Leaked – PM Orbán behind closed doors: 2026 can mark the end

To journalists, Orbán and his leading politicians downplay Péter Magyar’s party, claiming the movement will discredit itself in the coming years, leaving people with no choice but to vote for Orbán and his Fidesz party in the 2026 general elections. However, behind closed doors, a different picture emerges. It appears even the Hungarian PM is considering a possible defeat at the hands of the newly-formed Tisza Party.

Orbán’s decade-old strategy collapsed on 9th June

PM Viktor Orbán delivers three key strategic addresses each year. The first is his state-of-the-nation speech in February, the second at the Bálványos Summer Free University in July (held in Transylvania), and the third in Kötcse in August. In Kötcse, he addresses a select audience behind closed doors, allowing him to speak more freely. Szabad Európa obtained information about his remarks from an unnamed participant.

According to the source, the Hungarian PM acknowledged the success of the Tisza Party on 9th June. As a reminder, the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga achieved almost 30% of the vote in the European parliamentary elections, the highest percentage any political player has received since 2009.

Orbán stated that the central political landscape has collapsed, meaning they can no longer force voters to choose between Fidesz and former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány (and his Democratic Coalition). Therefore, they must win debates on key policy areas such as healthcare and the railway system. The Hungarian PM’s concern is understandable, as Péter Magyar has been able to highlight these issues throughout the summer. Magyar discussed the intolerable conditions doctors face in hospitals without proper air-conditioning, the dire state of the Hungarian State Railways, and the struggles of the Hungarian education system.

Orbán to replace many MPs in 2026

Orbán admitted that Magyar’s party is likely to maintain its public support and will not fade away after a few missteps. He highlighted that the entire Hungarian political landscape has shifted.

Gábor Kubatov, the party director of Fidesz, revealed some additional shocking details about the 2026 elections at an open forum in Balatongyörök. Discussing the next general elections, he spoke of a potential neck-and-neck result. He added that they plan to replace one-third of their candidates in the constituencies because the party leadership is dissatisfied with their performance.

Orbán was critical of his government’s performance, particularly regarding the slow pace of bureaucracy in accessing available EU funds. As a result, €12 billion remains in Brussels, which could have stimulated the Hungarian economy over the next two years. He suggested that the more money they secure, the better, implying he does not expect further billions from Brussels.

Will the Prime Minister face more criticism over the struggling economy?

He also criticised his former ally, the governor of the Hungarian Central Bank, György Matolcsy. Matolcsy had criticised Orbán and his administration for overspending in 2022 to win the elections and for failing to tackle soaring inflation. Orbán’s political director, Balázs Orbán, condemned Matolcsy. The Hungarian PM stated that they no longer cooperate with Matolcsy, and in March 2025, one of his ministers will take over the central bank. Experts believe this will be Mihály Varga, a long-time ally of the Hungarian prime minister who has been a Fidesz MP since 1990.

We wrote HERE about two alleged strategies, which are not mutually exclusive, that Fidesz might use to secure victory in 2026. The first involves creating constituencies beyond the border for Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin. Given Orbán’s support is over 90% there, this could mean 7-8 or even more seats for him in the next parliament.

The second strategy, as covered by Bloomberg based on unnamed government sources, involves distributing substantial sums of money to voters, as they did in 2022. This approach resulted in Europe’s highest inflation and a halt in the Hungarian economy.

• HERE is our article about Orbán’s other announcements and promises in Kötcse.

Read also:

• President of Chad may invite Hungarian troops to his country during Budapest visit – read more HERE
• Washington Post: Orbán increasingly represents everything the EU opposes

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