Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, has nominated his brother-in-law, Márton Melléthei-Barna, as justice minister, prompting criticism and calls for stricter rules on family ties in government.
Melléthei-Barna, a lawyer and legal director of the Tisza Party, is a long-time associate of Magyar and a former university classmate who has played a central role in building the movement’s legal framework.
The nomination contradicts earlier political messaging from Magyar about avoiding family-based power structures, where he warned against building a “family-run system” in public life. Supporters say Melléthei-Barna’s professional track record and legal expertise justify the choice.
Magyar has acknowledged that the decision raised dilemmas, but has said transparency safeguards will be introduced to avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest as his incoming government prepares to take office.
The appointment has, however, drawn immediate political reaction. Leader of 2RK party Gábor Vona announced he would submit a legislative proposal dubbed “Lex brother-in-law”, aimed at preventing close relatives from holding senior government or state-linked positions at the same time.
This is not the only controversial appointment made by the incoming government. Péter Magyar named the final members of his 16-member cabinet this week, but the appointment of economist and businessman Gábor Pósfai as Minister of the Interior, for example, has also drawn criticism, with questions raised about his professional qualifications. Similarly, the appointment of Judit Lannert as Minister of Education was met with skepticism due to her previous liberal-leaning statements.
