Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered his yearly speech in Várkert Bazár, Budapest on Saturday. The speech was to mobilise supporters before the 2026 parliamentary elections, to which he stressed, "there were only fourteen months left."
“In politics, triumph is the best cure, and we gotta wait for the next 14 months.” said the Prime Minister.
Orban, for the first time in over a decade, cannot be certain of the outcome. His Fidesz is increasingly not the leader of the polls, as TISZA, led by Péter Magyar, is stepping on his heels. Magyar is simply a erstwhile associate of Orbán's government, who, however, abandoned Fidesz and became his top critic. He founded TISZA Párt as a centre-right, anti-corruption and pro-European organization that cuts off both Fidesz and the discredited liberal opposition.
TISZA's main postulates:
- Fighting corruption – no more oligarchy linked to Fidesz.
- Rebuilding democracy – freedom of the media and independency of courts.
- Pro-Europeanism – better relations with the EU, but without the blind submission of Brussels.
- Support for the mediate class – transparency of state finances and taxation cuts.
The TISZA Párt leader attracts both young voters and any Conservatives disappointed by Orbán's kind of government. His charisma and anti-systemic message make him the most serious opponent of Orbán since 2010.
During yesterday's speech, Orban again presented Hungary as a stronghold of sovereignty, a stronghold of the European Union's attacks. He stated that Brussels seeks to weaken national states and impose The Hungarians of their values and economical policy.
“The European Union is no longer the community we have joined. present it is an empire that gives orders, and if we do not comply with them, it tries to punish us" – the Prime Minister thundered.
He stressed that Hungary would never agree to an EU migration policy that forces associate States to receive immigrants. He announced that the government would fight against the EU's migration relocation mechanics and, if necessary, would block further EU decisions on this issue.
“If necessary, we will rebel and encourage others to rebel,” he argued.
Orbán besides attacked EU climate policy and stressed that Hungary would defend its energy model based on low energy prices for households. He criticised EU CO2 restrictions and announced that Hungary would not pay for Brussels' energy policy errors.
One of the most commented passages of the speech was Orbán's message on Ukraine and its membership of the European Union and NATO. The Prime Minister clearly stated that Hungary would not support Ukrainian accession to the EU and would do anything to guarantee that it did not happen.
“Ukraine will never become a associate of the European Union against Hungary and Hungary,” he said.
Orbán described Ukraine as a "area" that had previously served as a "buffer state" between NATO and Russia, but now wants to subdue it to the West. According to him, the decision to turn Ukraine into part of the West is the main origin of the war and the United States and the EU underestimated Russia's response.
"I do not realize why American and European Liberals thought Russia would leave it unanswered," the Hungarian leader said.
He pointed out that Ukraine would never become a NATO associate without Hungary's approval and added that it would be a disaster for the Hungarian economy to accept it into the European Union.
Orbán besides criticised the US's policy towards Europe and stressed that the United States had tried to influence the political situation in Hungary by financing NGOs and opposition. He called for greater independency of Europe from Washington and stressed that Americans could not decide the future of Hungary.
“America has rebelled, but cannot win for us”, he said.
At the same time, he expressed his support for Donald Trump, identifying him as an ally in the fight against the liberal empire.
“President Trump is not our savior, but our comrade in arms,” he admitted.
Orbán hit the LGBTQ+ environment hard, promising to limit their activity in Hungary. He stated that sex identity is biologically defined, and left-wing ideologies effort to impose a false communicative on this subject.
“Man is either a man or a woman. Period," he said.
The Prime Minister announced that his government wanted to introduce changes to the constitution that would clearly find sex identity. In addition, he called on Pride's organizers to halt preparing for this year's parade, claiming that "it is simply a waste of money and time".
The latest polls (December 2024 – February 2025) show a historical turn in Hungary. For the first time since 2010, Fidesz Viktor Orbán loses his leadership position, and TISZA Peter Magyar takes the lead.
TISZA grows stronger: 34% in December, 39% in January and as much as 42-45% in February, which means a mass outflow of voters from Fidesz.
Fidesz-KDNP falls from 49% in December to 37% in January and up to 32% in February, indicating the biggest organization crisis in years.
conventional opposition weakens – Democratic Coalition (DK) has 8-9% and Jobbik, Momentum and Mi Hazánk stay below 7%.
The trend is clear: Magyar takes over dissatisfied voters and Orbán loses control of the political stage. If the trend continues, Hungary can await elections that will end the era of Fidesz governments.
