Hungary PM launches sweeping reform drive to dismantle Orban-era power network

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar has announced a wide-ranging reform drive aimed at dismantling what he described as the political and economic network built under former leader Viktor Orban. In a speech to parliament on Monday, Magyar unveiled a package he called Operation Cleansing Fire, with plans that include a new constitution, a new anti-corruption office, institutional purges and the removal of the president. The announcement marks one of the most ambitious political resets in Hungary since Magyar took office in April.

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The proposed measures are tied to a broader effort to unlock 16.4 billion euros in frozen European Union funds, which have been held back over rule-of-law concerns. Magyar said his government would use its constitutional majority to push through reforms by the end of August. He also said a constitutional review with public discussion would begin in September and later be put to a referendum, indicating that the process is likely to extend beyond the immediate legislative push.

A central part of the plan is the removal of President Tamas Sulyok, whom Magyar has called on to resign. Magyar proposed a constitutional amendment to make that possible, and said a new president would be elected for a maximum of five years if Sulyok is removed. Hungary's president has limited formal powers, but can still delay legislation by returning it to parliament or referring it to the Constitutional Court, making the post politically relevant in a period of institutional change.

The reform drive comes after 16 years of Orban-led rule, during which Fidesz used its parliamentary majority to gain control over much of the state apparatus. Magyar accused the previous system of systemic corruption and of pushing Hungary closer to Russia while deepening tensions inside the European Union. His government now faces the challenge of unwinding that structure while also meeting EU conditions linked to the release of funds, a process that carries both domestic and international significance.

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The speech also sharpened the political confrontation in Budapest. Fidesz lawmaker Gergely Gulyas described Magyar's remarks as slanderous and appalling, underscoring the resistance the new government is likely to face. The row reflects a wider struggle over institutions, accountability and the balance of power in Hungary, where the presidency, parliament and constitutional bodies all play a role in shaping the pace of reform.

What remains unclear is how quickly the government can secure the legal changes it wants, and whether the constitutional amendment needed to remove the president will gain enough support. It is also not yet clear how the planned anti-corruption office and institutional purge would be structured in practice. The next key milestones are the proposed constitutional review in September, the referendum process and the August deadline linked to the EU funding deal.

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