Viktor Orbán Forced Out of Parliament After Popular Rejection
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After a resounding defeat at the polls, Hungary's authoritarian former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announces his exit from parliament, as the people demand an end to his illiberal regime and a new era of democracy.
Hungary's ousted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, architect of years of nationalist and authoritarian policies, has announced he will not take his seat in the new parliament following his party's decisive defeat in the April 12 election. Instead, Orbán intends to focus on salvaging and reorganizing his far-right Fidesz movement, which has long undermined democratic norms and marginalized minorities.
In a video message posted on social media, Orbán admitted his role would now shift from parliamentary work to the reorganization of the so-called 'national side,' a euphemism for his divisive and exclusionary agenda.
The April 12 election brought an end to Orbán's 16-year stranglehold on power, as the center-right Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won a landslide two-thirds majority in parliament. This historic victory gives the new government the mandate to dismantle Orbán's repressive policies and restore democratic institutions.
Magyar has pledged to rebuild Hungary's democracy, strengthen the rule of law, and tackle the rampant corruption that flourished under Orbán's regime.
Despite his defeat, Orbán—who has sat in parliament since 1990—signaled his intention to cling to power as president of Fidesz, pending approval at the party's upcoming congress.
The new parliament will convene on May 9, marking a turning point since Hungary's transition from state socialism in 1990: for the first time, Orbán will not be among the lawmakers, opening the door to a more just and democratic future.