Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced his new cabinet on April 27. While on the whole there were few surprises, and most senior ministers retained their posts, Orban said he is scrapping the development ministry amid a shift in focus to the high tech sector.

The tasks previously carried out by the development ministry, created in 2010, will be delegated to a new ministry focusing on innovation and technology and another led by Hungary’s only female minister, who will be in charge of the management of national assets.

During Orban's first term the development ministry oversaw energy policy and state-owned companies, R&D issues, transport and infrastructure development. Between 2010 and 2014 it was headed by ministers close to Lajos Simicska, the former Fidesz cashier and a college friend of Orban, but after Orban broke ties with Simicska in 2015 he shook up the ministry with new personnel and it gradually lost its importance, with many of its tasks delegated to the Prime Minister's Office. 

Laszlo Palkovics will rise to ministerial rank, heading the Ministry for Innovation and Technology, after serving as state secretary for education at the human resources ministry. This clearly signals the government's intentions to focus more on high-tech and innovation to put Hungary on a higher growth path as the country is facing slower growth by all forecasts due to the possible cuts in EU transfers after 2021.

Former monetary council member Andrea Bartfai-Mager will be appointed minister without portfolio for the management of national assets, becoming the only woman at ministerial level in the fourth Orban cabinet. She has been government commissioner for postal affairs and national financial services since 2016.

Continuity in key positions 

No change is expected in economic policy, meanwhile, as Orban has voted confidence in Mihaly Varga, who is apparently lobbying for the creation of a separate finance ministry.

Also retaining their posts are other key ministers such as Peter Szijjarto at the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Minister of Justice Laszlo Trocsanyi. Minister of the Interior Sandor Pinter begins his third straight term in the job, while another stalwart team member, the Christian Democrat (KDNP) leader Zsolt Semjen, is set to remain as deputy prime minister.

Orban has also let the minister without portfolio for the Paks nuclear power plant expansion stay in his post. 

Orban loses chief of staff Lazar

One of the key changes will be Prime Minister's Office leader Janos Lazar leaving government office to return to local politics. Lazar's departure is a clear loss to Orban, as his chief of staff has been known for his diligence and hard-work. He was a loyal but sometimes critical figure in the Fidesz government, the only minister in the cabinet to go against the will of Orban, but he knew the limits. 

At some point, his name popped up as a potential prime minister candidate, should Orban assume the presidency in 2022. However, any plans of turning Hungary into a presidential democracy have been categorically denied by Orban. 

Lazar will be replaced by Fidesz's young caucus leader Gergely Gulyas, who will also be in charge of the weekly press conferences that had become a hallmark of his predecessor.

Lazar's press conferences had become the only forum for journalists, including those from opposition media, to get relevant information on the government's plans. Fidesz MPs boycotted news media run by Simicska after he criticised Orban for his pro-Russian stance and autocratic leadership.

Lazar's departure from the government will likely strengthen the position of his party rival Antal Rogan, who oversees government communications. Described as Orban's right-hand man, Rogan is credited for the successful anti-migrant propaganda of the party, which helped Fidesz secure a third straight supermajority. 

Unsuccessful mega-ministry to stagger on

Orban named a newcomer, university professor Miklos Kasler, director of the National Oncology Institute, to lead the human resources ministry. According to local media, Kasler wanted to change the structure of the broad-ranging ministry, which encompasses education, health care, and social welfare, but the prime minister disagreed and rejected the idea. 

The ministry has been the target of criticism as health care and education are widely regarded as areas where the government has performed poorly. Hungary has slipped back in both areas in various international rankings over the past four years. Orban shrugged off these criticisms, but after his third supermajority victory, voices inside the ruling Fidesz party are also calling for reforms and more funding for these two strategic sectors. 

Contrary to previous press reports, Orban did not promote Katalin Novak, the state secretary for youth and family affairs, to a ministerial position in the new cabinet. After the election victory, Orban named demographics as a key priority of his cabinet, promising more measures to increase birthrates. Despite an increase of the fertility rate to 1.44, the percentage of women of reproductive age is now significantly lower than it was five to 10 years ago, which makes it a mounting challenge to overcome the demographic trap.

Lajos Kosa, who oversaw the government's grand HUF3.5 trillion city development programme, will not be part of the new cabinet. Hungarian media saw this as a demotion, which may have been linked to a quasi-corruption scandal that broke just before the elections. Kosa will be in charge of the Fidesz campaign for the 2019 local government elections.

In what local press described as a surprising appointment, Orban has named a professional soldier to lead the Ministry of Defence for the first time since the fall of Communism.

Hungary’s new government will be a national government, which regards its primary tasks as follows: preserving the culture of Europe and Hungary, which is based on Christian values; defending the country’s borders; creating full employment; supporting the commitment to have and raise children; and honouring Hungary’s elderly citizens, according to the statement by the government communication office.

The new government will take office at an inaugural session on Mary 8. Meanwhile, protest organisers say a big rally will be staged in front of the parliament on the same day, similar to the two anti-government protests earlier this month.