Orbán breaks silence on future plans after failed election bid
Hungary's still-serving premier Viktor Orbán (photo: Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is still in office, has announced that he is giving up his parliamentary mandate. However, he said he will continue leading the Fidesz party if its members decide so at the party congress.
Orbán said that a meeting of the presidium of his Fidesz party has concluded, and the political force decided to "fundamentally reform" its parliamentary faction, which will be formed on Monday. It will be headed by Gergely Gulyás, while Orbán plans to relinquish his parliamentary seat.
"The mandate I received as the leader of the Fidesz–Christian Democratic People's Party list is, in fact, a parliamentary mandate of Fidesz, so I decided to return it. At this point, it is needed not in parliament, but for the reorganization of the national movement," the still-serving premier said.
A nationwide party meeting is scheduled for next week, while the congress to elect the leadership has been postponed to June.
"For almost four decades, I have led our community. During this time, we have experienced successes and failures, electoral victories and defeats. But one thing has remained unchanged: this camp has always been the most cohesive and unified political community in Hungary, and that unity is now especially needed," Orbán said.
He added that the presidium is proposing that he continue to lead Fidesz, and if the congress approves this decision, he will not refuse.
Recently, the Tisza party of Péter Magyar strengthened its position in the Hungarian parliament following the final vote count, giving the new government full freedom to pursue constitutional changes.
As reported, Hungary's parliamentary elections were held on April 12. The Tisza party led by Péter Magyar won the vote, after which Viktor Orbán conceded defeat and congratulated his opponents.
