The Guardian: Peter Magyar’s government launches sweeping changes in Hungary
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, after taking office in May, launched a sweeping program of political changes in the country, The Guardian World writes. In an editorial, the publication calls these steps Hungary’s most extensive transformation since the fall of communism in 1989.
The editorial’s authors describe the system built by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as a “soft autocracy” based on corruption that affected various areas of life in the country. This is The Guardian’s assessment.
New president and state television
Last week, András Baka, the former president of the country’s supreme court, took office as Hungary’s president. This happened after the dismissal of Tamás Sulyok, whom Magyar had accused of approving the weakening of the rule of law. Baka was previously removed from office under Orbán’s rule; the European Court of Human Rights found that removal unlawful.
On Hungary’s national day, which fell last Thursday, news broadcasts resumed on the main state television channel after a six-week break. In July, viewers saw a blank screen with the message: “Public media must not lie. We are sorry that we did so for so long.” Ending the overt bias of state television was one of Magyar’s campaign promises, the publication notes.
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Anti-corruption measures and EU funds
According to The Guardian’s assessment, more than €100 billion may have been siphoned from public funds, including European Union funds, during Orbán’s years in power. Investigators were granted powers to trace such assets through the new National Asset Recovery and Protection Office.
Magyar also confirmed Hungary’s participation in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which, according to the publication, is expected to help the EU protect its financial interests in the country. Brussels gave the Hungarian government until the end of the month to demonstrate that its anti-corruption measures are sufficient to unlock more than €10 billion in frozen funds.
In May, Magyar moved the prime minister’s office from the former Carmelite monastery used by Orbán and opened the building to visitors. At the same time, The Guardian notes that concerns were raised about constitutional maneuvers that could prevent some lawmakers from the Fidesz party from running for office again.
