Péter Magyar’s new government has moved with startling speed in its first days in office, combining symbolic political gestures with sweeping institutional changes aimed at dismantling key pillars of Viktor Orbán’s system. As ministers tour the extravagant interiors of the former regime, the new administration is promising transparency, legal reckoning
Zoltan Szalay
Our weekly digest of Hungarian politics continues, as we report on developments after April’s historic election and on the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics:
Guided tour of Orbán government’s luxury ministerial buildings. Spectacular parliamentary session followed by even more spectacular cabinet meeting. The so-called ‘state of danger’ lifted after six years. Magyar’s brother‑in‑law does not become a minister.
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Guided tour of Orbánist luxury
New prime minister Péter Magyar has created a fresh genre in Hungarian political history – live videos where he presents the luxury and lifestyle of Viktor Orbán’s power, acting as a kind of tour guide to the secret world of illiberalism. Viewers feel they are getting a glimpse into the closed empire of the fallen power, where – as Magyar also stresses – Orbán’s propaganda was at work.
The videos have also been carefully planned in terms of dramaturgy. In perhaps the most shocking footage, which shows inside the ministry of interior, they mixed in the title music of the cult satire series about the holidays of the super-rich, The White Lotus. Magyar arrives at the buildings in the evening, and they stand empty, which makes it palpable that Orbán and his people have disappeared from the scenery. Alongside the prime minister are his own people, with whom he jointly uncovers the secrets of the last government. A special role is played by Dávid Vitézy, the new minister for transport and investments, who, as an urban development expert, provides the professional background for the guided tour.
The Carmelite monastery
First they tour Orbán’s seat, the Carmelite monastery in Budapest’s Castle District which has served as the PM’s office since 2019 and has become a symbol of centralised power. In the Carmelite, the most expensive Hungarian artworks line the walls, the offices are equipped with brand-new shredders, the library contains the notorious globe with the map of historic “Greater Hungary”, and Magyar’s team also visit the famous terrace where Orbán used to receive his guests. (The “Greater Hungary” map refers to the historical Kingdom of Hungary before the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, a potent nationalist symbol in Hungarian politics.)
This building was renovated for 21 billion forints (about €52m), and completed in 2018.
Ministry of propaganda
Even more interest surrounded the video of Antal Rogán’s ministry. Rogán headed the propaganda and the secret services, and was given the former Red Cross building in Buda Castle. This building was renovated in and handed over in 2025 – when the Hungarian economy had already been stagnating for years. In the building, refurbished in modern luxury, Magyar’s team found a special cigar room, lavish interiors and a lookout offering a unique panorama.
Interior ministry palace
But even this was surpassed by the building for the ministry of interior, which was set up in the former Royal Ministry of Finance next to Matthias Church. The building was renovated in style during Covid for what Magyar’s team say was 100bn forints (around €250m).
The entire complex in the Castle was completed for around 800bn forints (about €2bn). Magyar is moving the prime minister’s office out of the Carmelite monastery, and it is not yet known for what the building will be used for. It emerged during Wednesday’s (13 May) first cabinet meeting that the ministry of social affairs and family will be housed in Rogán’s former ministry.
Interior of Sándor Pintér’s interior ministry. Source: Péter Magyar”s Facebook pageSpectacular parliamentary session followed by spectacular cabinet meeting
Events in Hungarian politics have moved extremely fast over the past week.
Cathartic parliamentary session
On Saturday, the inaugural session of parliament took place, whose key moments were:
