At 10 AM on Friday, Magyar launched a live broadcast<\/a> from outside the heavily guarded government complex, accompanied by Interior Minister G\u00e1bor P\u00f3sfai, Construction and Transport Minister D\u00e1vid Vit\u00e9zy, and former National Bureau of Investigation captain Bence Szab\u00f3.<\/p>\n Speaking on site, Magyar said the cordon around the Carmelite Monastery had stood since 2021 and called on the interior minister to remove it completely. The group then symbolically began dismantling part of the barrier.<\/p>\n Journalists allowed behind the barricades<\/p>\n According to Telex reporters<\/a> at the scene, journalists were subsequently allowed behind the cordon protecting the building, a move intended to demonstrate a new level of openness following the change of government.<\/p>\n Magyar also recalled that in 2007, Orb\u00e1n and Fidesz MPs had themselves dismantled the barricades around Parliament during anti-government protests. Referring to that moment, Magyar declared that \u201cthere will be no more cordons in Hungary\u201d.<\/p>\n The Carmelite Monastery, located in Budapest\u2019s Castle District, served as Orb\u00e1n\u2019s office for years and became one of the defining symbols of his government.<\/p>\n Vit\u00e9zy criticises spending priorities under previous government<\/p>\n During Friday\u2019s appearance, Vit\u00e9zy criticised the former administration\u2019s spending policies, arguing that while numerous major infrastructure projects were halted in recent years under former construction minister J\u00e1nos L\u00e1z\u00e1r, \u201chundreds of billions of forints\u201d were still available for government buildings in the Castle District.<\/p>\n He also claimed that the public had never been consulted about those investments.<\/p>\n Magyar has toured former government buildings in recent days<\/p>\n Over the past week, Magyar has repeatedly visited former government sites in the Buda Castle area. In videos published online, he showcased the interior of the Carmelite Monastery as well as the recently renovated Interior Ministry building, reportedly refurbished at a cost of billions of forints.<\/p>\n Following the Tisza Party\u2019s election victory, Magyar announced that he would not govern from the Carmelite Monastery as prime minister. Instead, his office will be based at the former Ministry of Construction and Transport building at 5 Alkotm\u00e1ny Street in Budapest.<\/p>\n Claims of document destruction in ministries<\/p>\n When Magyar first visited the Carmelite earlier this week alongside several ministers and advisers, he claimed his government had received information suggesting that document destruction was still taking place inside ministries despite previous orders to stop it.<\/p>\n He also alleged that caretaker ministers appointed by the outgoing Tisza government were continuing to undertake financial commitments.<\/p>\n On Monday, Magyar described the Carmelite complex as \u201ca symbol of extravagance and hate propaganda\u201d, adding that his government intended to manage public resources \u201cfar more responsibly\u201d.<\/p>\n He further stated that the aim of opening the building to the public was to show Hungarians \u201cthe place from where the country was governed\u201d and where decisions were made that, in his view, contributed to Hungary becoming \u201cthe poorest and most corrupt country in the European Union\u201d over the past 15 to 20 years.<\/p>\n Carmelite Monastery and former Rog\u00e1n ministry to open to the public<\/p>\n During the press briefing, Magyar announced that the building would be opened to visitors for an extended period, allowing anyone to tour the former prime ministerial headquarters free of charge.<\/p>\n Magyar also revealed that the former building of the Prime Minister\u2019s Cabinet Office in Budapest\u2019s Castle District \u2014 previously used by the ministry led by Antal Rog\u00e1n \u2014 would be opened to the public this coming weekend. The building is set to house the government\u2019s future social affairs ministry.<\/p>\n The prime minister added that his government was also attempting to regain ownership of the former Interior Ministry building on the Pest side of the capital, which he said had been sold to Arab investors by the previous administration.<\/p>\n Visitors can book tours through new website<\/p>\n![\"carmelite](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/carmelite-cordons-barriers-magyar-vitezy-posfai2.webp\")
Photo: MTI<\/p>\n