Hungary's new leader wants to hit the ground running with reforms

Hungary is entering a new political chapter after a landslide election that has shifted power.

Election winner Peter Magyar met President Tamas Sulyok and asked him to resign. He said the country needs new leadership and a reset at the top of power after his party's strong victory over Viktor Orban.

Magyar said the president will ask him to form Hungary's next government at the opening session of parliament. He added that the new cabinet will be in place by mid-May under the legal timeline.

"The President has informed me that he will ask me at the inaugural session of the new parliament to be Prime Minister and form a government, as the leader of the party that got the most votes," Magyar said after meeting Sulyok.

The meeting marked the start of a formal transition but also revealed tension at the highest level of the state.

Magyar called on Sulyok – who is backed by Orban's Fidesz party – to step down, saying the president lacks the support of the Hungarian people. He said his party may use its mandate to amend the constitution if the president does not resign.

Sulyok told Magyar he would "consider" the request. Magyar repeated his call before and after the meeting and said the president should leave office when the new government takes power.

Under Hungarian law, a new government must be formed within 30 days of the election, indicating a transition by mid-May.

Magyar is also moving to reshape Hungary's position in Europe. His team plans to begin informal talks with the European Commission before the government is sworn in, in an effort to rebuild ties with Brussels.

He also criticized state media, saying its coverage has been propaganda, and raised the prospect of changes to its current structure.

The transition follows a decisive election win for Magyar's Tisza party, which now prepares to take control of government.

After years of political continuity, Hungary now faces a period of change. The coming weeks will test how quickly that transition can take shape.