Orbán Re-Elected as Fidesz Leader Despite Party's Election Loss

Viktor Orbán was re-elected as leader of Hungary's main opposition party, Fidesz, on Saturday despite the party's loss in April's election to the centre-right Tisza party.

The vote took place at Fidesz’s party congress, where 729 out of 737 delegates supported Orbán for another term. There were no challengers in the election. Orbán, who served as Hungary's prime minister from 2010 to 2024, has been a controversial figure known for promoting an 'illiberal' model of democracy that inspired right-wing conservatives across Europe and the United States.

Orbán acknowledged the party’s defeat but vowed not to give up. He told delegates, 'I do not give up, I never, never, never, never, never give up.' He took full responsibility for the election loss and emphasized the need for Fidesz to transform into a functional opposition party capable of regaining power.

The Tisza party, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, won a two-thirds parliamentary majority in April. This victory allows them to reverse Orbán’s constitutional changes that had eroded judicial independence, media freedom, and other democratic institutions. The new government plans to amend the constitution to remove officials appointed by Orbán and drop his veto against Ukraine's EU membership aspirations.

The political shift has also impacted Hungary’s relationship with the European Union. The EU announced it would unlock €16.4 billion of the €18 billion earmarked for Hungary, which had been frozen due to concerns over democratic backsliding, corruption, and LGBTQ rights issues under Orbán's leadership.

Hungarian members of parliament have passed a constitutional amendment limiting prime ministerial terms to eight years. The reform effectively prevents former longtime leader Viktor Orban from a potential return to power. Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of the amendment on Monday, despite opposition from Orban’s Fidesz party. One hundred and fifty MPs voted for the amendment, while 50 were against and six abstained.

The change was a major campaign promise of Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza party, which won a landslide victory in April’s parliamentary elections, ending Orbán's 16 years in power. Reform of the political system is one of the first major changes introduced by Magyar as he seeks to improve Budapest’s relations with the European Union.

In his first weeks in office, the Hungarian PM has pledged to lead the country to adopt the euro currency. Last week, he agreed to lift Hungary’s longstanding veto against Ukraine’s accession process to join the EU. Kyiv officially started down that track on Monday.