Péter Magyar to Become Hungary's New Prime Minister
Péter Magyar is set to be sworn in as Hungary's new Prime Minister, following a landslide victory for his Tisza party, which won 141 out of 199 parliamentary seats, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year leadership. Magyar's government aims to implement systemic changes, including unlocking €17 billion in EU funds and establishing a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office to investigate corruption from the previous administration. As part of the transition, Tisza officials plan to restore the EU flag on the parliament building, symbolizing a shift in Hungary's relations with the European Union.
Final EU-US Trade Pact Negotiations Set for May 19
Bernd Lange, the European Parliament's lead negotiator, announced that the final round of negotiations for the EU-US trade pact is scheduled for May 19, resisting calls from the centre-right EPP to expedite the process amid pressure from the US, particularly President Trump's tariff threats. Lange emphasized the need for Europe to maintain safeguards in the agreement, citing recent US court rulings that have cast doubt on the legal basis for certain tariffs, while also highlighting the importance of a 'sunrise' clause to address potential US breaches.
Hungary's Prime Minister-elect Faces EU Migration Pact Challenges
Hungary's Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar faces potential conflict with Brussels over the EU's migration pact, as a European Commission report reveals Budapest has not initiated several key steps required for implementation ahead of the pact's enforcement in June. Magyar's Tisza party, which won 141 out of 199 parliamentary seats, has pledged to reset relations with the EU while maintaining a hard stance on migration, stating Hungary will not accept any allocation mechanism for asylum. The Commission noted Hungary's delays in preparations for the Eurodac fingerprint database and its failure to notify border procedure locations, among other compliance issues.
