Hungary’s new PM Peter Magyar makes symbolic gestures to Roma community
Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza party has pledged to overhaul public works and end educational segregation, yet Roma leaders express caution over the lack of ministerial appointments and meaningful consultation.
Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, marked the transfer of power on May 9 with a series of symbolic gestures aimed at the Roma community, signalling a distinct departure from the previous administration. During the inaugural session of the Hungarian National Assembly in Budapest, Magyar invited the SUGO Tamburazenekar, a children’s tambura ensemble, to perform in the plenary hall. The event fulfilled a commitment Magyar made in November 2025 to invite the group to parliament if his Tisza party won the elections.
The ceremony also featured Roma singer Ibolya Olah, who performed the patriotic song "Magyarorszag" on the steps of the parliament building. Magyar embraced the singer after her performance, a moment that contrasted sharply with the rhetoric of the previous 16-year rule under Viktor Orban, whose government faced accusations of anti-Roma policies and inflammatory statements. Magyar subsequently condemned the far-right Mi Hazank Mozgalom faction for walking out during the children’s performance, telling the lawmakers it was unacceptable to turn their backs on children because of their origins.
Institutional representation has also seen shifts, with the Tisza parliamentary group including four Roma lawmakers. Krisztian Koszegi, a teacher and vocational school director, was elected as the first Roma deputy speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly. Despite these milestones, Roma activists and sociologists have urged caution, noting that symbolic inclusion has historically been used for political legitimisation without resulting in substantive power or policy changes.
The Tisza party manifesto has pledged to address systemic discrimination, including overhauling "public works programs," ending educational segregation, and improving housing and healthcare for Roma citizens. This stands in contrast to the Orban era, where Roma adults were often channelled into public works that did not offer improved pay or conditions, and where Roma voters were reportedly offered bribes to support the ruling Fidesz party.
However, the absence of Roma individuals in the new government’s ministerial positions has sparked disappointment among community leaders. Activist Aladar Horvath and education expert Szilvia Szenasi highlighted a lack of meaningful consultation, with Horvath noting delays in meeting the government commissioner for social policy strategy. While Horvath acknowledged the emotional impact of the inaugural events, he emphasised that the true test will be whether Magyar can convince the majority that Roma are equal citizens, rather than implementing only cosmetic changes to the system.
