Orbán Calls on Supporters to Resist New Hungarian Government

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who left office in April after elections, has called on his supporters to fight for the restoration of democracy in the country. This is his first major political statement since leaving, which he has named a 'Resistance Declaration' and published on Facebook.

Orbán's call came shortly after prosecutors raided the headquarters of his party Fidesz, where the party's internet servers are located. Prosecutors confirmed that the raid is linked to improper use of funds from the National Cultural Fund and other suspected criminal offenses that occurred during Orbán's government. Orbán claims that prosecutors seized servers containing the party's membership database and email correspondence, calling it a politically motivated move to make Fidesz legally impossible to operate, using the Cultural Fund as a pretext.

In his statement, Orbán stated that democracy no longer exists in Hungary after the center-right party Tisza of Péter Magyar pushed through constitutional amendments that terminated the mandates of the president and the head of the Constitutional Court. Tisza denies taking an authoritarian stance against political opponents and promises to reduce corruption, which was unchecked under Orbán, and to return Hungary to the mainstream of European Union policies. Orbán has regularly faced criticism over democratic standards in Hungary and has clashed with the EU on rule of law and minority rights, but he denies corruption allegations.

The former prime minister believes the new political system is illegal and that Fidesz will use all peaceful means to prevent abuse of power, both inside and outside parliament. Tisza holds a supermajority in parliament, allowing it to undo changes made under Orbán. In June, Tisza pushed through constitutional amendments that led to the removal of President Tamás Sulyok, citing loss of public trust. Sulyok was elected by Orbán's party in 2024, and a new president now needs to be elected.

Tisza enjoys broad public support: a July poll showed 60% voter support for the party, compared to only 18% for Fidesz. Since the elections, Fidesz has been in chaos, and its parliamentary group leader resigned last week.