The party director of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz reveals how they aim to win in 2026

Gábor Kubatov, party director of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz, has admitted that the ruling party is fighting to win “every single day” as it gears up for the 2026 general election. Should they lose even a single day, he said, the immediate priority is to analyse the reasons behind the setback.

A new campaign manager takes the helm

Kubatov—one of Mr Orbán’s longest-standing allies and chairman of Ferencváros, one of Hungary’s oldest and most successful football clubs—outlined the party’s strategy in an interview with Mandiner, a pro-government outlet.

According to infostart.hu, which summarised the exchange, Kubatov discussed the shifting media landscape and the rapid rise of Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party. He revealed that Fidesz has adopted a far more agile, day-to-day campaign structure, now led by Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s political director. This represents a significant departure from previous campaigns steered by MEP András Gyürk and Antal Rogán, the powerful head of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office—frequently dubbed Mr Orbán’s “propaganda minister”.

Winning every day is essential

Kubatov stressed the importance of relentless activity. “I must post at least five times a day,” he said. The speed of modern political communication, he argued, leaves no room for hesitation; a politician who waits until 4pm to rebut an attack cannot expect to appear in the evening news cycle.

In 2014, 83 per cent of Hungarian voters relied on television for their news. Today, that figure has fallen below 40 per cent.

Tisza Party maintains a commanding lead

Péter Magyar burst onto the political scene after the presidential clemency scandal in February 2024. At first, he aimed his attacks squarely at Mr Rogán and his circle, but as momentum built, his criticism broadened to target the prime minister and his entire system. In last June’s European Parliament elections, Magyar secured more than 30 per cent of the vote—opening up a striking lead over Fidesz.

Magyar warns that, should Mr Orbán remain in power, Hungary’s economic malaise will deepen and real incomes will continue to erode. He predicts further freezes on EU funding due to rule-of-law disputes, and argues that the government’s “pro-Moscow” posture risks isolating Hungary within both the EU and NATO.

Meanwhile, the prime minister has escalated his attacks, accusing Magyar of acting as a Brussels stooge executing EU directives. He also brands the Tisza Party “pro-war”, alleging it would drag Hungary into conflict with Russia. Fidesz officials further claim—citing a document of doubtful provenance—that a Tisza-led government would impose steep tax rises and slash benefits.

Read also:

• PM Viktor Orbán: This will be our last election before the war
• PM Orbán is making steady strides towards another significant victory, but can Péter Magyar turn the tide?

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