Last-minute decision before the inauguration of Hungary's new government after allegations of nepotism
Márton Melléthei-Barna has withdrawn his candidacy for the position of Minister of Justice in the future government of Hungary, following criticism regarding his family ties with future Prime Minister Péter Magyar, writes News.ro quoting POLITICO.
The lawyer – who is married to Magyar's sister, Anna Ilona Melléthei-Barna – said he was stepping down to avoid undermining public confidence in the country's political transition.
“To ensure that not the slightest shadow would hang over the transition, I consulted with Péter Magyar and agreed that it would best serve the interests of the country and the TISZA government” if another candidate took over the role, he wrote in a Facebook post late Thursday.
Melléthei-Barna insisted that his appointment would have been “unquestionable from a legal, political, moral and human point of view”, but admitted that his “family ties and friendship with the prime minister” had become a distraction at a politically sensitive time.
His change of heart comes less than a week after Magyar publicly defended his decision to appoint his brother-in-law to one of the most powerful posts in the Hungarian government. Describing Melléthei-Barna's professional competence as “indisputable”, the prime minister-designate argued that concerns about nepotism were understandable but manageable.
Magyar also said that his sister, who is a judge at the Central Court of Pest, will resign from her position “to avoid even the appearance of an interweaving of powers.”
Magyar unveiled his first list of ministers on April 20, days after defeating Viktor Orbán in legislative elections, ending the nationalist leader's 16-year rule.
The new nomination to Justice
Following Melléthei-Barna's withdrawal, Magyar announced on Friday that he had nominated Márta Görög, dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Szeged, for the post of justice minister. The lawyer is the regional president of the Hungarian Bar Association and a member of the section of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences specialized in legal matters.
Hungary's new parliament convenes on Saturday for its inaugural session, during which Magyar will be officially named prime minister.
