Péter Magyar accuses the Orbán government of destroying secret documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Special correspondent to BudapestShielded by eighteen Hungarian flags and two from the European Union, the winner of the legislative elections in Hungary, Péter Magyar, has accused Viktor Orbán's government of destroying documents. In his first press conference, in which he outlined the broad strokes of the future government, the future prime minister lamented that Hungary would not have a normal transition: "There were rumors that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, had disappeared. But I have just been informed that he has reappeared and that he is currently at the ministry and is destroying documents," he denounced. He detailed that they received the information from someone inside the ministry. "We know that they have been destroying documents, as in the communist era," he criticized. Undoubtedly, there must be compromising documentation on the walls of the Hungarian chancellery. "There are many things we don't know: international treaties, confidential government decrees, classified documents that they have signed and of which we have no idea what they are..." Magyar told the press.

The leader who has managed to oust Orbán after 16 years in power wanted to send a clear message to Brussels: "Hungary will be a constructive partner." "We want to make Europe's voice stronger," he added. The leader of the Tisza party, which this Sunday achieved a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian Parliament, conveyed a generally conciliatory tone, except towards the current prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and the "mafia puppets".

Proud of the EU and NATO

"Hungarians have made it clear that they are proud to be part of the EU and NATO," he said. "We will defend the rule of law, human rights, and we will be a reliable and trustworthy partner," he added. But he also stressed, on several occasions, that their main objective will always be to defend the interests of their citizens: "Millions of Hungarians demonstrated yesterday that history is not written in Moscow, Brussels, or Washington, but in the streets of Hungary."

He has not hidden that his main objective is to recover "as soon as possible" the European funds corresponding to Hungary, which are now frozen. "I have to be very fast," he said, referring to the negotiations to achieve the unblocking, and he expressed confidence that he could start discussing it this Monday with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. He recalled that Brussels asks Hungary for four things to recover the money: create anti-corruption mechanisms, restore the rule of law, guarantee freedom of the press, and academic freedom. "These are all things we plan to do and that we plan to do quickly."

As he already insisted during the election campaign, he has assured that Tisza will use the supermajority in Parliament to modify the Constitution and re-establish the government's control mechanisms. Furthermore, he has promised to establish a two-term limit for the position of Prime Minister in Hungary. For this reason, he has guaranteed that Viktor Orbán, who has served 20 years as Prime Minister — the last sixteen and four more between 1998 and 2002 — will not occupy the position again.

When asked if he believes that the current Prime Minister should be tried and imprisoned for the corruption of his governments, he replied that "it is not the task of the Prime Minister or the leader of a party to assess whether someone has to go to jail or not."

"Pragmatic cooperation" with Russia

Another key element in Hungary's international policy is its relationship with Russia, after many years with a government close to the Kremlin. Magyar has stated that he will opt for "pragmatic cooperation" with Moscow, arguing the proximity of the two countries and Hungary's dependence on Russian hydrocarbons. "We cannot change geography. We are exposed to Russia for energy, but we will review all existing contracts, renegotiate them, and, if necessary, cancel them," he said.

He said that the Tisza government intends to diversify its energy sources: "There are many things we cannot change; Russia will continue where it is, but we will try to diversify as much as possible." He admitted that depending on Russian gas poses a clear security problem: "In Hungary, everyone knows the Russian bear, we have suffered it on many occasions... we know exactly what it is like, and Europe must prepare to protect itself and defend itself."

Magyar said that he will not call Vladimir Putin, but that if the Russian president calls him, he will pick up the phone: "If he wants to talk, I will tell him that he has to end the war and the killings (...) I suppose it will be a short discussion."

Regarding Ukraine, he said that the Tisza government intends to have alliances with all neighboring countries and, "if possible, a friendly relationship," and that he hopes to resolve "all the disputes that Orbán has created for the interests of his party." He added: "Ukraine is the victim of this war." However, he expressed opposition to a rapid accession process for Kyiv to the EU.

He also stressed that he will seek a good relationship with the United States, despite Donald Trump having been one of Viktor Orbán's main supporters: "All leaders can decide who to support, there is no problem with that; but after the elections, things change."

On Israel, he limited himself to saying that it is an important trading partner and that Hungary, which has a large Jewish community, will maintain zero tolerance for antisemitism. "We have to examine every decision," he said. He also stated that the new government will reapply for Hungary's entry into the International Criminal Court. Orbán withdrew from the court last year after hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the international arrest warrant for war crimes in Gaza.