Hungary’s new prime minister, Péter Magyar, staged a symbolic political gesture on Friday morning by beginning the dismantling of the barricades surrounding the Carmelite Monastery in Budapest’s Castle District — the former seat of ex-prime minister Viktor Orbán.
The move came after Magyar teased a “surprise” announcement on Facebook on Thursday evening, writing: “Tomorrow again at the Carmelite: surprise and announcement.”
At 10 AM on Friday, Magyar launched a live broadcast from outside the heavily guarded government complex, accompanied by Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai, Construction and Transport Minister Dávid Vitézy, and former National Bureau of Investigation captain Bence Szabó.
Speaking on site, Magyar said the cordon around the Carmelite Monastery had stood since 2021 and called on the interior minister to remove it completely. The group then symbolically began dismantling part of the barrier.
Journalists allowed behind the barricades
According to Telex reporters at the scene, journalists were subsequently allowed behind the cordon protecting the building, a move intended to demonstrate a new level of openness following the change of government.
Magyar also recalled that in 2007, Orbán and Fidesz MPs had themselves dismantled the barricades around Parliament during anti-government protests. Referring to that moment, Magyar declared that “there will be no more cordons in Hungary”.
The Carmelite Monastery, located in Budapest’s Castle District, served as Orbán’s office for years and became one of the defining symbols of his government.
Vitézy criticises spending priorities under previous government
During Friday’s appearance, Vitézy criticised the former administration’s spending policies, arguing that while numerous major infrastructure projects were halted in recent years under former construction minister János Lázár, “hundreds of billions of forints” were still available for government buildings in the Castle District.
He also claimed that the public had never been consulted about those investments.
Magyar has toured former government buildings in recent days
Over the past week, Magyar has repeatedly visited former government sites in the Buda Castle area. In videos published online, he showcased the interior of the Carmelite Monastery as well as the recently renovated Interior Ministry building, reportedly refurbished at a cost of billions of forints.
Following the Tisza Party’s election victory, Magyar announced that he would not govern from the Carmelite Monastery as prime minister. Instead, his office will be based at the former Ministry of Construction and Transport building at 5 Alkotmány Street in Budapest.
Claims of document destruction in ministries
When Magyar first visited the Carmelite earlier this week alongside several ministers and advisers, he claimed his government had received information suggesting that document destruction was still taking place inside ministries despite previous orders to stop it.
He also alleged that caretaker ministers appointed by the outgoing Tisza government were continuing to undertake financial commitments.
On Monday, Magyar described the Carmelite complex as “a symbol of extravagance and hate propaganda”, adding that his government intended to manage public resources “far more responsibly”.
He further stated that the aim of opening the building to the public was to show Hungarians “the place from where the country was governed” and where decisions were made that, in his view, contributed to Hungary becoming “the poorest and most corrupt country in the European Union” over the past 15 to 20 years.
Carmelite Monastery and former Rogán ministry to open to the public
During the press briefing, Magyar announced that the building would be opened to visitors for an extended period, allowing anyone to tour the former prime ministerial headquarters free of charge.
Magyar also revealed that the former building of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office in Budapest’s Castle District — previously used by the ministry led by Antal Rogán — would be opened to the public this coming weekend. The building is set to house the government’s future social affairs ministry.
The prime minister added that his government was also attempting to regain ownership of the former Interior Ministry building on the Pest side of the capital, which he said had been sold to Arab investors by the previous administration.
Visitors can book tours through new website
To manage the visits, the government has launched the Szabadkarmelita.hu website, where members of the public can book appointments to tour both the Carmelite Monastery and the Interior Ministry building.
According to Magyar, the Carmelite will remain open on weekends until a final decision is made regarding the building’s long-term function. He stressed that everything inside would remain exactly as it was found, allowing visitors to see the complex in its original condition.
Gábor Pósfai said the police would ensure the orderly entry of visitors, while the removal of the barriers would once again make Színház Street freely accessible to pedestrians.
Magyar added that visitors would be able to see the prime minister’s office wing, the terrace, the Carmelite gardens, and the large chamber previously used for cabinet meetings.
More details are expected to emerge throughout the day as the government’s actions at the Carmelite continue. Make sure to check back to this article!
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