The ministerial handover has been completed, and a comprehensive investigation will begin across all areas, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Thursday at a press conference in Budapest.

The prime minister said that all ministers of the Orbán government attended the governmental handover, although “the chief archivist” was absent. Péter Magyar also stated that “the atmosphere was not particularly good.”

It was evident from one or two ministers that they did not appreciate having their past actions brought up. “We did not come here to chat casually, and the Hungarian people do not expect that from us either. They expect a precise and meticulous handover and for work to begin as soon as possible,” Péter Magyar said.

Addressing ministers who are not members of parliament and therefore did not hear his inaugural speech, he repeated that they “should be ashamed of themselves” for leaving the country in such a condition.

Péter Magyar said that former government members are legally obliged to cooperate and have signed declarations confirming the completeness of the materials handed over. He added that the received documents will now be processed.

Ministers provided information and files in different formats: some delivered paper documents in several boxes, others used USB drives, while the Ministry of Innovation submitted materials on DVD.

There were ministers, such as former Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, who “managed to comply with legal requirements” and handed over responsibilities according to the new governmental structure. However, former minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás “was unable to do so, but we will resolve that, and the current ministers will separate the files,” Péter Magyar said.

The prime minister stated that former Interior Minister Sándor Pintér requested an immediate and comprehensive investigation into himself, and that this will take place.

“The other ministers did not request this — for example, Antal Rogán did not — but an investigation concerning him will naturally also take place,” he added.

He remarked that former Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár “left the building, or the sinking ship, rather quickly,” while the others remained until the end.

Responding to a question, he said the cabinet accepted that outgoing government members would donate their severance payments to charitable causes.

He said the government itself would transfer the amount to the designated foundation. “We accepted this, and I believe the Hungarian people will accept it as well,” Péter Magyar stated, adding that they are awaiting declarations from state secretaries as to whether they too will waive the amount or direct it to charitable causes.

At a press conference during a break in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, the prime minister indicated that severance payments due to departing government members would not be paid out. Gergely Gulyás subsequently announced that ministers would donate the money to a charitable organisation in Transcarpathia.

Péter Magyar said ministers’ severance payments total HUF 350 million gross, but together with those of state secretaries the total amount reaches nearly HUF 1 billion.

The prime minister stated that some ministries had made smaller financial commitments since his inauguration, while in other cases the amounts involved reached billions of forints. Newly appointed ministers will comment on these matters after reviewing the documentation.

Regarding the future placement of ministries, he said a full report is being prepared, after which the final system will be established.

He added that ministries currently use both state-owned and privately owned buildings, including overpriced rental properties built by the “Tiborcz mafia circle.” Speaking about temporary ministry locations, he remarked that some may have to move more than once.

Péter Magyar said the Ministry of Economy will move into the previous Prime Minister’s Office building, where the head of the agricultural ministry will also be located, although the full staff will not fit in the building.

The cultural ministry will remain in its current location, while the education ministry will be housed in the Szalay Street building of its predecessor institution. The Ministry of Science and Technology will operate in the former ministry responsible for the economy and asset policy, while the Ministry of Transport and Investments will move into the MOL headquarters, the prime minister said.

Responding to a question, Péter Magyar said he had not spoken with Viktor Orbán since election night.

He added that there are matters they should discuss, but these will be resolved even without his predecessor. “There are authorities where he will have to appear,” he said, mentioning a future parliamentary committee of inquiry as an example.

Regarding public-interest asset management foundations, he said they would like to reform the system, as promised during the campaign. “It is not as much of a success story as the Orbán government tried to portray,” he noted.

He stressed that he specifically addressed Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky during consultations about this framework agreement.

“What Hungary needs is a functioning healthcare system, functioning education, real public security, recovered EU funds, a restarting economy, and functioning child protection — not spy satellites,” he said, stressing that the country has no need for the items included in the agreement.

Péter Magyar said ministers will propose candidates for state secretary positions, and the president of the republic will appoint them. This could happen this week, as efforts are being made to complete the team as quickly as possible.

Responding to a question about Fidesz politician Alexandra Szentkirályi saying she had been harassed in the street, Péter Magyar said it is unacceptable not only in the case of a politician but also for ordinary citizens if anyone is verbally or physically harassed.

However, he disagreed that the public atmosphere had deteriorated since the emergence of the Tisza Party, saying that everyone had seen how Tisza supporters had been threatened. He added that he has consistently spoken about preserving peace.

Artificial intelligence was used for the translation of parts of the original Hungarian text.