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 individual who ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure as prime minister, is set to engage with Hungary’s president in a bid to expedite his transition to leadership. Following a decisive election win that swept the ruling Fidesz party from power, the outgoing prime minister has been invited to the meeting, where President Tamás Sulyok is anticipated to formally propose his nomination as the next head of government. Magyar has emphasized his urgency to assume office by early May, a timeline he believes will solidify his authority in the wake of the landslide victory.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has endorsed Magyar, calling him a “good man” despite his former ally’s campaign for Orbán. In a conversation with ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, Trump remarked,

“I think the new man’s going to do a good job,”

adding that he had urged Hungarians to vote for Orbán in the weeks before the election. Magyar, however, has taken a different stance, criticizing state media for perpetuating what he calls propaganda.

Magyar’s political shift began in March 2024, when he left Orbán’s party. Over the following two years, he garnered broad public backing for his Tisza party, which now holds a super-majority of two-thirds in parliament. He has accused Orbán’s allies of seizing control of 70-80% of the media, daily spreading 300 falsehoods and denying his party any state TV appearances. This changed on Wednesday, with Magyar appearing on Kossuth radio and M1 TV, where he outlined his plan to halt their coverage and establish a new authority to safeguard press freedom.

Speaking on Kossuth radio, Magyar declared,

“Every Hungary deserves a public service media that broadcasts the truth,”

stressing that his actions are not driven by personal vendettas. He highlighted the relentless insults his family and himself faced, stating they were subjected to criticism “morning, noon and night.” The interviews, while combative, underscored his belief that the outlets had functioned as propaganda tools.

Hungary’s economic challenges have intensified, prompting Magyar to seek dialogue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He met with her on Tuesday to address the suspension of €17bn in EU funds, a move linked to concerns over the rule of law. Additional €16bn in defense loans remains pending. Von der Leyen urged swift action to restore European values, but Magyar’s focus remains on dismantling Orbán’s policies that transformed the nation into an “electoral autocracy,” according to the European Parliament.

A notable twist is Orbán’s expected role as caretaker prime minister during the EU’s informal summit in Cyprus from 23 to 34 April. Despite his electoral defeat, he is likely to retain influence, particularly regarding the veto on €90bn in Ukraine aid. Magyar dismisses the veto’s significance, noting Hungary was among three nations that excluded the loan in December. The exact method for lifting the veto remains unclear, and Orbán’s involvement in the process is uncertain.

Orbán, who has remained largely silent since the election, posted a message on Facebook to signal his intent to rebuild his political base. He wrote,

“The work begins. Let’s reorganise ourselves and keep fighting for the Hungarian people!”

This statement hints at his strategy to regroup and challenge Magyar’s vision for the country’s future.