Former Hungarian Prime Minister and Fidesz president Viktor Orbán has been spotted at Frankfurt Airport while waiting to board a commercial Lufthansa flight to Budapest, according to a reader photograph published by investigative outlet Átlátszó.

Reader photo shows former PM at airport before return to Budapest

The image, taken on Tuesday morning, shows Viktor Orbán seated in the departure area as he waited for his flight. According to the reader who submitted the photo, the former prime minister was travelling in economy class on the German airline’s service to the Hungarian capital.

Orbán has spent the past several days in the United States, where he attended the American football world championship. His return comes as Fidesz prepares for an important party leadership meeting in Budapest.

Return amid important happenings in Hungarian politics

Viktor Orbán’s arrival is expected ahead of a Fidesz presidency meeting that will address the appointment of a new parliamentary group leader following Gergely Gulyás’ resignation from the post earlier this month.

Fidesz communications director Bertalan Havasi confirmed on Tuesday that Orbán had already returned to Budapest and was working, adding that details of the party leadership meeting and its decisions would be announced “at the appropriate time.”

Havasi did not comment on the details of Orbán’s travel arrangements or his programme in the United States, stating previously that he could only provide information about the Fidesz president’s official engagements.

The party meeting was originally scheduled for 22 July before being brought forward by one day. Following the meeting, Orbán is expected to deliver his traditional speech in Băile Tușnad (Tusnádfürdő) on 25 July.

Viktor Orbán was recently spotted watching the World Cup semi-final in Dallas with family members.

US visit drew public attention

Orbán departed for the United States on 13 July, also travelling through Frankfurt Airport, where he was seen by journalists before boarding his outbound Lufthansa flight.

During his visit, he appeared among spectators at the Spain-France World Cup semi-final and was briefly visible in the background of a livestream by American influencer IShowSpeed. According to Hungarian media reports, Orbán attended the match with his son, Gáspár Orbán, and his son-in-law.

Although he was abroad, Orbán continued commenting on domestic political developments through social media. His return follows several significant changes in Hungary’s political landscape, including the resignation of Gergely Gulyás as Fidesz parliamentary group leader and ongoing discussions surrounding recent constitutional amendments.

Read also: Viktor Orbán under fire after declaring Hungarian democracy dead — then flying to the World Cup