The new Prime Minister-elect of Hungary, Péter Magyar, plans to shut down the news service of state-funded media, labelling them liars and propagandists, and has demanded the resignation of President Tamás Sulyok, former President of the Constitutional Court.
Magyar, following his landslide victory in April 12’s parliamentary elections, appeared as a guest on state television M1 for the first time in years, something he emphasised, adding: “But I hold no personal grudge, even though you and your colleagues have been slandering me, my family and those close to me morning, noon and night.”
In its studio, he said he would suspend the channel’s news service, calling it a “factory of lies” and saying people deserve journalism that reflects truth.
“What has been happening here since 2010 would have made even Goebbels or North Korean dictators blush. No truthful word has been spoken,” he. said.
Magyar said he would suspend the news service over its bias but would operate within the legal framework and first change media law.
In a more personal note he stressed: “It was said on this channel that even my young children won’t talk to me, when in fact my children live with me.”
After calling at the official residence of the President Sulyok, Magyar described him as a “puppet” and said he would remove him, together with others.
Apparently after posing for a picture, Sulyok was called “unworthy of representing the unity of the Hungarian nation”.
“He is unfit to serve as the guardian of legality. He is not fit to serve as a moral authority or a role model,” Magyar said.
More generally, Magyar announced a government overhaul across the board.
“We will bring back the EU funds. We will join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, create a national asset recovery authority, and implement other anti-corruption measures.
“We will make the investigative authorities and judiciary independent,” he said.
“We will also restore academic freedom, returning universities to scholars and research institutes to researchers. We will use EU funds for infrastructure, energy efficiency, and healthcare — not for oligarchs or party loyalists.”
Magyar further stated he would nationalise assets given to business people and foundations during the era of previous prime minister Viktor Orbán.
He explicitly named the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Foundation, a conservative think-tank, close to Orbán.
In 2020, the MCC was granted an influx of government funds and assets valued at approximately €1.44 billion.
This funding included the transfer of significant state assets, such as a 10 per cent stake in the state-owned oil and gas company MOL and various real estate properties.
Additionally, the MCC received substantial direct financial support from the central budget and the Economy Protection Fund, totalling hundreds of millions of euros.
It also has a division in Brussels, which has become the leading conservative think-tank in the European Union and published some substantial reports.
Magyar contrasted the outgoing government’s spending with the growing poverty in Hungary.
Péter Magyar after his meeting with Hungary's President Tamás Sulyok:
He should be voluntarily leaving his office.
If he does not leave voluntarily, we will use the mandate given to us by the voters.
Through constitutional amendments and the necessary legal changes, we will… pic.twitter.com/kK9z5LrJa6
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 15, 2026
He also lashed out at Sulyok, in office since 2024.
Critics argue that under Sulyok’s leadership, the Constitutional Court became politicised and served the interests of Orbán’s administration rather than acting as an independent judicial body.
He said that following the formation of a new government, Sulyok must leave office immediately.
Sulyok’s presidency is opposed by Magyar particularly due to his association with Orbán’s government.
I have arrived at the Sándor Palace to meet the President of Hungary.@DrTamasSulyok is unworthy of representing the unity of the Hungarian nation. He is unfit to serve as the guardian of legality. He is not fit to serve as a moral authority or a role model.
Following the… pic.twitter.com/aBChLJrv7K
— Magyar Péter (Ne féljetek) (@magyarpeterMP) April 15, 2026
