Hungary’s incoming government will feature a historic first: a blind person appointed to lead a government ministry.
According to the designated prime minister, Peter Magyar, Vilmos Katai-Nemeth — a lawyer and black belt in Aikido — will serve as the country’s Social and Family Minister. Magyar said the appointment is fitting, given that the ministry oversees accessibility and equal opportunity.
“As a visually impaired person, he understands the challenges faced by people with disabilities from personal experience,” Magyar stated.
Katai-Nemeth lost his sight at the age of 16 and has since developed a self-defense method tailored for visually impaired individuals.
The announcement was made on Friday, April 24, 2026, ahead of the new parliament’s constitutive session scheduled for May 9, when Magyar is set to be sworn in as prime minister, succeeding Viktor Orbán after 16 years in office.
In related nominations, Magyar similarly named education researcher Judit Lannert as his choice for Education Minister.
