Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Resign Parliamentary Seat to Rebuild Fidesz-KDNP Party

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Saturday that he will give up his seat in parliament to focus on rebuilding his Fidesz-KDNP party following a landslide election loss two weeks ago.

Orbán, who has been a member of Hungary’s parliament since 1990 and served as prime minister since 2010, made the announcement in a video message posted on social media. He stated that he is stepping down from parliamentary duties to concentrate on reorganizing his political camp, which he referred to as the “patriotic movement.”

“I am needed not in Parliament but in the organization of the patriotic movement,” Orbán said in the video message. “Discussions are in full swing about renewing the patriotic camp, strengthening our parliamentary group and protecting our communities.”

The decision comes after the April 12 parliamentary election, in which Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition suffered a significant defeat. The opposition Tisza Party, led by Péter Magyar, secured a two-thirds supermajority in the National Assembly, winning 141 of the 199 seats. This result ended Orbán’s 16-year tenure as prime minister and marked the first time since 2006 that Fidesz-KDNP did not win a parliamentary election.

Fidesz-KDNP won only 52 seats in the election, a sharp decline from its previous performance. Orbán acknowledged the loss in his statement, emphasizing that his focus would now be on rebuilding the party rather than holding a parliamentary seat.

Orbán said he plans to remain in charge of Fidesz and intends to seek re-election as party leader in June to maintain his position within the organization.

Péter Magyar is set to take over as prime minister on May 9. With the Tisza Party holding more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats, it has the authority to amend Hungary’s Fundamental Law and reverse many of the policies enacted during Orbán’s time in office, including changes to media laws and democratic institutions that critics say were eroded under his leadership.

Orbán’s departure from parliament does not signal a complete withdrawal from politics. Instead, he framed his move as a strategic shift to strengthen the nationalist-populist base of his party in preparation for future electoral contests.