‘The real work begins now’: Roma take centre stage as Hungary brings in new government

By: Ashifa Kassam and Flora Garamvolgyi in Budapest

17 May 2026 at 13:00

Campaigners say symbolism of Magyar inauguration must translate into real change for Roma rights after years of Orbán discrimination

The clutch of young Roma boys in black bow ties were lined up beneath the ornate arches and royal frescoes of Hungary’s dazzling parliament. Moments after Péter Magyar was sworn in, bringing an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power, the young musicians launched into the unofficial anthem of Roma in Hungary, leaving many MPs wiping away tears.

It was an extraordinary moment – one that fused the nationwide hope for change with the longstanding aspirations of the country’s most marginalised community. Roma rights campaigners have seized the moment, calling on the new government to ensure that the symbolism of last weekendtranslates into real change.

Poland says it expects US to extradite ex-minister who fled from Hungary

The Guardian World news

By: Shaun Walker in Warsaw · Ashifa Kassam in Budapest and Jakub Krupa in London

11 May 2026 at 17:28

Trump reportedly involved in securing visa for Zbigniew Ziobro, who is wanted in Warsaw on criminal charges

Poland has said it expects Washington to extradite a former justice minister wanted on criminal charges after reports emerged that he had fled to the US from Hungary, where the former prime minister Viktor Orbán had granted him asylum.

“You can’t hide these days. You can flee, you can delay it for a while, but eventually your options run out,” Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, said on Monday in reference to Zbigniew Ziobro.

Hungary’s new PM apologises to those wronged under Orbán in first speech

The Guardian World news

By: Ashifa Kassam and Flora Garamvolgyi in Budapest

10 May 2026 at 18:21

Péter Magyar strikes radically different tone to predecessor but questions remain about how he will lead the country

Moments after he was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister, Péter Magyar apologised to those who had been maligned by the state during Viktor Orbán’s time in power as questions continue to swirl over what lies ahead for the country as it launches into a new era.

Magyar used his first speech as prime minister on Saturday to address the many in Hungary who had paid a personal price for speaking up about the steady erosion of rights under Orbán and his Fidesz party.

Rhythm nation: politician’s viral dance moves mark new, optimistic era for Hungary

The Guardian World news

By: Ashifa Kassam and Flora Garamvolgyi in Budapest

10 May 2026 at 16:42

Zsolt Hegedűs’s celebrations since the election of Péter Magyar have sparked joy across the country

As Hungary’s Péter Magyar took office, ousting Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power, the daylong event on Saturday was laced with symbolism, from the return of the EU flag to parliament to the ringing out of the European anthem, Ode to Joy.

But it was the 56-year-old tipped to be the new health minister – and more specifically, his dance moves – that may have become the most potent symbol of Hungary’s new political era.

Hungary enters post-Orbán era after new prime minister sworn in

TheHill - Just In

By: Sophie Brams

9 May 2026 at 16:50

Péter Magyar was sworn in Saturday as Hungary’s new prime minister, ushering in a new era in the country that had been under the autocratic rule of Viktor Orbán for 16 years. Magyar’s center-right Tisza party notched a landslide victory in last month’s elections, securing a two-thirds majority in parliament despite a last-minute push from both Vice...

Péter Magyar sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister ending 16-year Orbán era

The Guardian World news

By: Ashifa Kassam and Flora Garamvolgyi in Budapest

9 May 2026 at 17:48

Jubilation in Budapest as new leader invites people to ‘step through gate of regime change’

The pro-European centre-right leader Péter Magyar has been sworn in as prime minister of Hungary, marking the official end to Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power.

Saturday’s ceremony – during which Magyar had invited people to join him to “write Hungarian history” together and “step through the gate of regime change” – comes a month after his opposition Tisza party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections.

‘This is not another Covid,’ WHO chief tells Tenerife as hantavirus cruise ship heads to island – as it happened

The Guardian World news

By: Vivian Ho

9 May 2026 at 14:23

This live blog is now closed

The interior minister of Spain told Reuters on Saturday that Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands have confirmed they will send planes to repatriate nationals from their respective countries aboard the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak.

The European Union is sending two more planes for the remaining European citizens, and the US and UK have also confirmed planes and contingency plans for non-EU citizens.

A total of 8 cases, including 3 deaths, have been reported as of Friday. Six of these cases cases are confirmed as Andes virus and four patients are currently hospitalised.

One case previously reported as suspected hantavirus has now been reclassified as a non-case after testing negative for Andes (ANDV) virus.

A man who disembarked in Tristan da Cunha on 14 April is currently stable and in isolation. He is currently a probable case until laboratory confirmation.

Passengers who travelled on the same flight from St Helena to South Africa along with one of the confirmed cases have been contacted – 75 of those contacts have been identified in South Africa, of whom 42 have been traced by national authorities and are currently under monitoring.

New Hungarian PM’s voters want action on climate and LGBTQ+ rights, poll finds

The Guardian World news

By: Ashifa Kassam in Budapest

7 May 2026 at 04:00

Exclusive: Voters remain split on issues critical to EU, such as support for Ukraine and dependence on Russian energy

More than three-quarters of Hungarians who voted for Péter Magyar in last month’s election want his government to do more to address the climate crisis, and more than 70% want him to protect LGBTQ+ rights, a poll has found.

Magyar’s opposition Tisza party won a supermajority in the vote, bringing an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power. The new prime minister will be sworn in on Saturday, weeks after the results set off celebrations in Budapest and Brussels.

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