The Victory of Péter Magyar Might Open a New Opportunity for Climate Action in Hungary

(SeaPRwire) –   Péter Magyar brought an end to Victor Orbán’s 16-year tenure leading Hungary after a landslide win in the nation’s parliamentary elections on April 12. Though Magyar has not commented extensively on climate action, his openness to collaborating with the EU creates fresh chances for Hungary to cut emissions and invest in clean energy initiatives. 

Orbán, a far-right authoritarian recognized for dismantling democratic checks and balances and imposing strict media control, adopted an inconsistent stance on climate action during his time in office, as his words frequently clashed with his deeds. 

In 2019, he blocked the EU’s plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and at one point labeled the bloc’s climate change mitigation efforts a “utopian fantasy.” He has also accused other European leaders of fearmongering regarding the climate change threat.

“Europe is acting out of fear and fear makes us defeatist,” he said in 2023. “We say there’s no future, and as such, this is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.” 

Still, climate action is a critical concern for Hungarians: A 2024 European Investment Bank survey found that 95% of citizens believe it’s important for their country to adapt to climate change, and Orbán often spoke about the significance of climate action. 

During his 2020 state of the nation speech, he stated: “Protecting the climate and nature is truly our Christian and patriotic duty,” and revealed that the government was developing a program to make Hungary’s energy production 90% carbon-neutral by 2030.

Four years later, in his February 2024 state of the nation address, he again stressed the importance of the green energy movement, noting: “The future belongs to green energy,” and highlighted Hungary’s solar energy capacity. 

But later in 2024, he joined former President Donald Trump during Trump’s second presidential campaign at an anti-climate event co-hosted by the Heritage Foundation (the ultra-conservative group behind Project 2025) and the Danube Institute, a Hungarian think tank aligned with Orbán. That same year, another think tank connected to Orbán’s government hosted an event in Brussels to discuss the “dangers of net zero.” 

Although Magyar has not said much about climate action so far, the Tisza Party (which propelled him to power) has committed to restoring independent nature protections and implementing stricter regulations on polluting industries. The party has promised to end Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy by 2035 and double its renewable energy share by 2040. Additionally, Magyar aims to resolve Hungary’s rift with the European Union—something that could unlock more funding for green projects.

The Tisza Party has also demanded tighter oversight of polluting battery plants, which faced criticism in the run-up to the election. “Investments must not put people’s health at risk, and the country’s competitiveness cannot be built at the expense of the environment,” the party stated on Instagram earlier this year. “We are building a livable country—not just until the next election, but for future generations.”