Orban demands 'politics of resistance' at Fidesz gathering, calls Magyar government an authoritarian regime

Speech at annual Fidesz gathering

Viktor Orban addressed the 35th annual gathering of Fidesz supporters in Baile Tusnad (Tusnadfurdo), in the Transylvanian region of Romania, on 25 July 2026. The former prime minister, now opposition leader, called for an immediate shift in strategy following the party's defeat in April's parliamentary elections. He urged the party to move from self-critical opposition to outright resistance, stating that the "stake is freedom in Hungary" and that there is no time for prolonged introspection when democratic norms are at risk.

Instead of opposition politics based on self-criticism, we must now move to politics of resistance.

Orban argued that Fidesz must serve the national resistance and help restore freedom. He demanded the creation of the "broadest possible umbrella under which all lovers of freedom will fit," signalling an effort to unite disparate groups opposed to the government. The annual gathering, held each year in the Romanian town, has long served as a platform for Fidesz's ideological messaging; this year, it became the launchpad for what Orban called a "politics of resistance."

Accusations against the Magyar government

Orban launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Peter Magyar's government, accusing it of "dismantling democracy and the rule of law" to entrench its power. He pointed to legislation that, he claimed, is intended to "eliminate half the opposition from political life." Central to his criticism is the 17th constitutional amendment, signed by Tamas Sulyok, the outgoing president elected in 2024 with votes from Fidesz, on 18 July 2026. The amendment removed the president, the president of the Constitutional Court, and the prosecutor general from their positions, introduced a three-term limit for members of parliament, and mandated the retirement of Constitutional Court judges who have reached 70 years of age. Orban described these measures as the liquidation of the rule of law, framing them as the initial steps toward an authoritarian system.

The essence of arbitrariness is that power stops recognising its own limits; one day Tisza voters will wake up and discover there is no one to protect them from abuse of power.

Voter betrayal and the authoritarian warning

Orban said that most Hungarians who voted for the ruling Tisza party in the April elections acted in good faith, expecting fewer government mistakes and greater economic successes. However, he argued that the government is now constructing an "authoritarian regime." He warned that Tisza supporters mistakenly believe arbitrary state decisions will only affect Fidesz backers, but eventually the erosion of legal protections will harm all citizens. The former premier claimed that the government's path threatens the foundations of the post-communist democratic order. He added that the constitutional changes remove crucial institutional checks, leaving no one to stand between citizens and government overreach.

Fidesz's new mission: national resistance

The Fidesz leader declared that the party's post-election responsibility is to lead and support a nationwide resistance movement to reclaim freedom. Orban's speech abandoned earlier conciliatory tones, framing the political struggle as a defence of constitutional governance against an increasingly autocratic executive. He insisted that the opposition must act quickly to assemble a broad coalition, because once power is fully consolidated, resistance becomes harder. He called on all "lovers of freedom" to join the effort, reinforcing Fidesz's new role as the vehicle of national resistance.