Hungary's Orban resigns as Fidesz leader
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban submitted his resignation as leader of the right-wing Fidesz party on Tuesday. A party congress in June will determine if the resignation is formally accepted, lawmaker Erik Banki told local media.
The center-right Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, defeated the veteran nationalist in the April 12 elections. The historic loss ended Orban's 16-year rule and sparked an internal reckoning within his party.
Historic defeat and internal reckoning
Fidesz will vote on its new leadership during a June 13 congress, according to state news agency MTI. The party has not officially commented on the ongoing leadership transition.
Orban declined to speak with the press following Tuesday’s party meeting and remained silent on his social media channels.
Previously, on April 16, Orban took "full responsibility" for the electoral defeat on the right-wing YouTube channel Patriota. He stressed during the broadcast that the Hungarian right requires a "complete renewal."
Strategic retreat from parliament
Over the weekend, Orban announced on Facebook that he would not take his parliamentary seat, choosing instead to return it to Fidesz. "I am not needed in parliament now, but rather in reorganizing the right," he stated.
Orban has been a close ally of US President Donald Trump and held strong backing from European far-right leaders ahead of the spring elections.
Despite submitting his resignation, Orban noted that the Fidesz leadership wants him to stay on. He confirmed he remains "ready for the task" if the June congress officially supports his continued leadership.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
