Fidesz’s leadership has tasked János Lázár with assessing the party’s internal condition, visiting its key organisations, holding consultations, providing direction and producing an internal assessment by September. Party members are also being asked for their views: not only are they being questioned about the reasons for the defeat, but also whether Fidesz should be dismantled and replaced by a new party or movement. There is even an opportunity to send a message to Viktor Orbán.
While the former prime minister is on holiday in the United States, Serbia and Croatia – or, according to some reports, holds discussions on a range of issues – Fidesz is pressing ahead with an internal assessment after suffering a historic defeat on April 12. According to rumours, the public face of the exercise is János Lázár, who once harboured ambitions of becoming prime minister and, alongside Orbán and former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó – now employed by BYD – was one of the faces of the losing 2026 campaign.
As is well known, Lázár held a series of nationwide “Lázár Info” meetings, at which anyone could put questions to him freely. In practice, however, the events were carefully organised, with a loyal Fidesz core always placed in the audience to help maintain the desired atmosphere.
The reasons for defeat are being examined without taboos
The party leadership is now seeking the views of Fidesz members and local organisations. Members may complete a confidential internal questionnaire covering a wide range of issues, from the reasons for the defeat to the possibility of establishing an entirely new party.
Among the potential explanations listed are that Fidesz became detached from everyday reality and from people’s concerns, and that voters grew dissatisfied as a result of economic difficulties. The questionnaire also raises the possibility that the party’s moral credibility was weakened by the presidential pardon scandal, the Szőlő Street affair and the intelligence scandal brought to light by Captain Bence Szabó.
Members are also asked whether voters simply failed to believe the excessively negative campaign, whether public money was handled irresponsibly, or whether the Tisza Party’s campaign and programme were simply more effective.
Could Fidesz cease to exist?
The questions go beyond explaining the defeat. The party is also examining how its internal communications and political style should change, Blikk reports. Respondents are asked about the need for a more direct, modern and positive tone, as well as what kind of opposition politics they expect from party members: a hard-line, combative approach or more professional and constructive criticism.
The questions concerning the party’s future go further still. Respondents are presented with options including a complete overhaul and rejuvenation of Fidesz, the creation of a new right-wing movement and, in the most radical scenario, the dissolution of Fidesz followed by the establishment of a new right-wing conservative party with a new generation of politicians.
The questionnaire also invites members to assess the suitability of several prominent politicians, including Péter Szijjártó, Gergely Gulyás, Tibor Navracsics and János Lázár, as well as Viktor Orbán. At the end, party members are given a separate opportunity to send a message directly to Orbán.
Lázár is not merely asking questions – he is preparing a report
Alongside the internal questionnaire, Lázár is personally assessing the condition of Fidesz’s organisations outside Budapest. According to Telex, he has so far concentrated mainly on counties west of the Danube and has also held talks with local constituency leaders in Szombathely.
His remit is broader still: he must map the state of the party’s entire nationwide infrastructure. This includes identifying where offices may need to be closed, gauging the mood within local organisations and determining how party members and local politicians view the defeat and Fidesz’s future.
One participant in the Szombathely meeting said Lázár had not delivered instructions, but had listened to local representatives discuss the organisational framework and renewal required for them to perform a constructive role in opposition. In addition to local leaders, a further 10 to 12 people representing the membership attended the meeting.
Decisions could come in September
Bertalan Havasi, Fidesz’s communications director, confirmed that the process was under way, but said it should not be regarded as a standalone “internal investigation”. Rather, it formed part of a comprehensive assessment of the party’s organisational, infrastructural and personnel position. Lázár had been given the mandate by the party chairman and the presidium, the Hungarian news agency wrote.
The report is due to be completed by September. Fidesz’s presidium will then assess the findings and, according to the announcement, take the necessary organisational, personnel and structural decisions. Havasi said the aim was to create a “clear, unified, decisive and consistent” Fidesz capable of preparing to confront Péter Magyar’s political movement from opposition.
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In other words, the current process does not yet justify the conclusion that Fidesz is definitely preparing for a complete transformation. What is clear, however, is that after the electoral defeat the party leadership is examining its operations, communications, local organisations, personnel and future political direction all at once. The questionnaire nevertheless shows that even the most radical options for change are now being considered by the presidium.
Blikk cites the latest Medián poll, according to which Fidesz stands at 19 per cent among the entire population, 22 per cent among those who know how they would vote and 23 per cent among decided voters. The party, which once governed with a two-thirds majority, is now at its weakest level in years.
Medián was the polling organisation that accurately predicted the final results of the April election. Before the vote, prominent figures in the Orbán government responded to its surveys with attacks and attempts to cast doubt on the organisation’s professional integrity.
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It’s a little bit like the Nazi Party getting together in late 1945 to assess their historic defeat and evaluate how it went wrong. Maybe this failed mafia organization can be reformed! More likely the top echelon are taking their huge pots of money and are leaving and let’s see how many end up living abroad and not in Hungary.
Interesting analogy, Dear Larry. Personally, I think, just a few months into the new administration, it is premature for Fidesz to take such drastic steps. No matter what Tisza and Magyar do, or don’t do, things will be different several years down the road. Nevertheless, one thing is for sure : with it’s mismanagement of Hungary’s finances, it will be hard for them to rehabilitate themselves in the public eye. More like is a trend we already see in the polling : Mi Hazánk will gradually be the beneficiary or a majority of those who grow disenchanted with Tisza.
The expression ‘flogging a dead horse’ springs to mind. I wouldn’t even derive succour from the 19-23% of voters that are sticking with Fidesz at present. This could easily halve until the next election in a more pluralistic media climate and when faced with the competence of the new government. Some will be drawn to Mi Hazank, others to Tisza and the data suggests that this is where the majority of defectors have landed since the election. The demographics are such that deaths over the next 3 years will serve to naturally erode the supporter base. If they run in the next election I reckon they’re heading for 10% of the votes but it might be in single figures.
Another apt expression: ‘they’re on a hiding to nothing’. It’s not a surprise that they’re publicly considering dissolving the party if they think that’s the most effective course of action.
So. the Viktator doesn’t know why he lost….it’s because of his corruption!
Maybe the corruption, that you alledge, of Orbán, did play a factor, Cigányország – but, I think what the principle reason for the loss was the lack of economic development and a better distribution of that wealth throughout the country – 2010-2026 I can tell you, as a member of a country that used to be very rich – people do not care about political corruption, at all, if they, themselves, have some money, some security, and reasonable opportunity..