Hungary’s political landscape has dramatically shifted following the April 12th parliamentary election, ending Viktor Orbán’s sixteen-year reign as prime minister.

Orbán Steps Down From Parliament

Viktor Orbán announced on Saturday, via a video posted on social media, that he will not be taking his seat in parliament. Instead, he intends to dedicate his efforts to rebuilding and reorganizing his nationalist-populist political community, which he refers to as the “national side.”

Landslide Election Results

The election marked a resounding defeat for Orbán, with a center-right challenger winning a two-thirds majority in parliament. The challenger campaigned on a platform of tackling widespread corruption and restoring democratic institutions.

The winning party secured 141 seats out of 199 in parliament, the largest majority in Hungary’s post-Communist history. Orbán’s Fidesz party will be reduced to 52 seats, a significant decline from their previous 135.

Focus on Political Reorganization

Orbán described his party’s caucus as undergoing a “radical transformation” and underscored the long-standing unity of his political camp, which he has led for nearly four decades. He intends to strengthen his political base rather than participate in parliamentary procedures.

New Government Priorities

The incoming government has pledged to prioritize the restoration of the rule of law and democratic principles, alongside a commitment to holding accountable those implicated in corruption. This represents a significant departure from Orbán’s policies.

The new parliament is scheduled to convene on May 9th, marking the first time since 1990 that Orbán will not be a member of parliament. He will remain as president of his Fidesz party, pending a leadership election at the party’s congress in June.