Following the formation of Hungary’s new government in May, Prime Minister Péter Magyar
and his cabinet – supported by the ruling Respect and Freedom Party (TISZA) and its two-thirds
(constitutional) majority in parliament – have implemented a series of legislative and policy changes. These initiatives have primarily been aimed at implementing constitutional and institutional reforms, redefining Hungary’s relations with the EU and securing the previously blocked EU funds.
Parliament has marked the 100-day milestone since the election by voting in András Baka,
a former Chief Justice of Hungary’s Supreme Court, as Hungary’s new President. Baka is expected
to be a transitional head of state, with a wider public consultation process to follow to prepare Hungary’s new constitution.
Four months after the parliamentary elections, Hungary’s party politics has consolidated into
a threeparty system dominated by the ruling party and two opposition formations: Viktor Orbán’s formerly ruling Fidesz-KDNP bloc and the nationalist opposition Our Homeland. Support for TISZA remains high (around 60-65% among decided voters), while Fidesz has lost nearly half of its voters since the election, with Our Homeland openly aiming to become the lead opposition formation.
The first 100 days have shown that the new cabinet is putting compliance first. There is now
an increased emphasis on compliance with EU law and regulations and a greater level of EU alignment (as suggested by Hungary’s rule-of-law and transparency reforms).
The government has shown a higher degree of openness for public consultation but is also committed to stricter enforcement. Following the initial constitutional and institutional reforms,
the government’s focus is expected to shift to a more regulatory-driven agenda, as suggested by the autumn legislative plan. The cabinet is preparing to introduce draft legislation covering
several policy areas, including online safety, climate protection, renewable energy use, addressing the gender pay gap, platform workers, food retail oversight, railway infrastructure development,
nuclear energy, tackling disinformation, as well as digital infrastructure and governance development.
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