. Photo: Collected

BUDAPEST, May 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Pro-European conservative Peter Magyar is 
to be sworn in as Hungary's prime minister on Saturday as he promises "regime 
change" after nationalist Viktor Orban's 16 years in power.

The former government-insider-turned-critic scored a landslide victory last 
month pledging wide-ranging reforms to fight corruption.

Magyar, 45, also wants to undo changes Orban -- who fostered close ties with 
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- made to 
institutions to control the judiciary, media, academia and other sectors.

Magyar's Tisza party won 141 of parliament's 199 seats in the April 12 
election, a comfortable two-thirds majority enabling it to change the 
constitution and push through key reforms.

As one of his most urgent tasks, Magyar is trying to unlock billions of euros 
in EU funds locked by Brussels over rule-of-law concerns.

Magyar will take the oath of office during parliament's inaugural session, 
opening at 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) and will be live-streamed on large screens 
set up around the parliamentary building.

Lawmakers are expected to elect Magyar as prime minister in the afternoon and 
he is then expected to address supporters outside parliament.

- High expectations -

Last week, Magyar met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for 
talks.

Hungary faces serious challenges, including a stagnating economy and falling 
public services, which analysts say need long-term structural reorganisation.

"There is a lot of patience and goodwill toward the new government, but the 
expectations are through the roof and need to be met in the short-term as 
well," Andrea Virag, director of strategy at the liberal Republikon Institute 
think tank, told AFP.

Magyar has urged the president and other Orban allies to resign as part of 
his "regime change". He has also called on the authorities to stop Orban's 
associates from moving capital abroad.

Orban said last month that he would not sit in parliament -- giving up the 
seat he won -- for the first time since the country's democratisation in 
1990.

The 62-year-old, who aimed to turn the country of 9.5 million into a model of 
"illiberal democracy" and widely restricted rights, has said he would focus 
on the "reorganisation of the national camp".

- 'Reconciliation' -

On Saturday, lawmakers are set to elect hotelier Agnes Forsthoffer as 
parliament speaker, one of the many women Tisza has tapped for senior roles.

As the new ruling party pushes to deliver a more diverse representation than 
Orban's coalition, nominations also include lawyer Vilmos Katai-Nemeth as 
social and family affairs minister -- Hungary's first?ever visually impaired 
minister. Roma history teacher Krisztian Koszegi would become deputy 
parliament speaker.

Saturday's festivities outside and inside parliament are laden with 
symbolism, featuring flags and music that pays tribute to Hungary's EU 
membership, its sizeable Roma minority and ethnic Hungarians in neighbouring 
countries.

"Magyar seeks to show that he represents a form of national unity and 
reconciliation after Orban's politics of division," Virag said.

"With the festivities he also wants to show that it was not a mere change of 
government, but a start of a new era," she added.

Left?of?centre and liberal parties will be absent from parliament for the 
first time since 1990.