PM Péter Magyar accuses Orbán of budget deceit and clashes with speaker

Prime Minister Péter Magyar told a Monday‑day Facebook live briefing that Hungary inherited a "dramatically bad" budget after the hand‑over from Viktor Orbán’s government. He said the previous administration publicly announced deficits of 3.7 % and later 5 % of GDP, while its own calculations showed 6.8 % and the post‑audit figures now indicate a real 2026 deficit that would exceed 8 % without EU funds and remain above 7 % even with them. Magyar warned that this shortfall represents a deficit of several thousand billion forints and pledged to protect state assets, ordering the boards of public‑interest foundations slated for dissolution by 31 August to refrain from any decisions that could alter their value.

He also highlighted the poor condition of national infrastructure, noting that 91 bridges are classified as critical. The briefing followed a three‑day informal cabinet meeting in Pilisszentkereszt where the new Tisza‑party government discussed strategic priorities, including the dissolution of the Sovereignty Protection Office, cuts to mayoral salaries, and reforms of public‑interest foundations.

In the same parliamentary session, a heated incident unfolded when Speaker Forsthoffer Ágnes muted Magyar after he deviated from an interpellation topic, a move described by analysts as the first serious public clash within the Tisza party. The speaker later faced criticism from Tisza deputy leader Melléthei‑Barna Márton, who argued the prime minister’s right to speak was not subject to removal.