President of Hungary instructs Magyar to form new government

Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok has instructed the leader of the Tisza Party, Péter Magyar, to form a new government.

The head of state also intends to schedule the first session of the new parliamentary term for May 6-7, during which Magyar will be elected as prime minister.

"The President of the Republic informed me that, as the leader of the party that received the most votes [in the elections], I will be elected prime minister at the first session of the new parliamentary term and will be given the mandate to form a government," Magyar said in a conversation with journalists after meeting with Sulyok. He clarified that the parliamentary session may take place on May 6-7, and the government will be formed and begin its duties by mid-May.

During the meeting with the president, the Tisza leader confirmed that he is proposing Sulyok resign, as he is a protégé of the current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his party, FIDESZ - Hungarian Civic Alliance, to whom voters expressed distrust in the elections on April 12. Otherwise, Tisza, which has secured a constitutional majority in parliament, will introduce amendments to the constitution that would allow for the early termination of the head of state's powers. According to Magyar, Sulyok responded that he "will consider these arguments."

Nevertheless, the Tisza leader stated that the meeting between them was calm, and Sulyok showed him his metropolitan residence, the Sándor Palace, from whose balcony there is a beautiful view of the Danube. Leaders of two other parties that made it into the Hungarian parliament, Orbán and the chairman of the far-right Our Homeland party, László Toroczkai, have also been invited there for consultations.

Source: TASS