Hungary’s Orbán takes responsibility for Fidesz election defeat

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has acknowledged responsibility for the outcome that pushed his Fidesz party into opposition.

In his first interview following the election defeat, Orbán said the message of the opposition, led by Peter Magyar, proved stronger than that of his party, describing it as the key factor behind the loss, Caliber.Az reports, citing Hungarian media.

He also admitted he had not anticipated such a result: “If I had seen this coming, I would not have run such a campaign. I thought we would win... This defeat is very painful, because everyone gave everything they could.”

At the same time, Orbán stated that “a political era in Hungary has come to an end,” while signalling that he does not intend to step down as party leader.

A party meeting has been scheduled for April 28.

He stressed the need to renew Fidesz and announced plans to reorganise its leadership and parliamentary representation.

“If my party tells me to sit in the back row, I will do so... If they tell me to lead the team onto the field, I will do so,” Orbán added.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov