Ádár János blamed for supporting Fidesz’s constitutional overhaul and environmental roll‑backs

Former Hungarian president Ádár János, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been criticised for remaining silent while the Fidesz‑led government pushed extensive constitutional amendments that tightened party control over the judiciary and media. Although he publicly urged the protection of the nation’s water resources, Ádár signed legislation that weakened environmental safeguards and facilitated projects such as a controversial Chinese battery plant in Debrecen.

Commentators also note that Ádár’s tenure coincided with the dismissal of senior judges, the passage of controversial “pedophile‑law” targeting LGBT groups, and the curtailment of academic freedom, exemplified by the CEU dispute. Critics argue that his symbolic role as head of state failed to check the government’s consolidation of power.

The articles highlight a broader pattern of Fidesz’s use of constitutional tools and state institutions to advance its agenda, with Ádár portrayed as a compliant figure rather than a defender of democratic norms.