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Orbán unveils Fidesz’s 2026 election line-up, vows campaign on “war, migration and gender threats”
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party officially launched its 2026 election campaign at a sprawling congress this week, presenting its slate of 106 individual parliamentary candidates while reaffirming Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s position as the party’s prime ministerial nominee. The event, lasting over three hours and featuring both domestic and international endorsements, set the tone for what Orbán described as a campaign centred on national security, migration, and what he termed the “gender threat”.
A mix of old and new faces
According to 444.hu’s report, Orbán opened the congress by emphasising continuity and loyalty, presenting 65 returning candidates alongside 41 newcomers. “At Fidesz, only Fidesz is better,” he said, framing the changes as necessary reforms despite the party’s four consecutive supermajority wins. He insisted that every candidate embodies the party’s core values, which he credited with Hungary’s economic successes and international stature.
Candidates were called to stand for a round of applause, though their names were not read aloud; they later appeared on a screen behind the stage for a group photo with Orbán.
The national list of candidates and the official confirmation of Orbán as Fidesz’s prime ministerial nominee will be revealed by 20 February, though Orbán made it clear there is no question of his candidacy.
Campaign themes: War, migration, and gender
Orbán outlined three main themes for the 2026 campaign: the threat of war in Europe, migration, and what he called gender ideology. He claimed that Brussels seeks to involve Hungary in the EU’s military plans, while also threatening national social and economic benefits, such as pension bonuses, family tax relief, and utility subsidies, to fund foreign conflicts.
On migration, Orbán portrayed Hungary as defending native Europeans against external threats, portraying opposition parties—particularly the Tisza Party and the Democratic Coalition (DK)—as willing to comply with Brussels’ demands. “If the Tisza government comes to power, the young generation will pay the price,” he warned.
Regarding gender issues, Orbán repeated his longstanding narrative that EU policies aim to undermine Christian European culture through so-called “gender propaganda,” insisting Hungary would resist these influences, 24.hu writes.
Domestic and international endorsements
The congress featured speeches from senior Fidesz figures, including parliamentary speaker László Kövér, faction leader Máté Kocsis, and ministers Péter Szijjártó, Gergely Gulyás, and Zsolt Semjén. Each reinforced the central campaign messages, combining rhetoric about national unity with pointed criticism of the opposition.
Several international political figures addressed the congress via pre-recorded video messages, including Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Czech ex-PM Andrej Babiš, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Each praised Orbán’s leadership and expressed confidence in Fidesz’s electoral prospects.
The event also included appearances from regional politicians, cultural figures, and celebrities, including singer Tóth Gabi and a video from Hollywood actor Rob Schneider endorsing Fidesz.
A campaign framed as a “choice of fate”
Throughout the congress, Orbán stressed the stakes of the upcoming election as existential. “In spring 2026, we will choose the fate of Hungary, not merely a government or party,” he said, framing the vote as a defence of national identity and Christian values. He warned that a Tisza or DK government would not only risk war involvement but also undermine Hungary’s social and economic protections.
Other Fidesz officials echoed this framing. Deputy Prime Minister Semjén linked gender and migration policies to threats against Christian faith, while State Secretary Menczer described the opposition as a risk to national security and prosperity. Fidesz party director Gábor Kubatov likened the opposition to a “seven-headed dragon,” vowing to defeat them decisively.
Closing the congress
Orbán concluded the congress by highlighting Hungary’s economic achievements under Fidesz, from wage growth to industrial expansion, and asserting the party’s readiness to continue governing. The final message was clear: the party intends to run a high-stakes campaign on national security, cultural preservation, and continuity, with Orbán at the helm.
It’s another Fidesz election campaign of hysterical bogeymen to distract you from the terrible economy, crumbling public services, paedophile scandals, and rampant corruption.
“It’s another Fidesz election campaign of hysterical bogeymen to distract you from the terrible economy, crumbling public services, pædophile scandals, and rampant corruption.”
You certainly can think about it this way, Dear Larry, or you can think that Fidesz, like every other incumbent party that has ever been in power anywhere on this earth, has a mixed record, and, that so, they are emphasizing what is positive in that.
If The Hungarian Left were serious about ever getting power, they would start working 2 years before an election to blunt strong Fidesz issues – such as resistance to Bruxelles overreach, as pertains to mass immigration, and the systemic sexualization of young children.
If they had done this with Magyar he would be on track to win by a sizeable margin.
As it stands, he is on track to losing, simply because he looks like yet another Trojan horse delivered courtesy of Bruxelles.
The Hungarian Left, the scions of Bruxelles, simply repeated the same campaigns they ran in previous years.
One of my favourite quotes by President Bill Clinton is ‘Continually repeating a failed strategy is the very definition of insanity.´´
Tell us about gas fitter Meszaros” private 57 million euro jet and his round the world luxury vacation he is now on all paid for by the money Fidesz stole from the Hungarian people.
Good Question Larry.
Now you won’t hear from the Russian BOT Mouton any more 😂
Can you please tell me, Dear Larry, what head of state does not dip into the till?
Am I right in understanding that you think Ursula van der Leyen, who profited untold millions of dollars from poisoning EU citizens with untried revolutionary vaccines, would be a better ruler of Hungary, behind the front of Magyar Péter?
Am I right in understanding that you think the EU, which worked relentlessly to start a war in the Ukraine, and then blame it on the Russians, and which has laundered untold zillions of dollars in that now very defunct country, and, as well, has now broken the EU economy, would be more trustworthy?
Am I right in understanding that you think the EU, which has shipped the once admirable and robust German economy out to different nations, all under the exigiencies of a trumped-up climate crisis, would be more trustworthy than the current Fidesz government?
Am I right in understanding that you think the EU, which has imported tens of millions of non-European fighting age males, to the continent, many of whom now soak up the pension accounts of Europeans, would be more trustworthy than the administration currently leading Hungary?
@Mouton – happy to give this a stab. And let’s debate facts and data, not fantasies. Constantly voicing conspiracy theories and exaggerations does not make them true.
First, the idea that every head of state “dips into the till” is a cynical generalization. There are countless examples of leaders who serve with integrity and are held to account by robust democratic systems. The EU, for all its flaws, has far more transparency and oversight than the autocratic tendencies we see in some national governments. Or your country, for that matter.
On Ursula von der Leyen and vaccines … The claim that she “profited untold millions” from COVID-19 vaccines is baseless. The vaccines were developed and approved under extraordinary scrutiny, and have saved millions of lives. Spreading the myth they were disigned to poison citizens is not only false, but dangerous. This is downright fearmongering (you must like your Mr. Kennedy … He will be judged by history). No evidence, right? Right?
Regarding Ukraine … The EU did not “start a war.” Russia invaded a sovereign neighbor. The EU’s support for Ukraine is about defending democracy and international law, not about laundering money or breaking economies. Blaming the EU for Russia’s aggression is a gross distortion of reality.
On the economy and climate … Germany’s economic challenges are real, but to claim the EU “shipped out” its economy under a “trumped-up climate crisis” ignores the global consensus on climate change and the need for action. The EU is leading the world in green innovation, which is the only sustainable path forward. And, yes – I will attend the WEF in Davos – where these matters will be hotly debated – https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/themes/ – guess that makes me a woke Elite?
As for migration … The numbers you cite are wildly exaggerated. The EU has not “imported tens of millions of fighting age males.” Migration is a complex issue, but scapegoating newcomers and blaming them for pension problems is misleading and divisive. Europe’s demographic challenges are driven by aging populations, not by migrants. Check out https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/document/download/fb2d0518-ba97-4052-8d17-8267cbfeaf13_en?filename=2024-ageing-report-country-fiche-Hungary.pdf – it is an older piece (14th month pension anyone) and we are spending 3-4 percent of GDP on encouraging children – however the numbers from page 11 on do the talking. Your proposed solutions are welcome – we urgently need them.
Finally, our Politicians have structurally undermined democratic norms, attacked independent media, and centralized power. If you think that’s more “trustworthy” than the EU’s checks and balances, I strongly disagree.
OK – rant over. Facts and data, @mouton. Please do engage the mind – you will find it a lot more rewarding than chasing clicks and emotional kneejerks. Or is that the point?
Ladies and Gentlemen Russian bot Mouton now officially excuses Fidesz theft of the money of Hungarians. The day will come when the state perpetrates political imprisonment and violence against opponents and you can be sure that this bot will find a way to excuse that too. It’s all part of the downhill path of Hungary under a criminal regime. It’s time to kick the criminals OUT.
“Verdict: (@Mouton is) Most likely a political bot or automated response system, possibly augmented with AI, designed to defend Fidesz and deflect criticism toward the EU. The formulaic structure, context errors, and complete avoidance of the specific question are telltale signs of automation.”