On April 19, 2026 the final count from Hungary’s national election confirmed that the Tisza Party holds 141 of the 199 seats in the national assembly, improving on earlier projections. That tally puts the incoming government comfortably above the two‑thirds threshold needed for constitutional alterations, giving Prime Minister‑elect Péter Magyar a far stronger legislative position than previously reported. The decisive margin reshapes the balance of power after 16 years of governance under Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, which will now sit with just 52 seats, and it gives Magyar a clear mandate to pursue both domestic reforms and renewed engagement with Brussels.
The enlarged majority not only affects domestic politics but also has immediate international consequences: the incoming cabinet’s clout could accelerate efforts to lift restrictions on frozen EU funds. Over the weekend Magyar and members of his prospective team met with senior European Commission officials, including the chief of staff to President Ursula von der Leyen, to begin laying out a practical timeline. The Commission’s delegation described the talks as preliminary steps toward resolving the impasse that has kept roughly €17 billion to €30 billion of assistance stalled under the EU’s rule‑of‑law mechanism.
What Brussels wants and the benchmarks at stake
At the heart of the negotiations are the 27 super milestones defined by the European Commission, a package of measures that must be implemented before most payments can resume. These include enhanced transparency in public procurement, concrete anti‑corruption steps, and safeguards to bolster judicial independence and academic freedom. The term super milestones is used by the Commission to denote conditions whose full and correct implementation is required prior to disbursement. Commission officials warned that some funds are time‑limited: for example, roughly €10 billion tied to the EU’s post‑Covid recovery instrument faces an expiry after the Aug. 31 deadline unless compliance is achieved.
The immediate timetable and financial priorities
Time is a constraining factor. The Commission suggested that a first loan payment under the EU package for Ukraine could be released at the end of May if Budapest takes steps to lift its veto—an issue that had been a major point of contention under the previous administration. Separately, parts of Hungary’s recovery funding risk being lost if the government fails to meet completion deadlines. The Commission framed the recent meetings as preparatory: officials aim to ensure that once the new government is formally in office, implementation work can begin without delay. During the talks, Brussels emphasized that partial compliance might not be enough to unlock the full amounts.
Magyar’s reform plan and political trade-offs
Magyar has presented a compact reform agenda that he believes will address much of Brussels’ concerns. He listed four priorities—anti‑corruption measures including joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, restoring the autonomy of the judiciary and investigative authorities, strengthening press freedom, and reviving academic independence. According to public comparisons, these proposals align with roughly 70 percent of the Commission’s benchmarks. Yet significant gaps remain on contentious areas such as migration policy compliance and rights‑based issues, which account for the remaining share of the 27 super milestones and are politically sensitive at home.
Domestic constraints and international expectations
Even with a supermajority, Magyar faces constraints: many reforms will require legal and administrative changes that take time to enact and implement. The incoming government has said it will not overturn all of Viktor Orbán’s policies—Magyar indicated his administration will keep the southern border fence in place and intends to preserve certain national opt‑outs. He also signalled he would not block the EU loan to Ukraine while maintaining negotiated safeguards. The Commission, meanwhile, has been clear that trust will be rebuilt through concrete, verifiable steps rather than unilateral assurances. This sets the scene for intensive policy‑by‑policy work in the weeks after the new cabinet is sworn in, which could be as soon as mid‑May or following the earliest possible inauguration date discussed by political actors.
What to watch next
Observers should monitor three immediate indicators: the speed at which Budapest submits legal texts and administrative reforms tied to the 27 super milestones, whether the government lifts its veto on the Ukraine loan in practice rather than in principle, and how quickly the Commission verifies compliance. If Hungary implements the core measures and the Commission is satisfied, frozen payments may begin to flow and large portions of the recovery package could be salvaged. Conversely, delays or partial implementation will prolong the freeze and could keep Hungary at odds with Brussels over the rule‑of‑law conditions that have defined the relationship in recent years.
