Hungary’s next leader calls for "regime-change celebration" as Orbán era ends

As Hungary prepares for a historic political transition, incoming prime minister Péter Magyar is set to take the oath of office on Saturday, May 9, inside the country’s neo-Gothic parliament building, marking the formal end of Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule.

Outside the parliament building, thousands of supporters are expected to gather in a nearby square to celebrate what many view as the closing chapter of Orbán’s long tenure in power, as per Associated Press.

Magyar’s centre-right Tisza party secured a sweeping victory in last month’s parliamentary elections, defeating Orbán’s nationalist-populist Fidesz party. The result delivered what analysts describe as an unprecedented mandate, with Tisza winning more votes and parliamentary seats than any political force in Hungary’s post-Communist history.

Ahead of formally assuming office, Magyar has called on Hungarians to take part in an all-day “regime-change” celebration to coincide with his inauguration and symbolise the end of the Orbán era.

“We will step through the gateway of regime change with a huge party. Come along, and invite your family and friends!” Magyar wrote in a social media post on Sunday, May 3.

Magyar, a 45-year-old lawyer, founded the Tisza party in 2024 after spending years as an insider within Fidesz. He has pledged to eliminate what he describes as entrenched official corruption, which he argues has deprived Hungarians of economic opportunities.

Among his immediate priorities is unlocking approximately €17 billion ($20 billion) in European Union funding that was frozen during Orbán’s time in office over concerns related to the rule of law and corruption. The funds are widely seen as critical to revitalising Hungary’s economy, which has stagnated over the past four years.

Magyar has also committed to repairing strained relations with Hungary’s European Union partners, ties that deteriorated significantly under Orbán. He has pledged to restore Hungary’s standing among Western democracies, a position that many observers believe was undermined as Orbán moved closer to Russia.

In a symbolic step reflecting that shift, Tisza officials announced that the EU flag will once again be displayed on the parliament building’s facade starting Saturday. The flag had been removed in 2014 under Orbán’s government.

Magyar is scheduled to take his oath of office at approximately 3 p.m. local time on May 9, after which he is expected to address the crowds gathered outside. Invitations to the event promise artistic performances and surprise guests as part of the celebrations.

Separately, Budapest’s liberal mayor, Gergely Karácsony, has announced a “system-closing” event along the Danube River. The gathering is intended to honour those who spent years opposing Orbán’s political system.

“Teachers fired, civilians and journalists humiliated, small churches torn apart,” Karácsony wrote in a social media post. “We can finally leave this era behind us — but first, let us remember the everyday heroes and express our gratitude with a farewell to the system.”

By Tamilla Hasanova