Hungarian prime minister-designate Peter Magyar called on President Tamas Sulyok to step down from office at his first international press conference on April 12, saying the Tisza Party would otherwise find a way to remove him. He stressed that the new government would restore the rule of law without resorting to unlawful measures.

Magyar said voters had delivered a "clear, decisive mandate for systemic change," arguing that Hungary had been governed by a "state-party system" and that the new government would restore democratic checks and balances, accountability and the rule of law. He pledged that the Tisza government would represent all Hungarians, regardless of how they voted, both domestically and abroad.

He urged Sulyok to convene the inaugural session of the new parliament at the earliest possible date, rather than waiting until the maximum legal deadline of May 12. Sulyok took office two years ago, following the resignation of Katalin Novak after the clemency scandal that brought Magyar into public life. The president released a statement in the afternoon, saying he expects the leaders of the three parties in the new parliament, Tisza, Fidesz and Our Homeland, to consult in his office.

Speaking at a Hungexpo congress hall in Budapest on April 13, he said the transition process should be completed as quickly as possible, arguing that Hungary is in a difficult situation and cannot afford delays.

Answering a question, he said Sulyok must go because Hungarians voted for regime change and the president had acted as a “puppet” of outgoing Prime Minister and Fidesz leader Viktor Orban, signing off on everything “from the menu to the constitution”.

Magyar said the election result represents a historic mandate for systemic change, adding that the country had “stood up for itself under extraordinary circumstances” against a regime that used propaganda and intelligence services against the opposition.

“We are going to build a country that restores checks and balances, strengthens national minimum standards, safeguards public funds, and ends division in order to unite the nation.

Hungarians voted not only against Orban, but against the entire political elite, including satellite parties and those who, in Magyar's view, have taken the country hostage. Magyar said he expects loyalists entrenched in key positions, such as the president of the Kuria (Hungary’s highest court), the head of the Constitutional Court, the president of the republic, the head of the Competition Authority and the media regulator, to step down. These officials were effectively "cemented in place" to obstruct the work of future governments, which is counter to the rule of law, and their removal may need to be enforced if they refuse to step down, he noted. 

Magyar also set out a broad anti-corruption agenda, including Budapest's immediate accession to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the establishment of a new National Asset Recovery and Protection Authority, tasked with investigating alleged misuse of public funds and recovering illicit wealth. He said this body would examine a wide range of state contracts and transactions, including infrastructure concessions, procurement deals, and major state asset transfers.

Magyar confirmed that he had already talked with the president of the European Commission later on April 13 regarding the release of EU funds, calling this one of the government’s most urgent priorities. He stressed that Hungary’s place is “in Europe”, noting that voters had reaffirmed this direction exactly 23 years after the country’s EU accession referendum.

He reiterated his commitment to rapid government formation and immediate action, including addressing economic and institutional challenges.

According to Magyar, the budget must be revised, as it already “collapsed twice” in 2025, with a significant first-quarter deficit. “The world has watched as Orban indebted his country, but it was the task of the Hungarian people to create a new system,” he said.

Magyar said he seeks cooperation with central bank governor Varga Mihály, warning against steps that could destabilise markets and emphasising the need for coordination between fiscal and monetary policy. Analysts recalled the markets reacted positively to Magyar’s remarks.

The forint gained 3% to 363 against the euro, its strongest level in four years, while against the dollar, it gained 6 units to 314.

The politician said that the timing for adopting the euro would be decided after consultations, with possible dates around 2030 or 2031, though this remains uncertain. He added that his government would await expert assessments and also take into account the condition of the state budget.

He confirmed plans to introduce a two-term limit for the prime minister, which would also apply to Orban, meaning that Hungary's longest-serving prime minister would not be able to serve a sixth term.

The party pledged anti-corruption measures, including Hungary’s accession to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the establishment of a National Asset Recovery Authority to recover illicit wealth. The government would also levy a tax on billionaires.

On the structure of government, Magyar said a new Tisza administration would establish separate ministries for health, education, the environment and rural development, alongside a standalone finance ministry. Foreign and economic affairs would be merged, a separate Prime Minister’s Office would be created, and intelligence agencies would be reassigned to their former ministries.

Tisza said it would prioritise the recovery of suspended EU funds, which remain conditional on rule-of-law reforms. Analysts note that billions of euros in cohesion and recovery funding are at stake.

Magyar also alleged that outgoing Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was destroying documents related to EU sanctions at the foreign ministry headquarters. Referring to a note he received during the press conference, he said: “They are shredding documents like in the communist era.”

He announced plans to open historical secret-service files and to launch a national reconciliation initiative aimed at political and social healing.

Magyar also stated that Hungary would remain committed to NATO and the European Union, describing them as the country’s key alliances, while emphasising a more pragmatic and interest-based approach to international relations.

Debates will be inevitable, but Tisza's aim is not to "fight for the sake of fighting" or to portray Brussels as an enemy for political messaging, he said.

The prime minister-designate said Hungary’s energy policy would prioritise diversification of supply sources, particularly Russian oil, while maintaining energy security and cost efficiency as key objectives. Hungary would pursue pragmatic ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting the country’s geographic and energy constraints. Existing contracts, including the Paks 2 nuclear project, will be reviewed.

He stressed that Hungary’s geographic position makes complete disengagement impossible, adding that diversification does not necessarily entail an immediate break with existing suppliers. Instead, the aim is to ensure the most secure and affordable energy procurement.

Magyar pointed to geopolitical risks affecting supply routes and said reducing dependency on single sources was in Hungary’s interest. He also expressed hope for an end to the war in Ukraine, arguing that this could lead to a gradual easing of EU sanctions, which he said would boost European competitiveness. Hungary should balance human rights considerations with economic realities, warning against measures that could harm the country’s own security or economy, he added.

On security policy, he said Russia represents a clear risk based on historical experience.

Magyr confirmed that his first trip would lead to Warsaw, then to Vienna, and then to Brussels.

Hungary would not serve as a refuge for internationally wanted criminals, in connection with asylum cases involving former PiS officials, Marcin Romanowski and Zbigniew Ziobro. He stressed the principle of mutual legal assistance within the EU, saying Hungary expects other countries to extradite Hungarian suspects in line with international law. He also said the same standards should apply to all member states.

He argued that Hungary should retain this opt-out of from EU’s €90bn financial assistance package, citing the country’s difficult financial situation, and stressed the importance of restoring EU funding flows, which he claimed Hungary is still owed compared to other member states.

Magyar said Tisza does not support the fast-track EU accession of Ukraine, stressing that all member states must meet accession criteria. He added that Ukraine is the victim of the war and that no external actor has the right to dictate peace terms or territorial concessions, indirectly criticising pressure linked to US President Donald Trump.

Hungary will seek cooperation with neighbouring countries while protecting ethnic Hungarian minorities abroad. Support for ethnic Hungarians abroad will continue, but funds will be distributed transparently under a Tisza government. Magyar stressed the importance of stable relations with Serbia and expressed openness to cooperation with President Aleksandar Vučić, while pledging not to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. He added that the government would investigate what he described as a false-flag operation near the Serbian border during Easter.

Hungary would be a reliable and constructive partner within the EU and with allies such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

Budapest would rejoin the International Criminal Court after the current withdrawal process is completed in June, and Magyar reaffirmed zero tolerance for antisemitism.

Magyar said European leaders must address the root causes behind the rise of political extremes rather than applying superficial solutions, citing National Rally as an example.

He also said the state would stop funding politically linked institutions such as the Mathias Corvinus Collegium and events like CPAC Hungary, adding that past funding practices could be investigated.

At the start of his briefing, Magyar said the party could expand its parliamentary mandate from 138 seats, already five above the supermajority threshold, by a further 3-4 seats, as votes from Hungarians abroad may still swing certain constituencies in its favour where Fidesz is leading with small margins.