The formal handover between Hungary’s outgoing Fidesz administration and the incoming Tisza-led government took place on Thursday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office building on Kossuth Square, marking the final administrative stage of the country’s change in government.

According to Telex’s report, members of the former Orbán cabinet arrived together through the rear entrance on Zoltán Street, while ministers of Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s new government entered through the main entrance facing Kossuth Square.

The first member of the new cabinet to arrive was Environment Minister László Gajdos. Shortly afterwards, the rest of the Tisza government ministers entered the building, though few were willing to answer questions from journalists gathered outside.

The outgoing ministers also avoided extensive media interaction. Former Cabinet Office chief Antal Rogán briefly responded to questions concerning contracts linked to companies owned by Gyula Balásy, insisting that “everything happened lawfully” in the so-called Lounge-related deals before referencing contracts connected to the Student Loan Centre previously led by Péter Magyar.

Final step in the transition of power

The handover process involves departing ministers transferring all documents, contracts, reports and official records generated during their tenure to the incoming ministers.

The aim is to ensure continuity in governance during the transition period.

However, experts suggest the real process could take weeks. Miklós Ligeti, legal director of Transparency International Hungary, previously told 24.hu that detailed consultations between new ministers and senior civil servants often continue long after the public ceremony.

Drawing on the example of the Justice Ministry’s transition in 2010, Ligeti said the substantive transfer of responsibilities can last for over a month.

He also warned that additional controversies or previously undisclosed cases could emerge once the new administration gains full access to ministry files and internal documentation.

Prime Minister’s Office gains major new powers

The government transition coincides with a far-reaching restructuring of Hungary’s ministries and state administration.

Under Government Decree 90/2026, published in Wednesday’s issue of the Hungarian Gazette, the new administration is dramatically centralising power around the Prime Minister’s Office and its new head, Bálint Ruff, according to Portfolio.

The decree grants Ruff broad authority over political coordination, European Union affairs, government communications, strategic planning and social policy coordination. His office will also oversee Hungary’s Permanent Representation in Brussels and coordinate positions taken during EU negotiations.

Foreign ministry refocused on diplomacy and security

One of the most notable changes affects the foreign ministry. The previous Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade structure has been replaced with a more traditional foreign affairs portfolio under Foreign Minister Anita Orbán.

Economic diplomacy responsibilities are expected to shift largely toward István Kapitány’s economic and energy ministry, while the foreign ministry will concentrate more heavily on diplomacy, geopolitical strategy, cultural diplomacy and intelligence coordination.

The decree also strengthens national security coordination under Péter Tóth, the former campaign chief who has been appointed national security chief adviser to the prime minister. His role will include coordinating defence, law enforcement and intelligence activities, as well as chairing meetings of the Defence Council.

Expanded roles for agriculture and housing ministries

The restructuring also gives expanded powers to Agriculture Minister Szabolcs Bóna, whose ministry will oversee EU agricultural funding coordination, food chain supervision, land affairs and agricultural innovation.

Meanwhile, the construction and housing portfolio led by Dávid Vitézy will take on a stronger role in housing policy, urban redevelopment and sustainability oversight for large commercial developments.

The decree specifically highlights brownfield redevelopment areas and state involvement in shaping housing policy, including analysis of housing market trends and preparation of home creation support schemes.

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A more centralised governing model

The newly published decree indicates that the Tisza government is building a highly centralised governance structure in which the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office will have stronger authority to request strategic analyses, background materials and data from ministries.

The regulation simultaneously abolishes the previous 2022 decree defining the responsibilities of ministers under the former Fidesz administration, formally ending the mandates of Orbán-era ministers.

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