Secret plans are being made within Fidesz: Viktor Orbán out in 2026?

According to the latest forecasts, Péter Magyár and the Tisza party are now comfortably ahead of the ruling party. According to analysts, there are increasing signs that a long-unthinkable possibility has emerged within the Fidesz leadership: to field a candidate other than Viktor Orbán in the 2026 elections, according to an article in VSquare by investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi.

Plan B in the background: Orbán out?

Fidesz came to power in 2010, and Orbán’s government has enjoyed a two-thirds majority in parliament for 15 years. By completely redrafting the electoral law, they have created such a comfortable situation for themselves that Orbán is now serving his fourth term.

Over the past year, however, the political landscape in Hungary has undergone a significant shift with the emergence of Péter Magyar and the Tisza party, which, according to several opinion polls, is more popular than Orbán and Fidesz. Fidesz has tried to respond to the new situation with character assassination, smear campaigns, and promises of extra income for voters (such as personal income tax exemptions for mothers), but these do not seem to have been effective.

According to VSquare, several sources close to the government have confirmed that internal discussions have been going on for months about a scenario that exists only as a backup plan, and that Orbán’s succession is the topic of discussion. Orbán’s government has relied on secret opinion polls on numerous occasions when making decisions, and it appears that the results of these polls may influence the final decision this time as well.

Political analyst Gábor Török was the first to publicly raise the idea that Orbán’s resignation cannot be ruled out. According to sources, a new candidate could avoid a defeat that would overshadow Orbán’s political career and even reduce the disadvantage vis-à-vis the Tisza Party and Péter Magyar.

János Lázár’s name is the one most frequently mentioned as a possible successor. According to Gábor Török and Szabolcs Panyi, he could be one of the realistic options. Lázár has been actively building his political presence in recent times: not only does he hold street forums, but he has also set up a central communications team under his ministry, which effectively functions as an independent campaign machine.

Admittedly, thanks to a series of bad decisions, the transport minister is not exactly the most popular politician in Fidesz. Although Lázár denies having ambitions to become prime minister, he is already being treated as a real possibility within Fidesz, according to Panyi’s sources.