Peter Magyar rushes overhaul of Orban-era Hungary

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar is rushing to dismantle institutions built during Viktor Orban's 16-year rule, drawing both public support and warnings from rights groups and political experts.

Magyar took office on May 9 after an election landslide and has used his Tisza party's two-thirds parliamentary majority to push through a sweeping anti-corruption package, dismantle the Sovereignty Protection Office that targeted government critics and approve a major overhaul of public media.

Two public broadcasters had their news bulletins taken off air on Tuesday. Magyar called it “the end of propaganda broadcasts on public media platforms”.

His government says the changes are part of an effort to root out what Magyar calls Orban's “mafia” from the state and unlock 16 billion euros in European Union funds frozen over rule-of-law concerns.

Some of his methods have prompted criticism. A 12-point constitutional amendment would remove Orban ally Tamas Sulyok as president before a broader constitutional rewrite. Fidesz denounced the move as an attempt to establish “autocratic rule”, while Amnesty International called the push to remove Sulyok “not acceptable”.

Magyar has sought to repair ties with the European Union but has kept Orban's opposition to the bloc's common migration policy. His party has also not repealed anti-LGBTQ legislation, although Budapest Pride was allowed to go ahead after being banned under Orban last year.