Former Hungarian Prime Minister and Fidesz leader Viktor Orbán has accused the government of Prime Minister Péter Magyar of leading Hungary “towards authoritarian rule”, escalating a heated political confrontation over the government’s proposed constitutional reforms.
In a Facebook post published on Saturday, Orbán defended former President János Áder, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the government’s plan to remove President Tamás Sulyok through the proposed 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law.
Orbán: ‘Aggression, intimidation and threats’
“János Áder stood up for the rule of law. Calmly and with rational arguments,” Orbán wrote. He then criticised the government’s response to Áder’s remarks.
“What happened afterwards was plain for everyone to see: aggression, threats and intimidation. It is a direct road towards authoritarian rule. This is where the Tisza government stands. We must not allow it.”
Orbán ended his post with the hashtag #StopAuthoritarianism (translated from the Hungarian #StopÖnkény), a slogan that has recently appeared in posts by several Fidesz politicians.
Dispute between Áder and PM Magyar intensifies
The exchange follows comments made by former President János Áder earlier this week, when he described the planned removal of President Tamás Sulyok as unconstitutional during an appearance on Hungarian public media’s Do I Still Need to Say Anything, Ildikó? podcast.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar responded by accusing Áder of benefiting from public funds through the Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation, which Áder chairs. Magyar referred to the former president as a “public money fisherman” and alleged that public funds had been channelled through the foundation for years, while also highlighting the benefits provided to former heads of state, including an official residence, staff and a monthly allowance.
Áder has since demanded that the prime minister either provide evidence supporting his allegations or publicly apologise. Instead, Magyar has continued his criticism, including publishing a drone video of Áder’s official residence.
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