“I never give up.” Viktor Orbán was re-elected leader of Fidesz, despite defeat in the parliamentary elections
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was re-elected on Saturday (13 June) as leader of Hungary's opposition Fidesz party for another year.
Viktor Orban/PHOTO: Profimedia
The 62-year-old nationalist Orban was a source of inspiration for right-wing conservatives in Europe and the United States, being considered the architect of what he called an “illiberal” model of democracy, writes News.ro.
Although his political future looked uncertain after the severe defeat suffered by Fidesz, and some former collaborators called on him to step down, Viktor Orbán was re-elected as party leader with overwhelming support.
At the Fidesz congress, 729 of the 737 delegates voted for his re-election, with no opposition.
“I don't give up, never, never, never, never, never give up”Orban declared in front of the congress in a speech held before the vote, reiterating that he takes full responsibility for the electoral defeat of the party.
Orban said that Fidesz had been a “fantastic governing party” for 16 years, but that it needed to undergo changes to become a functioning opposition party that was ready to govern again.
In April, incumbent Prime Minister Peter Magyar's TISZA party won a two-thirds parliamentary majority, enough to overturn Orban's proposed constitutional changes.
According to opinion polls, Fidesz has lost popularity since the election. A poll conducted in May by the Publicus Institute showed Tisza enjoying 55% support, up from 53% in the election, while support for Fidesz fell to 17% from 39%.
