Péter Magyar and his victorious Tisza party have wasted no time preparing for the transfer of power in Hungary after their dramatic landslide defeat of Viktor Orbán last Sunday. They won 52% of the vote to put an end to his party's 16 years of continuous rule, which translates into 141 seats in the 199-seat National Assembly. Orbán's Fidesz have slumped from 135 to 52 seats.
The count will be finalized on Saturday—including recounts in closely tied constituencies and votes cast abroad. Magyar has won a pledge from President Tamás Sulyok to bring forward the formation of the new parliament to the week beginning May 4, allowing parliament to then elect the new government.
He has also given combative interviews to public service TV and radio, which have largely ignored or attacked him for the past two years. He has promised to pass laws to suspend their news programs until impartial editors can be appointed.
Armed with a so-called super-majority of more than two-thirds of seats in parliament, he plans to limit the number of terms a prime minister can serve to two. Viktor Orbán has already served five. If that goes through, Magyar could slam the door on Orbán's return.
It was not until late on Thursday that Orbán broke his silence, stating, 'This is the end of an era. We must bear this defeat with dignity.'
Rumors of imminent arrests for corruption swirl around Budapest, with Magyar leading the call for accountability. With public sentiment shifting rapidly against Fidesz, the task ahead for the incoming Tisza leaders is to restore integrity and transparency in Hungary's governance.
The count will be finalized on Saturday—including recounts in closely tied constituencies and votes cast abroad. Magyar has won a pledge from President Tamás Sulyok to bring forward the formation of the new parliament to the week beginning May 4, allowing parliament to then elect the new government.
He has also given combative interviews to public service TV and radio, which have largely ignored or attacked him for the past two years. He has promised to pass laws to suspend their news programs until impartial editors can be appointed.
Armed with a so-called super-majority of more than two-thirds of seats in parliament, he plans to limit the number of terms a prime minister can serve to two. Viktor Orbán has already served five. If that goes through, Magyar could slam the door on Orbán's return.
It was not until late on Thursday that Orbán broke his silence, stating, 'This is the end of an era. We must bear this defeat with dignity.'
Rumors of imminent arrests for corruption swirl around Budapest, with Magyar leading the call for accountability. With public sentiment shifting rapidly against Fidesz, the task ahead for the incoming Tisza leaders is to restore integrity and transparency in Hungary's governance.
