Péter Magyar strikes radically different tone to predecessor but questions remain about how he will lead the country
Moments after he was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister, Péter Magyar apologised to those who had been maligned by the state during Viktor Orbán’s time in power as questions continue to swirl over what lies ahead for the country as it launches into a new era.
Magyar used his first speech as prime minister on Saturday to address the many in Hungary who had paid a personal price for speaking up about the steady erosion of rights under Orbán and his Fidesz party.
“I apologise to all those civilians, teachers, journalists, health workers and public figures who have been stigmatised, harassed, or treated as enemies for daring to speak out, for daring to stand up for the vulnerable, for criticising, or for simply expressing a different opinion,” he said. “I apologise.”
It was a poignant nod to how Orbán, arguably the world’s most successful populist leader, had targeted civil society groups and media outlets critical of his government for years, launching investigations, smear campaigns and bogging them down in bureaucracy.
