Hungarian opposition leader calls for presidents resignation and media overhaul

Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar has announced plans to form a new government by mid-May, with a focus on overhauling state media and addressing pressing economic challenges.

Magyar’s Tisza (Respect and Freedom) party won the recent election, ending 16 years of right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s rule. In an interview with state media outlets, Magyar stated that one of his first acts in government would be to suspend public media news broadcasts.

During a rare appearance on state television, Magyar clashed with anchors he accused of biased coverage. He later described the interview as witnessing “the last days of a propaganda machine.” Magyar also made a Facebook post, stating that employees of public broadcaster MTVA had worked under intimidation and political terror.

Magyar met with President Tamas Sulyok at the Alexander Palace in Budapest and demanded his resignation, citing Sulyok’s perceived failure to embody the unity of the Hungarian nation. The new government will face significant economic challenges, including a blocked €16 billion EU COVID-19 pandemic recovery funding package.

Magyar has agreed to begin informal consultations with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the formal constitution of the government in May. He outlined four priority reform areas: anti-corruption measures, restoring judicial independence, rebuilding media and academic freedoms, and addressing concerns related to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Analysts note that the reform path will be complicated due to entrenched opposition from Orban loyalists across key public institutions.

Source: Al Jazeera