Magyar Prepares Sweeping Reforms In Hungary
- 14.04.2026, 12:04
The number one priority has been named.
Hungarian election winner Peter Magyar is working out a sweeping deal to try to repair Budapest's relationship with the EU, which has collapsed during Prime Minister Viktor Orban's 16 years in power. In doing so, writes Politico, Magyar knows exactly what he wants from Brussels, and Brussels knows what it expects from Budapest.
The number one priority for Magyar's new government is to unlock 18 billion euros in EU funds frozen because of Orban's deviation from democratic principles. He also wants access to an estimated 16 billion euros in European defense loans and the elimination of the 1 million euro per day fine imposed on Hungary for violating migration laws.
But Brussels won't just hand out goodies to the new leader, and Magyar has many hurdles to overcome to get those funds and prove he is serious about reforming the country. In addition, Brussels has its own high-level political priorities that Magyar must fulfill.
A key political goal for Brussels is for Hungary to end its veto of a vital €90 billion EU loan to Kiev and support a new package of EU sanctions against Russia. The European Commission also wants Hungary to drop its resistance to the start of formal negotiations on Ukraine's EU accession.
Magyar is prepared to act quickly, as it will lose a significant amount of EU funds if it fails to implement necessary rule of law reforms by August.
Willingness to compromise
On his first full day as prime minister, Magyar said he would seek "compromises" at the EU level and that he wanted to "simplify the decision-making process."
He immediately made it clear that he would not obstruct the EU's 90 billion euro loan to Kiev.
He emphasized that he now has a decisive two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament, which would allow him to introduce sweeping judicial reforms in line with EU rules and unfreeze Hungarian funds. He also made clear that he wanted to stay away from Moscow, and that while he opposed accelerated EU accession for Ukraine, his government would "help countries that are ready to join, not make them wait in line."
At the same time, Magyar's statement that Hungary still wants to buy Russian oil was less acceptable to the EU, although he acknowledged that sanctions should remain in place. He also did not answer a question on whether he would support the EU's 20th package of sanctions against Moscow.
Ukraine is a sensitive topic for Hungarian diplomats given the strong anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Hungary, but diplomats are confident that a compromise can be reached.
With time limited
Magyar urged the Hungarian president to postpone the inauguration of the new parliament from May 12 to May 5, allowing him to present a formal package of measures that meets Brussels' demands.
Hungary is under investigation under Article 7 of the EU treaties, the first step toward suspending voting rights for rule of law violations. The next hearing, at which ministers from 26 other countries will assess Budapest's position, is scheduled for the end of May.