Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban secured another year as head of the Fidesz party during Saturday’s leadership vote, even after his party suffered a significant electoral setback on April 12 when they lost control to the centre-right Tisza party.
The 62-year-old nationalist politician, who became a model for right-wing conservative movements throughout Europe and America through his self-described “illiberal” approach to democracy, faced questions about his political career following the electoral defeat.
For the first time since taking power in 2010, Orban encountered open criticism from former supporters who urged him to step away from political life after Fidesz lost its governing position.
During the party’s congress, 729 out of 737 delegates cast ballots in favor of keeping Orban as their leader, with no other candidates seeking the position, according to state news agency MTI.
“I do not give up, I never, never, never, never, never give up,” Orban declared to congress members during his pre-vote address, while acknowledging his complete accountability for the party’s electoral failure.
The former Prime Minister described Fidesz as having served as a “fantastic governing party” for 16 years, but emphasized the organization must transform itself into an effective opposition force capable of returning to power.
During April’s election, Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza party secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority, providing sufficient votes to overturn Orban’s previous constitutional modifications.
Public opinion surveys indicate Fidesz has continued losing ground since the election. The Publicus Institute’s May polling showed Tisza enjoying 55% public support, an increase from their 53% election result, while Fidesz dropped to 17% from their previous 39% showing.
