A long political era under Viktor Orbán has come to an end in Hungary. At the first session of the newly elected parliament, 45-year-old leader of the Tisza Party, Peter Magyar, was elected Prime Minister of the country. His candidacy was supported by 140 lawmakers, marking a major shift in both Hungary’s domestic and foreign policy.

Immediately after taking office, the flag of the European Union was returned to the Hungarian Parliament building after being absent for many years. Newly elected Speaker of Parliament Ágnes Forsthoffer called the gesture the first symbolic step toward Hungary’s return to the European family.

In his inaugural speech, Peter Magyar stated that he intended not to “rule,” but to “serve his country.” His main priorities include fighting corruption through the creation of an independent body to investigate past abuses, deeply reforming the healthcare and education systems, and restoring the rule of law in order to rebuild trust with EU and NATO partners.

Magyar’s election prompted a swift reaction in Brussels and Kyiv. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen described the changes in Hungary as a strong signal in difficult times. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also congratulated the new head of government and expressed readiness to build strong neighborly relations.

The first steps of the new cabinet have already confirmed the change in political direction. Following Magyar’s victory, Hungary lifted its veto on a new large-scale European Union loan package for Ukraine and supported another round of sanctions.

Peter Magyar is a professional lawyer and charismatic speaker who rapidly emerged on the political scene in early 2024. His Tisza Party secured more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament by offering voters a broad reform agenda focused on reducing poverty and strengthening social policy.

Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had led the government continuously for 16 years, did not attend the parliamentary session. Earlier, he had officially declined to take up his parliamentary mandate.

ORIENT