Fidesz network faces crisis as Orbán defies internal pressure

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ignored a request from Fidesz communication chief Bertalan Havasi to prevent the passage of a constitutional amendment that would facilitate his own removal. The move has sparked dissent among senior party figures, including Sulyok Tamás, who was urged not to endorse the amendment, former parliamentary leader Gergely Gulyás who resigned after three months, and former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó who left politics for a role at Chinese automaker BYD.

Analysts note that a new amendment limiting the eligibility of MPs who have served three terms or twelve years could bar many long‑standing local politicians tied to the party’s extensive political‑economic network. Names mentioned include regional power‑brokers such as János Lázár, Miklós Seszták, Alpár Gyopár, and others. The criticism extends to the broader “NER” system built around Fidesz since 2006, which party chair Márton Magyar aims to dismantle, targeting both formal party structures and informal influence networks. Comparisons are drawn with the party’s 2002 defeat, but experts argue the current situation is deeper due to the expanded network’s reach.