Hungary's Incoming PM Peter Magyar Seeks EU Support, Looks to Reset Post-Orban Era
In an effort to thaw the icy relationship between Hungary and the European Union (EU), Hungary's incoming Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, has travelled to Brussels even before taking office. His mission is to unlock approximately €10 billion in frozen EU funds, a fallout of his predecessor Viktor Orban's controversial rule.
Pioneering a Post-Orban Era
Magyar met with Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President, as part of a high-stakes visit to reset Hungary's relations with the EU. His Tisza party scored a landslide victory in the recent elections, signifying an end to Orban's long-standing rule. The move is seen as a significant step towards playing the European game
again and turning a new page in the country's political history.
According to Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera English, Magyar is keen to unfreeze the EU funds before the August deadline. Le Monde reported that these funds, amounting to €17 billion, were frozen due to Orban's violations of the rule of law. This is in addition to €16 billion aimed at helping Hungary rearm. BBC News quoted Magyar assuring that these funds would be paid out soon.
Challenges Ahead and the Energy Quandary
While Magyar's visit to Brussels signals a departure from Orban's contentious policies, his energy plan for Hungary has been criticized. The Kyiv Independent highlighted that Magyar's proposal to end Hungary's reliance on Russian fossil fuels lacks urgency and risks perpetuating Orban's legacy. Magyar’s party has set a deadline of 2035 to achieve this goal.
Societal Changes and Democratic Transition
In addition to the financial and energy issues, Magyar's regime also seems to signal a shift in societal norms. According to Russia Today, an application to register Hungary's first-ever LGBTQ-themed TV channel was filed immediately after the country's anti-LGBTQ law, passed by Orban, was struck down by the top EU court. This move is seen as a significant step towards upholding EU values.
Drawing parallels with other countries, Clarin noted that the challenges faced by Magyar are reminiscent of those faced by transformative leaders like Raul Alfonsin in Argentina, Adolfo Suarez in Spain, Lech Walesa in Poland, or Eduardo Frei in Chile.
Conclusion
The departure of Orban's party, Fidesz, from power, as reported by Balkan Insight, has left it facing an existential crisis and possible long-term decline. While Magyar has a challenging road ahead to normalize Hungary's relationship with the EU and bring about internal changes, his initial efforts seem to indicate a willingness to steer the country towards a new era of democracy and European integration.