Peter Magyar, Hungary’s new political force, appointed Marton Mellethei-Barna as Justice Minister on April 30th, aiming to restore the rule of law.
New Justice Minister Appointed
Peter Magyar announced the appointment of Marton Mellethei-Barna as Hungary’s new Minister of Justice. Magyar stated the primary tasks will be “restoring the rule of law” and “creating a legal framework enabling the return of EU funds due to Hungary.”
He also expressed expectations for equal treatment under the law for all Hungarians, eliminating corruption, and rebuilding the professionalism of independent institutions and control bodies.
Mellethei-Barna’s Background
Marton Mellethei-Barna is the main lawyer for the Tisza party. He is a lawyer with twenty years of experience and was a classmate of Peter Magyar during law school.
He married Magyar’s sister in 2025. Mellethei-Barna was one of the first ten members of the Magyar party and provided financial support of two million forints (approximately 23,000 PLN) in its first year.
Early Career and Legal Work
Mellethei-Barna worked at the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) in Washington, D.C., representing victims of human rights violations in the Americas. He later became a consultant in competition and antitrust law at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Budapest.
In November 2007, he joined the Oppenheim law firm, continuing his work in global market regulation, competition law, and trade law. He founded his own law firm in 2020 and previously represented Magyar in several legal cases.
Tisza’s Electoral Victory
The Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, won the parliamentary elections on April 12th, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. The party secured 141 seats in the 199-member National Assembly, giving it a constitutional majority.