Hungary Adopts Constitutional Amendment Keeping Orbán Out of Power

On the day of the parliamentary vote, the Fidesz party confirmed Viktor Orbán as its chairman at a party congress. The confirmation came despite the fact that Fidesz had suffered a heavy defeat in the most recent election, described in reporting as a "Wahl-Debakel." Orbán had previously declared that he did not intend to change course.

Background: Fidesz's Election Debacle

The constitutional amendment contributes to formally keeping Orbán out of governmental responsibility, while he continues to play a central role in Fidesz as party chairman. Observers interpret this as the party's attempt to balance the challenge between personal continuity and institutional separation.

Political actors point out that the vote in parliament was carried by a clear majority. The constitutional amendment is part of a broader process in which Hungary has been undergoing a personnel and programmatic upheaval since the election. The role of the opposition forces, including the Tisza party under Peter Magyar, remains present in the reporting.

The background to this development is an election that Fidesz lost clearly. The opposition Tisza party's election victory under Peter Magyar is described in media reports as a historic turning point. Fidesz initially responded by confirming its leadership around Orbán, but then took an institutional step with the constitutional amendment, drawing the consequences from the election result.

Tension Between Party Congress and Parliament

With the constitutional amendment, an election promise is being fulfilled that the parliamentary majority had made to voters. At the same time, Fidesz sends a signal of unity to its own base by internally confirming Orbán. The two processes — the constitutional amendment and the party congress confirmation — thus stand in a tense relationship to each other.

The next political steps in Budapest will show how the relationship between Fidesz, Tisza, and the state institutions develops. Observers expect the constitutional amendment to enter into force in the short term and to influence government formation.