Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar used the latest stop of his nationwide tour to restate several major government plans, including a new wealth tax, asset recovery and constitutional reform. His appearance in Szolnok was also briefly disrupted when an egg was thrown towards the stage.
Magyar addressed supporters in Szolnok’s Kossuth Square on Saturday, the third stop of his new nationwide tour following events in Veszprém and Pécs. The tour is expected to visit 15 provincial cities before concluding in Budapest.
One of his clearest pledges concerned the planned wealth tax, which would target individuals with assets exceeding HUF 1 billion. The prime minister said the measure would take effect from 1 January, calling it one of Tisza’s most important and most widely supported campaign promises.
He accused pro-Fidesz media of launching a new campaign against the tax and argued that the criticism was driven by those with the largest fortunes. Magyar also made a sarcastic reference to billionaire businessman Lőrinc Mészáros and his wife, Andrea Várkonyi, while insisting that the government intended to introduce the measure as promised.
Asset recovery and constitutional reform
Another major part of the two hour-speech focused on recovering public assets allegedly lost under previous governments.
Magyar told those who might eventually be held responsible for financial damage to the state that repayment could count as a mitigating circumstance under criminal law.
“They know the Hungarian State Treasury’s bank account number, and we are waiting for the transfer.”
He also renewed his criticism of Hungary’s prosecution service, accusing prosecutors of having watched while the country was, in his words, “looted like during the Mongol invasion”.
Magyar also repeated that a broader constitutional process would begin and criticised the county-level administrative system inherited from the Orbán governments. He argued that county assemblies had too often functioned as political patronage hubs, rewarding loyalists rather than relying on qualified professionals, and claimed that the system had also been used to keep mayors under political pressure.
He said his government wanted to replace what he described as a “feudal” structure with a more professional administration.
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Szolnok electrolyte plant ruled out
Turning to a local issue, Magyar said no electrolyte plant would be built in Szolnok while the Tisza government remains in office.
The planned KunlunChem factory has faced strong local opposition and had already run into several obstacles before Saturday’s statement.
Egg thrown towards Magyar during Szolnok speech
The event was also disrupted shortly after Magyar began speaking. According to Index, the prime minister was talking about his recent private audience with Pope Leo XIV when his bodyguards suddenly appeared behind him after something was thrown towards the stage. The livestream did not initially make clear what the object was, and Magyar first appeared to believe that a drink had been thrown.
Magyar interrupted his speech and addressed those responsible:
“I would like to ask the Fidesz trolls not to throw drinks, because there are many civilians here, and I do not think any of our elderly compatriots or children deserve to have water or beer poured over them. If you want to pour it over me, come up here, no problem.”
He then attempted to continue his speech, although several further shouts from the crowd repeatedly interrupted him. It later emerged that an egg had been thrown towards the prime minister.
After Tisza MP Andrea Rost addressed the audience, Magyar returned to the stage and spoke at greater length about the incident. He said Tisza supporters had not gone to rival political events during the election campaign to whistle at speakers or throw eggs, and argued that those disrupting his event were acting out of political frustration.
Magyar asked his supporters not to be angry with them, claiming that some former Fidesz voters were struggling with the loss of a political community and leaders they had previously trusted.
Footage recorded by Kontroll at the scene showed plain-clothes police officers detaining the man suspected of trying to hit Magyar with an egg. The man reportedly told reporters that he regretted missing the prime minister’s head. He resisted the officers as they moved to detain him and was eventually taken to the ground.
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