The future Hungarian government has taken advantage of this week’s parliamentary hearings to present a wide-ranging program of political reforms aimed at breaking with the legacy of Viktor Orbán, who has been in power for sixteen years.
Ministers proposed by Péter Magyar have committed, during the mandatory parliamentary hearings, to pursue a more pro-EU economic policy, implement institutional reforms, and strengthen ties with Brussels. All 16 candidates were approved, as expected due to Tisza’s qualified majority in Parliament and corresponding control over votes in committee.
Economic Shift Towards EU
András Kármán, the future Finance Minister, pledged to move away from what he described as the outgoing government’s model based on low wages and foreign investments. He criticized the previous policy of maintaining a weak forint, the Hungarian currency, arguing that it fueled inflation and put pressure on salaries.
Kármán stated that the government would aim for eurozone membership by 2030, introduce a 1% wealth tax for billionaires, and move the annual budget process to the autumn to improve predictability.
István Kapitány, candidate for Minister of Economy and Energy, reinforced the pro-EU message, confirming that Budapest would immediately seek to unlock €10.4 billion in frozen EU funds, while maintaining a pragmatic approach towards Russian energy imports.
“We will use the existing capacities,” Kapitány indicated, adding that Hungary would maintain subsidized energy prices for households while diversifying its sources of supply. He also ruled out any privatization of the energy group MOL.
Redefining Foreign Policy
Anita Orbán, the future Foreign Minister, assured that the new government would seek to rebuild trust with Brussels and repair relations with Poland, which were severely strained under Orbán.
At the same time, she indicated that Budapest would maintain pragmatic relations with China and avoid what she called ideological foreign policy.
Regarding Ukraine, Orbán reiterated support for sovereignty and territorial integrity while emphasizing the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukrainian Transcarpathia, suggesting that the government would not support an accelerated accession process for Kiev to the EU.
Furthermore, the future Minister of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, Bálint Ruff, promised the “largest cleanup in history” of state institutions and announced intentions to establish a National Asset Recovery Bureau by June. He also committed to opening the security files from the communist era that previous governments had kept sealed.
Education and Healthcare Reforms
Judit Lannert, the incoming Education Minister, pledged to reverse several controversial policies implemented under Fidesz, including reinstating teachers fired for participating in civil disobedience demonstrations.
However, she faced criticism over her plans for the “depoliticization” of education, particularly concerning LGBT issues. When asked about future Secretary of State Szilvia Gyurkó, criticized by opponents as a “LGBT propagandist,” Lannert stated she had “never seen a transgender child in kindergarten” and argued that sex education should not be mistaken for propaganda.
In the healthcare field, Zsolt Hegedűs – a former NHS surgeon in the UK known internationally for his dancing talents – presented plans to establish a more transparent healthcare system based on values, with the goal of increasing life expectancy to 80 years by 2035. He also announced that Nobel Prize laureate Katalin Karikó would join his advisory committee.
(cs, bw)
