Hungary's Magyar Defends Brother-in-Law Justice Minister Pick

Hungary's incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar defended his appointment of brother-in-law Márton Melléthei-Bar na as Minister of Justice on Thursday, amid criticism from opposition figures who labeled it nepotistic.

Melléthei-Bar na, a lawyer and longtime legal director for Magyar's Tisza Party, was named alongside Gábor Pósfai as Interior Minister, completing the cabinet lineup ahead of the new government's inauguration on May 9. The Tisza Party secured 141 seats in the April 12 parliamentary elections, ousting the Fidesz-KDNP alliance, which won 52 mandates.

Magyar, in a social media video, praised Melléthei-Bar na's qualifications. "The future justice minister's domestic and international career, high quality work and vision are unquestionable," he said. "He has been part of our movement for regime change from the very beginning." A 2004 law graduate from Pázmány Péter Catholic University and former colleague of Magyar, Melléthei-Bar na worked at international firms like Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Hungarian firm Oppenheim, specializing in competition law and regulatory matters. He helped shape Tisza's legal strategy, represented the party on the National Election...