Hungary's Peter Magyar Begins Sweep of Fidesz, Media and Institutions

Prime Minister Péter Magyar, leader of the centre‑right TISZA party, ended Viktor Orbán’s 16‑year rule after the April parliamentary election and secured a constitutional super‑majority. His government has launched a "Purgatorium" campaign to dismantle the former ruling party’s legal, media and financial structures.

Key actions include a 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law that removes the president, the head of the Constitutional Court and the prosecutor‑general, while raids on Fidesz headquarters seized servers as part of a corruption probe. Public broadcasting has been suspended for a revamp into an independent service, and anti‑corruption committees are investigating contracts such as the Paks II nuclear plant and state media finances. The government says these steps will unlock about €18 billion of EU funds.

Former prime minister Viktor Orbán condemned the measures, calling them the creation of an "authoritarian system" and urging a "national resistance" from his supporters. He warned that the new regime is "demolishing democracy and the rule of law." Additionally, the new environment minister announced an investigation into a herd of 17 zebras owned by a close associate of Orbán, framing it as a symbol of past corruption.