Key facts
- Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar's government is facing criticism from European far-right leaders over its campaign to dismantle the previous political system.
- The European Commission, however, supports Magyar's government, viewing it as pro-European and committed to anti-corruption reforms.
- Key figures from the previous Orbán era, including the President and Prosecutor General, have resigned.
- Fidesz, the former ruling party, claims its headquarters were raided and servers confiscated as part of a politically motivated effort to suppress the opposition.
- The Commission plans to release €16.4 billion in EU recovery funds to Hungary in exchange for reforms.
European far-right leaders have voiced strong criticism regarding the political developments in Hungary under Prime Minister Péter Magyar, warning of a decline in democratic principles. However, the European Commission has maintained a supportive stance, considering Magyar's government to be pro-European and focused on implementing anti-corruption and transparency reforms.
Magyar, who came to power after the April parliamentary election, has initiated a campaign named "Purgatorium" aimed at dismantling the political structures established by his predecessor, Viktor Orbán. This campaign has led to significant figures from the Orbán era stepping down. President Tamás Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment that concluded his own term, and Prosecutor General Gábor Bálint Nagy resigned due to perceived political pressure.
Adding to the tension, prosecutors raided the headquarters of Fidesz, Orbán's party, confiscating servers and disrupting its communications. While the raid is linked to a corruption investigation into the misuse of cultural grants for election campaigns, Fidesz has alleged it is part of a broader effort to eliminate the party. Viktor Orbán described the situation as the establishment of a "political authoritarian system," with Balázs Orbán, a Fidesz MP, calling the raid politically motivated and the corruption case itself a fabrication.
Magyar has asserted that his government is not interfering with the investigation, which he maintains is operating independently. Prosecutors confirmed the raid is part of a probe into suspected fraud and other criminal activities. Dániel Hegedűs, deputy director of the Institut für Europäische Politik, noted that addressing corruption was a central promise of Magyar's Tisza party, suggesting further investigations are likely.
Political allies of Orbán within the European Parliament's right wing, particularly from the Patriots for Europe group, have echoed these concerns. Approximately 50 MEPs have urged the European Commission to investigate Hungary's democratic standing, questioning the Commission's silence on alleged violations of European constitutional principles, including objections to the constitutional amendment that imposes age limits for judges and term limits for MPs and the prime minister.
Matteo Salvini and Marine Le Pen have publicly criticized Magyar and the European Commission, with Salvini stating that "if democracy is bent to strike at the opposition, it is no longer democracy" and questioning the "deafening silence from Brussels." Le Pen accused Magyar of disregarding democratic norms with the Commission's apparent protection.
The European Commission has not directly addressed these complaints, citing the ongoing criminal investigation. However, Commissioner Michael McGrath has positively commented on Hungary's rule-of-law reforms, stating that "In Hungary more generally, we see some very positive trends." While he deferred specific questions about the presidential change pending a Venice Commission report, he previously indicated in an interview that personnel changes are "inevitable" during significant political shifts, emphasizing the importance of due process and respect for citizens' rights. Hegedűs concurred that removing political appointees is often necessary in such redemocratization phases, though he expressed concern about a proposed 12-year limit on parliamentary terms, viewing it as a potential infringement on the right to be elected.