HUNGARY
EU cash, Ukraine, Russia and migration: Five takeaways from Péter Magyar's presser
Hungarian PM-elect Péter Magyar on Monday urged parliament to convene quickly to form a new government, aiming for a 5 May handover, and outlined priorities including EU funds, the eurozone, Ukraine, Russia, and migration. Here are some key takeaways from his press conference.
Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar said on Monday he is ready to take office quickly and called on the country's president to convene parliament to form a new government "as quickly as possible," expressing hope to succeed Viktor Orbán as prime minister as early as 5 May.
Magyar held a three-hour international press conference in Budapest, taking questions on a wide range of issues.
"The Hungarian people did not vote for a simple change of government, but for a complete change of regime," he said.
Below are the key points from his remarks on European affairs :
Unblock EU funds
Magyar said securing frozen EU funds is his government’s top priority, as the European Commission has suspended €17 billion of the €27 billion allocated to Hungary.
Budapest's defence plan under the SAFE programme — the €150 billion loan instrument to boost defence production across the bloc — has also yet to be approved.
Magyar said he had a four-point plan to reach an agreement on the release of EU funds for Hungary and is already in active negotiations with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
"These are anti-corruption measures, including joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office," Magyar said, referring to the EU’s independent prosecutorial body, which Hungary had chosen not to join. "The second is to restore the independence of the judiciary and investigative authorities, the third is to ensure freedom of the press, and the fourth is to liberate Hungarian universities and academic freedom."
He said he hoped the plan would be sufficient to unlock decisions "as quickly as possible."
Join Eurozone
Magyar said his government would evaluate joining the eurozone, a key campaign pledge.
"The majority of Hungarian people and the majority of Hungarian business leaders believe that it would give the Hungarian economy a degree of stability if we set a date for joining the eurozone" Magyar said.
He added that they will need first to examine the state of the budget and conduct a swift consultation before setting a date for the accession.
Keep an opt-out on Ukraine loan
Magyar said Hungary wants friendly relations with all its neighbours, including Ukraine, and indicated he would be willing to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He stressed that Ukraine cannot be compelled to accept a peace deal that requires it to cede territory.
"No other country has the right to say that you should give up this or that territory. Anyone who says such a thing is a traitor himself," Magyar said.
On the EU's €90 billion loan package to Ukraine, Magyar said he supports Hungary's opt-out, negotiated by the Orbán government, citing Hungary's bad budgetary situation.
Magyar also said Ukraine's EU accession "in the next ten years" would not be realistic, and opposed any fast-track of the country's EU membership.
Continue purchasing Russian oil
Magyar said Russia must end the war, and that he would deliver that message to President Vladimir Putin directly if given the opportunity.
"If Vladimir Putin calls, I'll pick up the phone. If we did talk, I could tell him that it would be nice to end the killing after four years and end the war."
"It would probably be a short phone conversation and I don't think he would end the war on my advice," he added.
On energy, Magyar said the country will continue purchasing Russian energy and prioritise the cheapest available oil, a stance that appears to contrast with his campaign pledge to phase out Russian energy imports by 2035.
Oppose the EU's Migration Pact
Magyar said Hungary must resolve the issue of the €1 million daily fines it faces for non-compliance with a previous European Court of Justice ruling on the treatment of migrants.
"There are other countries that have managed to comply with EU law without allowing irregular migrants to enter. If Slovakia and Poland could solve this, then so can we."
Magyar said he opposes the EU's migration pact and intends to maintain the border fence built under the Orbán government.
"Hungary takes a very strict stance on illegal migration. It will not accept any pact or allocation mechanism, and we will keep the southern border fence — and patch up the holes that are there now."
He added that Hungary could contribute to other countries' defence capabilities by deploying border guards.
Hungary election promises renewable energy investment and foreign factory crackdowns
Orbán, who once described EU climate ambitions as a 'utopian fantasy', has been replaced by Péter Magyar.
Hungary’s landslide election today saw Viktor Orbán ousted after 16 years as Prime Minister.
Having once described EU climate ambitions as a “utopian fantasy” – blaming them for pushing up energy costs and destroying the middle class – Orbán frequently backed policies that were at odds with the net-zero goals set by his government.
So are things likely to change under the new Tisza Party leader, Péter Magyar?
Although the 45-year-old is a former member of Orbán’s Fidesz Party, there’s cautious optimism about his pledges to crack down on corruption and rebuild Hungary's damaged relationships with the European Union.
During Tisza’s election campaign, the centre-right and pro-EU party promised to end political bargaining on environmental issues by rebuilding independent protections for nature and enforcing stricter regulation of polluting industries.
“Investments cannot endanger people’s health and the competitiveness of the country cannot be built on the environment,” the Tisza Party said on its official Instagram page in February.
“We are building a liveable country, not only until the next election, but for the next generations.”
Hungary’s Tisza Party eyes energy independence
Hungary’s newly elected Tisza Party promises to loosen the country’s ties with Russia and bring it more in line with the EU.
It has vowed to end the country’s reliance on Russian energy by 2035 and double its share of renewable energy by 2040.
Orbán’s government repeatedly resisted EU sanctions on Russian oil after the country launched its full-scale invasion in Ukraine in 2022, instead doubling down on cheap Russian imports. While this has helped Hungary maintain some of Europe’s lowest energy prices, it has left the country vulnerable to shocks.
While Hungary has already made strides in solar power – which, alongside the transition away from coal, has contributed to a slow but steady decline in emissions – the country’s energy mix is still dominated by fossil fuels.
Investing further in homegrown renewables would boost Hungary’s long-term resilience.
Improved cooperation with the European Union is also likely to unlock billions in frozen funds intended for the green transition.
A crackdown on polluting industries in Hungary
In its promised clampdown on polluting industries, the Tisza Party has explicitly singled out battery factories.
One of Hungary’s biggest environmental controversies, Chinese, South Korean and Japanese-owned battery facilities have sprouted up across the country in recent years, spurred on by government subsidies and weak regulation.
Protests and court cases have erupted over the toxic air pollution, groundwater contamination and illegal waste released by some of these plants, offsetting the environmental gains of the green tech they produce.
Greater transparency, anti-corruption controls and stronger, more independent environmental institutions would give authorities the power to better regulate or shut down harmful plants.
Protecting water as a national resource in Hungary
Like much of Europe, Hungary has faced droughts and heatwaves that have placed severe strain on its water resources – and the outlook, under accelerating climate change, is bleak.
By early 2025, water levels in both the Danube and the Tisza had approached historical lows.
A prolonged heatwave and drought in 2024 caused more than 100 billion forints (€273 million) in damages to the country’s agricultural sector. Poor wastewater treatment and over-reliance on groundwater for drinking have made the situation even more precarious.
Magyar's party says it aims to mitigate the crisis through large-scale water retention infrastructure, modernised irrigation systems, and climate adaptation in agriculture.
Some groundwork has already been laid under Orbán – an infrastructure renewal programme launched in 2025 began extending canal capacity by 300 kilometres and constructing or modernising more than 130 waterworks to raise water storage capacity for agriculture.
The stakes go beyond the environment. Better water management promises to improve food security and support the rural economy – a key constituency for Magyar, who has worked hard to gain the support of Hungary's farming communities.
Under Orbán, rural areas were often won over with short-term subsidies – including free agricultural water use – rather than the long-term infrastructure investment that experts say the country urgently needs.
Whether Magyar can deliver on that longer-term vision, while also rebuilding trust with Brussels and unlocking frozen EU funds, will be one of the defining tests of his first term.
Magyar keeps door open to Russian energy despite EU phase-out plans
Copyright AP Photo
At his first press conference after being elected Prime Minister of Hungary, Péter Magyar said on Monday that the country will continue seeking the cheapest energy sources, including from Russia. His statement appear to clash with earlier pledges to phase out Russian energy imports by 2035.
Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar said at his first press conference after winning the 12 April election that the country will continue purchasing Russian energy and prioritise the cheapest available oil, a stance that appears to contrast with his campaign pledge to phase out Russian energy imports by 2035.
"No one can change geography, Russia and Hungary are here to stay. The government will procure crude oil and gas in the cheapest and safest way possible," Magyar told reporters.
His comments come as as the European Union welcomed the ousting of outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who often criticised the bloc’s energy transition and its tough stance on Russian energy imports.
They also raise questions over whether EU leaders will face similar challenges as the EU prepares to phase out Russian energy by the end of 2027.
Magyar’s remarks could unsettle EU leaders, as he suggested that the EU should “lift sanctions” on Russian energy, adding that “no one wants to pay too much” for energy supplies.
While the world faces an energy crisis due to the war in Iran, with soaring prices and potential supply shortages, Hungary in particular has been struggling since the Druzhba pipeline — a key route for Russian oil transported via Ukraine — was damaged in January following a Russian strike on energy infrastructure in western Ukraine, Kyiv claims.
Hungary remains one of the EU’s most reliant countries on Russian energy, making up around 90% of its supply.
With Druzhba flows dropping to zero in February and March, Hungary, a landlocked country with few alternatives, was forced to draw on strategic reserves and reduce refinery throughput, Victoria Grabenwöger, senior analyst at data intelligence firm Kpler, told Euronews.
To mitigate the shortfall, MOL, Hungary's sole refiner, increased seaborne imports via Croatia’s Omišalj terminal, supplied through the Adria pipeline.
Hungarian imports via Croatia reached roughly 100,000 barrels of oil per day in March, comprising Libyan and Norwegian crude, according to Kpler data.
Overall, analysts say that replacing Russian oil with alternative suppliers significantly narrows Hungary’s financial advantage: even if volumes are secured via Croatia, higher input costs compress margins.
Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar said at his first press conference after winning the 12 April election that the country will continue purchasing Russian energy and prioritise the cheapest available oil, a stance that appears to contrast with his campaign pledge to phase out Russian energy imports by 2035.
"No one can change geography, Russia and Hungary are here to stay. The government will procure crude oil and gas in the cheapest and safest way possible," Magyar told reporters.
His comments come as as the European Union welcomed the ousting of outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who often criticised the bloc’s energy transition and its tough stance on Russian energy imports.
They also raise questions over whether EU leaders will face similar challenges as the EU prepares to phase out Russian energy by the end of 2027.
Magyar’s remarks could unsettle EU leaders, as he suggested that the EU should “lift sanctions” on Russian energy, adding that “no one wants to pay too much” for energy supplies.
While the world faces an energy crisis due to the war in Iran, with soaring prices and potential supply shortages, Hungary in particular has been struggling since the Druzhba pipeline — a key route for Russian oil transported via Ukraine — was damaged in January following a Russian strike on energy infrastructure in western Ukraine, Kyiv claims.
Hungary remains one of the EU’s most reliant countries on Russian energy, making up around 90% of its supply.
With Druzhba flows dropping to zero in February and March, Hungary, a landlocked country with few alternatives, was forced to draw on strategic reserves and reduce refinery throughput, Victoria Grabenwöger, senior analyst at data intelligence firm Kpler, told Euronews.
To mitigate the shortfall, MOL, Hungary's sole refiner, increased seaborne imports via Croatia’s Omišalj terminal, supplied through the Adria pipeline.
Hungarian imports via Croatia reached roughly 100,000 barrels of oil per day in March, comprising Libyan and Norwegian crude, according to Kpler data.
Overall, analysts say that replacing Russian oil with alternative suppliers significantly narrows Hungary’s financial advantage: even if volumes are secured via Croatia, higher input costs compress margins.
Can Péter Magyar break Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil?
Copyright AP Photo / Denes Erdos
Péter Magyar, the expected future Hungarian prime minister, won the general election in a landslide, unseating outgoing Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power and raising questions about whether Budapest will move away from Russian energy.
Hungary's incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar could shape not only domestic policy but also the future of Europe’s energy ties with Russia, after winning the 12 April election and promising to eliminate his country’s dependency on Russian energy imports by 2035.
Magyar has also pledged to align Hungary more closely with EU efforts to diversify oil and gassupply, a process the EU launched in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
But even though shifting away from outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's reliance on Russian oil could accelerate the region’s move away from Moscow, it will not come without economic and logistical challenges.
"The geographical position of neither Russia nor Hungary will change. Our energy exposure will also be here for a while," Magyar told local media a few days before the election.
"Diversification needs to be strengthened, but this won't happen overnight. If necessary, we will negotiate (with Russia), but we won't become friends," the Hungarian hailing from the Tisza Party added.
Magyar said that he would reassess financing for the Paks II nuclear project, a major Hungarian expansion project which is being developed in cooperation with Russia, while also exploring the potential to accelerate the deployment of smaller, more affordable modular reactors in collaboration with partners such as France and the United States.
For years, outgoing Orbán has steered Hungary along a distinct path within the EU, maintaining strong energy links with Moscow even as much of the bloc has worked to cut dependence on Russian oil and gas following the war in Ukraine.
Under Orbán, Hungary’s position had largely conflicted with the EU's energy transition goal, raising questions about whether the new leadership would remain a weak link in the bloc’s energy strategy.
The country imported roughly 100,000 barrels of Russian crude per day in 2025, according to analysts at S&P Global Energy CERA, accounting for around 90% of its supply.
Hungary's incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar could shape not only domestic policy but also the future of Europe’s energy ties with Russia, after winning the 12 April election and promising to eliminate his country’s dependency on Russian energy imports by 2035.
Magyar has also pledged to align Hungary more closely with EU efforts to diversify oil and gassupply, a process the EU launched in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
But even though shifting away from outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's reliance on Russian oil could accelerate the region’s move away from Moscow, it will not come without economic and logistical challenges.
"The geographical position of neither Russia nor Hungary will change. Our energy exposure will also be here for a while," Magyar told local media a few days before the election.
"Diversification needs to be strengthened, but this won't happen overnight. If necessary, we will negotiate (with Russia), but we won't become friends," the Hungarian hailing from the Tisza Party added.
Magyar said that he would reassess financing for the Paks II nuclear project, a major Hungarian expansion project which is being developed in cooperation with Russia, while also exploring the potential to accelerate the deployment of smaller, more affordable modular reactors in collaboration with partners such as France and the United States.
For years, outgoing Orbán has steered Hungary along a distinct path within the EU, maintaining strong energy links with Moscow even as much of the bloc has worked to cut dependence on Russian oil and gas following the war in Ukraine.
Under Orbán, Hungary’s position had largely conflicted with the EU's energy transition goal, raising questions about whether the new leadership would remain a weak link in the bloc’s energy strategy.
The country imported roughly 100,000 barrels of Russian crude per day in 2025, according to analysts at S&P Global Energy CERA, accounting for around 90% of its supply.
Investment and infrastructure
The energy shift touted by Magyar, however, would not be immediate, as analysts say replacing Russian energy will require years of investment in new infrastructure and alternative sources.
"Hungary can, from an infrastructure standpoint, phase out Russian crude over the long term. However, doing so would come at a significant financial cost. Domestic fuel supply could be maintained, but the profitability of MOL Group—the country’s sole refiner—would decline,” Victoria Grabenwöger, senior analyst at data intelligence firm Kpler told Euronews.
Dimitar Lilkov, a senior research officer at the think tank Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, pointed to an analysis that shows that Hungary has full access to alternative supply routes and refineries capable of processing non-Russian crude.
The Croatian Adria pipeline, also known as Janaf, is one of these avenues, Lilkov said, even with potential lower transit costs.
"Alternative options are also available for natural gas. Such a pivot cannot happen overnight, but is perfectly realistic given that there is political will in the years to come," Lilkov told Euronews.
"Péter Magyar has already signalled that this diversification would be pursued by the new government, so we can be hopeful that Hungary finally escapes the Russian energy chokehold," Lilkov added.
While Orbán had argued that alternatives are more costly, the Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar hailed the Adriatic pipeline as a "reliable and credible route for regional energy security".
"Our infrastructure is here to strengthen resilience, diversification and security across Central Europe. And our message to the Hungarian people is equally clear – Croatia extends a hand of friendship. We want cooperation, not confrontation. In a time of uncertainty, good neighbors build solutions together," Šušnjar wrote on X on 12 April.
The energy shift touted by Magyar, however, would not be immediate, as analysts say replacing Russian energy will require years of investment in new infrastructure and alternative sources.
"Hungary can, from an infrastructure standpoint, phase out Russian crude over the long term. However, doing so would come at a significant financial cost. Domestic fuel supply could be maintained, but the profitability of MOL Group—the country’s sole refiner—would decline,” Victoria Grabenwöger, senior analyst at data intelligence firm Kpler told Euronews.
Dimitar Lilkov, a senior research officer at the think tank Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, pointed to an analysis that shows that Hungary has full access to alternative supply routes and refineries capable of processing non-Russian crude.
The Croatian Adria pipeline, also known as Janaf, is one of these avenues, Lilkov said, even with potential lower transit costs.
"Alternative options are also available for natural gas. Such a pivot cannot happen overnight, but is perfectly realistic given that there is political will in the years to come," Lilkov told Euronews.
"Péter Magyar has already signalled that this diversification would be pursued by the new government, so we can be hopeful that Hungary finally escapes the Russian energy chokehold," Lilkov added.
While Orbán had argued that alternatives are more costly, the Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar hailed the Adriatic pipeline as a "reliable and credible route for regional energy security".
"Our infrastructure is here to strengthen resilience, diversification and security across Central Europe. And our message to the Hungarian people is equally clear – Croatia extends a hand of friendship. We want cooperation, not confrontation. In a time of uncertainty, good neighbors build solutions together," Šušnjar wrote on X on 12 April.
Exemptions to Russian energy imports
Due to their landlocked positions and difficult access to alternative energy suppliers, Hungary and Slovakia secured exemptions that allow continued imports of Russian pipeline oil until September 2027.
However, the EU is pushing to eliminate Russian gas imports by 2027, including phasing out these exemptions with a full ban on Russian natural gas scheduled for 30 September 2027.
It remains to be seen whether Magyar will challenge this position, given Hungary’s landlocked geography and its exposure to energy constraints exacerbated by the wider energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran, which has raised fears of supply shortages
A ban on Russian oil imports was also to be proposed by the Commission on 15 April, but the EU executive decided to postpone it, a decision linked to the global energy crisis and a political row over the Druzhba pipeline.
Due to their landlocked positions and difficult access to alternative energy suppliers, Hungary and Slovakia secured exemptions that allow continued imports of Russian pipeline oil until September 2027.
However, the EU is pushing to eliminate Russian gas imports by 2027, including phasing out these exemptions with a full ban on Russian natural gas scheduled for 30 September 2027.
It remains to be seen whether Magyar will challenge this position, given Hungary’s landlocked geography and its exposure to energy constraints exacerbated by the wider energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran, which has raised fears of supply shortages
A ban on Russian oil imports was also to be proposed by the Commission on 15 April, but the EU executive decided to postpone it, a decision linked to the global energy crisis and a political row over the Druzhba pipeline.
Druzhba pipeline
Hungary's landlocked geography and Soviet-era infrastructure have left it reliant on pipelines such as Druzhba and TurkStream, ensuring a steady flow of crude and natural gas from the east.
But damage to the Druzhba pipeline, which serves as a critical conduit for Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary via Ukraine's territory, has been another contested political issue leading up to the 12 April elections.
The Soviet-era pipeline has been damaged since 27 January, with Ukraine saying that a Russian airstrike damaged it. Russia denied it while Hungary and Slovakia complained about Ukraine's unwillingness to repair the damaged pipeline, arguing they were suffering from "political blackmail".
The Adria pipeline has effectively ensured "uninterrupted supply to both Hungary and Slovakia" over the past few weeks, Minister Šušnjar said. However, with Druzhba flows halted, Hungary has pushed to import Russian oil by sea via Croatia, but it has yet to get approval from the pipeline operator.
The Druzhba pipeline has become shrouded in uncertainty, with EU officials being extremely coy about sharing details of the EU mission sent to Ukraine to assess the situation.
The Commission asked Ukraine to allow inspectors to oversee the damage to the pipeline, in line with a key demand from Hungary's Orbán, which has maintained a veto on a critical €90 billion loan to Ukraine until the pipeline resumes operations.
Yet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 10 April that the Druzhba pipeline was getting repaired and was expected to be fixed "this spring".
Meanwhile, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, a longtime ally of Orbán who has been insisting on the quick resumption of oil flows through Druzhba, suggested Magyar should be interested in fixing the pipeline.
"I believe there remains a strong interest on the part of Slovakia, Hungary, and Central Europe as a whole in restoring the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline," Fico said on X, after the Hungarian elections.
Hungary's landlocked geography and Soviet-era infrastructure have left it reliant on pipelines such as Druzhba and TurkStream, ensuring a steady flow of crude and natural gas from the east.
But damage to the Druzhba pipeline, which serves as a critical conduit for Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary via Ukraine's territory, has been another contested political issue leading up to the 12 April elections.
The Soviet-era pipeline has been damaged since 27 January, with Ukraine saying that a Russian airstrike damaged it. Russia denied it while Hungary and Slovakia complained about Ukraine's unwillingness to repair the damaged pipeline, arguing they were suffering from "political blackmail".
The Adria pipeline has effectively ensured "uninterrupted supply to both Hungary and Slovakia" over the past few weeks, Minister Šušnjar said. However, with Druzhba flows halted, Hungary has pushed to import Russian oil by sea via Croatia, but it has yet to get approval from the pipeline operator.
The Druzhba pipeline has become shrouded in uncertainty, with EU officials being extremely coy about sharing details of the EU mission sent to Ukraine to assess the situation.
The Commission asked Ukraine to allow inspectors to oversee the damage to the pipeline, in line with a key demand from Hungary's Orbán, which has maintained a veto on a critical €90 billion loan to Ukraine until the pipeline resumes operations.
Yet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 10 April that the Druzhba pipeline was getting repaired and was expected to be fixed "this spring".
Meanwhile, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, a longtime ally of Orbán who has been insisting on the quick resumption of oil flows through Druzhba, suggested Magyar should be interested in fixing the pipeline.
"I believe there remains a strong interest on the part of Slovakia, Hungary, and Central Europe as a whole in restoring the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline," Fico said on X, after the Hungarian elections.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić clashes with Péter Magyar over Putin 'godfather' remark
Aleksandar Vučić snapped at Magyar, calling his comments about Putin playing Godfather to autocrats "foolish" and "stupid". The Hungarian Prime Minister-elect claimed the Russian leader pulls the strings in Serbia too.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić became the first foreign leader to clash with Hungary's Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar, just one day after Sunday's parliamentary elections.
Magyar's Tisza Party secured a landslide victory at the polls, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year grip on power. Orbán and Vučić had maintained close political ties throughout that period.
Speaking to Serbia's state broadcaster on Monday night, Vučić dismissed Magyar's earlier remarks as "stupid" after the Hungarian leader suggested he knew who was orchestrating the political alliance between Orbán, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Vučić.
"I know exactly what is going on in Serbia, and I also know what kind of entanglement exists between the Orbán government and Vučić-led Serbia, and between Slovakia's Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán," Magyar said at an international press conference on Monday.
"I also know roughly who is behind this — who is the godfather behind these great friendships," he added.
Vučić responded sharply during an interview with the Serbian state broadcaster.
"He said that he knows who is behind such relations between Orbán, Fico, and Vučić. And I ask him: who is behind it? Come on, answer me!" Vučić said.
"He has no idea...implying that it might be Putin. If I were not concerned about relations with Hungarians in our country and with Hungary itself, I would call his statement foolish and irresponsible," Vučić added.
Magyar raises doubts over pipeline incident
At the same press conference, Magyar addressed the discovery of explosives near the TurkStream gas pipeline in Serbia, close to the Hungarian border, calling it an apparent false-flag operation.
"During the electoral campaign, there was an operation that looked like a false flag attack on Easter Sunday," Magyar said. "My future government will investigate exactly what happened and whether the danger was real" — while noting he did not rule out that it posed a genuine threat.
Serbian authorities announced on 5 April that two bags of explosives had been found near the pipeline, which carries Russian natural gas to Hungary.
Vučić said the investigation would be concluded and its findings shared with Magyar.
"Those findings will show that he was wrong to believe the gossip of the tabloid media," Vučić said.
Despite the sharp exchanges, both leaders expressed a desire to maintain good bilateral relations. Vučić also sent Magyar a congratulatory message following Sunday's election.'
Péter Magyar accuses outgoing foreign minister of destroying confidential documents
Copyright AP Photo
Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar has accused outgoing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó of shredding confidential sanctions-related documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing insider sources during a press conference in Budapest on Monday. The ministry has not yet responded.
Hungary's Prime Minister elect, Péter Magyar accused outgoing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó of shredding confidential documents.
Magyar made the remarks at an international press conference in Budapest, a day after he and his Tisza Party secured a landslide election victory, winning a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament.
During the election campaign, Szijjártó has been accused of maintaining close ties with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and of offering him Hungary's help to remove Russian individuals from the EU's sanctions list.
Magyar received a note during the press conference, which he immediately shared with reporters.
"I just received the information, I'll share this with you. Many people thought that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó had disappeared, since he couldn't be seen yesterday during Viktor Orbán's victory speech" Magyar said.
"Today at 10 a.m. he appeared at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and since then, he and his most direct colleagues have been shredding documents related to the sanctions materials."
Magyar added that the information comes from insider sources from the ministry, where many officials are actively helping his Tisza Party.
"This is what is happening in Hungary right now. We have known for days that the destruction of documents has begun, not only in the ministries, but also in other background institutions linked to the elites of Orbán" Magyar said.
Hungary's foreign affairs ministry has not yet replied to a request for comment from Euronews.
Hungary's Prime Minister elect, Péter Magyar accused outgoing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó of shredding confidential documents.
Magyar made the remarks at an international press conference in Budapest, a day after he and his Tisza Party secured a landslide election victory, winning a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament.
During the election campaign, Szijjártó has been accused of maintaining close ties with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and of offering him Hungary's help to remove Russian individuals from the EU's sanctions list.
Magyar received a note during the press conference, which he immediately shared with reporters.
"I just received the information, I'll share this with you. Many people thought that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó had disappeared, since he couldn't be seen yesterday during Viktor Orbán's victory speech" Magyar said.
"Today at 10 a.m. he appeared at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and since then, he and his most direct colleagues have been shredding documents related to the sanctions materials."
Magyar added that the information comes from insider sources from the ministry, where many officials are actively helping his Tisza Party.
"This is what is happening in Hungary right now. We have known for days that the destruction of documents has begun, not only in the ministries, but also in other background institutions linked to the elites of Orbán" Magyar said.
Hungary's foreign affairs ministry has not yet replied to a request for comment from Euronews.
Péter Magyar walks line between Brussels and Beijing on China Trade
The Hungarian leader, who won a landslide election last Sunday, does not plan a major policy reversal on Hungary's trade relation with China. However, he has pledged to align more closely with EU rules, balancing ties with Beijing and growing pressure from Brussels.
Viktor Orbán has positioned Hungary as a European centre for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, while disregarding the EU’s tariffs on them.
Now his political successor, Péter Magyar, appears less inclined to reverse that policy in a radical way.
At a press conference on Monday following a landslide victory against Orbán, Magyar praised China as “one of the most important, largest, and strongest countries in the world.”
“I am very happy to travel to Beijing, and we are very happy to welcome Chinese leaders here in Hungary,” he added.
Magyar also said he would “review” Chinese investments in Hungary – particularly on electric vehicles - but “not with the aim of shutting them down or preventing them from happening.”
In recent years, Hungary was eager to attract Beijing’s largeness, with BYD building its first European passenger EV factory in Szeged in 2024 and major firms such as CATL, NIO and EVE Energy investing heavily in the country.
But that open-door policy has increasingly clashed with the EU’s push to tighten scrutiny of Chinese investments, as China floods Europe with low-cost imports and as many as 600,000 job losses are projected in the EU in the bloc’s auto sector this decade amid intensifying competition from Chinese manufacturers.
Magyar will also have to deal with concerns over alleged forced labour involving Chinese workers at Hungarian plants of EV giant BYD, as well as a recent European Commission probe into unfair subsidies at the same site. Those developments have tarnished the company’s reputation and raised concerns over Beijing’s investments.
Driving more value from investment in Hungary
At his press conference on Monday, the leader of Hungary’s Tisza party did not enter details. But he made clear that Hungary would align its policy more closely with Brussels.
“Rather, the goal is to ensure that those projects comply with European Union and Hungarian environmental regulations, health procedures, and labour safety standards, and contribute to the performance of the Hungarian national economy,” Magyar added.
He also appeared determine to distance himself from Orbán's wariness of a recent European Commission proposal on “Made in Europe,” which targets China.
The draft law, currently discussed by EU governments and MEPs, would impose stricter conditions on foreign direct investment above €100 million in sectors such as batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels and critical raw materials.
Under the proposal, investors from countries holding 40% of global market share in a given sector would be required to hire at least 50% of EU workers. Additional conditions could include foreign ownership caps below 49%, joint ventures with European partners and technology transfers.
“What we do not want — and will not accept — is for foreign companies to come, receive significant Hungarian state support, employ very few Hungarians, create little to no added value for the Hungarian economy, and at the same time endanger the quality of Hungary’s land, air, and water,” Magyar added, signalling his intention to align policy more closely with Brussels.
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