Peter Magyar to Be Sworn in as Hungary's Prime Minister

Peter Magyar is set to be sworn in as Hungary's prime minister on Saturday, nearly a month after his Tisza party secured a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The party holds 141 seats in the 199-seat parliament, up from zero after being founded two years ago.

Viktor Orban's Fidesz party dropped from 135 to 52 seats. A large celebration of freedom and democracy is planned in front of parliament in Budapest. Magyar has told Hungarians to step through the gateway of regime change. He has promised a change of system as well as a change of government.

It is not known whether Orban will attend the opening session of parliament.

An incoming minister told the BBC that the main priority is to set up the government on the ruins of the previous one. The new government is preparing to face a grim economic situation although the severity is not yet known. A spending spree by the outgoing government in the past eight months added to years in which state contracts and funds were directed to business circles close to Fidesz.

The budget deficit has already swollen close to the planned target for the whole year.

The incoming government has said there will be no revenge against the outgoing government but those guilty of financial crimes will be held accountable. A new office to recover stolen assets will be established. An incoming minister said authorities are talking about investigations and actions in line with the rule of law.

A source close to the prosecutor's office told the BBC that the small number of prosecutions of prominent figures in the past is turning into a steady flow. The source said people are now coming forward and more evidence is suddenly available. Police have opened investigations targeting a media empire that won millions in government contracts over the past decade.

The accounts of some of the companies have been frozen. Separately, authorities are examining the National Cultural Fund and an Urban Civil Fund with a budget of 57.2 million pounds over allegations it may have channelled money to Fidesz candidates.

The new government must address the urgent need to release 17 billion euros in various EU funds that were withheld from the previous administration. Commission sources in Brussels suggested last week that some of the Hungarian money may be lost. Hungary remains subject to a 1 million euro daily fine for non-compliance with European Court of Justice rulings on its treatment of migrants.

The EU migrant pact is due to come into full force on 12 June. Recent surveys indicate that Tisza voters share concerns about irregular migration and Ukraine's potential EU membership. Magyar has said Hungary still needs Russian oil and gas supplies in the short term.

An incoming minister expressed optimism about cooperation with the EU and said the government is there to serve the people and fulfil its mandate. >"I'm not worried, I'm excited... We are serving the country. We are serving the people. We are not here to rule.

We are here to serve.