Next-gen Fidesz? PM Orbán ousts lots of MPs to thrive in the 2026 elections
In the run-up to the 2026 elections, Fidesz has begun a spectacular purge within its ranks. They are planning to replace current MPs and constituency chairmen on an almost unprecedented scale. In doing so, the Fidesz party is not only updating its political image, but also sending out a clear message: in addition to stability, the party is also ready for renewal.
According to Szabad Európa, the extent of the change is illustrated by estimates that up to 40 current MPs could be replaced. Fidesz has structured its regional organisation around 106 single-member constituencies, the presidents elected there will automatically be candidates for the seats. So replacing local chairpersons would mean a complete renewal of the political “blood circulation”.
Experience is no longer enough in the Fidesz party, time for some fresh faces
The change is being felt at all levels. In Borsod, for example, names who have represented Fidesz for decades are being dropped. Richárd Hörcsik, who has been a member of parliament since 1990, and Gábor Riz, who has been a key figure in the region since 2010, are now being pushed into the background. Yet both have produced impressive electoral results in the past. In Miskolc, János Kiss is also saying goodbye, even though he managed to defeat his left-wing opponent in a close battle in 2022. This shows that for the party, it is not past results but future chances that count.
The new candidates include a number of local political figures who represent a fresher image than before. In Csongrád county, for example, Gábor Czirbus, deputy mayor of Makó after the retirement of János Lázár, will be the new challenger. In Vas county, Csaba Hende will be replaced by Zoltán Vámos, the county’s chief bailiff. In Győr, too, a new era begins, with Ákos Kara being replaced by Dávid Fekete, who led the local Fidesz faction. In Pécs, László Őri will try to win back the city for Fidesz.
Radical changes in Budapest
In the capital, the change is particularly drastic: in 17 of the 18 constituencies, the former candidates have been completely replaced. This is partly due to the fact that Fidesz has fought almost exclusively losing battles in Budapest in recent years.
Among the departures are well-known politicians such as Zsolt Németh, one of the party’s founders and a member of Fidesz’s parliamentary group since 1990. But Szilárd Németh, the “respectable” Németh, Botond Sára, the former government commissioner, and Balázs Fürjes, who was formerly in charge of Budapest’s development, are also missing. The only exception is Mónika Dunai, who won in Rákosmente in 2022. She is the only one who, for the time being, could keep her seat.
The generational transition is not entirely peaceful. In Érd, for example, the party leadership’s push for a candidate who had performed poorly in the mayoral elections, despite the protests of the local KDNP organisation, caused serious tensions. The incumbent, András Aradszki, who had previously won his district by a convincing margin, did not get another chance, despite having announced his intention to run. Katalin Kardosné Gyurkó was rumoured to be backed by Viktor Orbán himself. Similar situations have occurred elsewhere, which shows that change is not always the result of unanimous decisions, but often involves a strong central will.
End of an era?
There are several factors behind this. One of the most important is electoral competitiveness: the party has realised that it is not possible to give fresh impetus to campaigns with outdated, often politically worn-out faces. In addition, social changes, the emergence of new voters, the changing political climate in big cities, require a fresh approach. Younger generations are harder to reach with old political actors.
The current transformation may also mark the end of an era: Fidesz is slowly saying goodbye to the politicians who played a decisive role in the first decades after the fall of communism. They are being replaced by new players who, if successful, could shape the party’s future for decades to come. The scale and pace of change shows that Fidesz not only wants to respond to challenges, but also to proactively shape its political environment. The only question is whether the electorate is ready to accept the new faces and whether the party can maintain its political supremacy with the new generation.
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