Life after Viktor Orbán: Hungary's new leader takes on the authoritarian state

HungaryThe 'absolute cinema' of life after Orbán: Hungary's new leader takes on the authoritarian statePeter Magyar's swift moves reflect his promise to sweep away the corruption, cronyism and Kremlin allyship that European officials and watchdogs say plagued Viktor Orbán's Hungary. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleViktor Orbán concedes defeat after 16 years in power in Hungary03:30Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 19, 2026, 5:30 AM EDTBy Alexander SmithHe's ousted the man who ruled for 16 years. Now Hungary's new prime minister faces a daunting task: taking on the authoritarian state built by Viktor Orbán.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.No sooner had Peter Magyar finished posing with the country’s smiling president this week, he called the Orbán-aligned figurehead unworthy, unfit and demanded his resignation.Magyar, 45, also posted a video of the meeting, in which he spotted Orbán himself on a nearby balcony. "Absolute cinema," Magyar said, raising his hands to reflect the popular meme.Next stop? A round of interviews on the country's Orbán-mouthpiece state media in which he called them a "factory of lies" and said they would be suspended until their independence could be guaranteed.These swift moves from Magyar reflect his promise to sweep away the corruption, cronyism and Kremlin allyship that European officials and watchdogs say plagued Orbán's Hungary. FORSUBSCRIBERS00:0000:00Why Hungary's election matters far beyond its borders01:48Whether he can do so is a crucial open question, not just for the country itself, but also for Europe and beyond. Though Magyar is no liberal, some are now looking to his victory as an example of how to defeat an entrenched far-right leader who has the support of an increasingly powerful global movement.Unpicking the deep roots of the Orbánist state will not be simple. Magyar wi...