Today is a remarkable day, as 9 May marks the end of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year-long reign. A few hours from now, Tisza Party will take over the government, and PĂ©ter Magyar will be elected as the new Prime Minister, followed by a public celebration marking the change of regime at the Parliament Building.
Fidesz MP’s are not very satisfied with the situation
Fidesz still has 44 representatives in the Parliament, but their mood has significantly changed compared to the last few years. Former Transportation and Infrastructure Minister János Lázár told 444 that if he could have decided, he would not be there today, but the decision about his mandate wasn’t his. But, according to him, it is only temporary, as he only took the position for just one year.
President Tamás Sulyok called upon Magyar to be Prime Minister
Sulyok, whom Péter Magyar had earlier called upon to resign, congratulated Tisza, saying “we have been a nation of state-builders for a thousand years.”
“We have reached a new chapter in Hungarian history,” he said. “Tisza Party achieved an unprecedented victory with unprecedented participation; I congratulate them. The Tisza Party bears a historic responsibility, and it has also been given an opportunity.”
Sulyok proposes constructive cooperation, as respect for the law cannot be in question, according to the President of the Republic. All political action is democratic as long as it remains within the framework of the rule of law. Legal certainty is a value to be preserved.
Serving the homeland and the nation is the greatest honor, the noblest task; they have been ranked alongside the nation-builders of a thousand years. History will judge their actions. He proposes constructive cooperation in all matters; this is what you witnessed during the inaugural session, and for that, everyone deserves thanks.
The President of the Republic offered his heartfelt congratulations to the elected representatives and the ethnic minority spokespersons. At the end of his speech, the President makes the nomination for the Prime Minister, he said, and therefore asked Magyar, who accepted the task.
The new National Assembly is officially formed
The National Assembly was formally established on Saturday with the ceremonial swearing-in of the members of parliament elected in April. With the formation of the new parliament, the mandate of the Fidesz-KDNP government led by Viktor Orbán, which took office in 2022, has come to an end.
The members of parliament took their oaths in front of the historic flags. Members representing ethnic minorities took their oaths in their respective minority languages: Lovari, Beás, Romanian, and Croatian.
During the preceding verification of credentials, the letters of appointment were found to be in order, so the parliament unanimously confirmed the mandates of the members of parliament and the minority spokespersons with 193 votes in favor. The registrars read aloud the names of the confirmed members of parliament and the minority spokespersons.
In the 199-member National Assembly, the Tisza Party has 141 representatives, Fidesz has 44, the KDNP has eight, and Mi Hazánk has six.
What will happen today?
As 444 writes, the inaugural session of the new Parliament began at 10 AM, and will be opened by President Tamás Sulyok. Soon, at around 11, Parliament members will take their oaths, and after can the new National Assembly will be officially formed.
If the required four-fifths majority is achieved, starting at 2 PM, members of Parliament may vote without debate on the election of parliamentary committee officers and members, the new ministerial structure, and the elevation of emergency regulations to the level of law. PĂ©ter Magyar is to be elected prime minister around 3 PM, who then will first address Parliament, then head to Kossuth Square around 4 PM, where he is also expected to deliver a speech.
Follow our live article through the inauguration event for the latest information.
Featured image: PĂ©ter Magyar/Facebook
