Hungary's constitutional reform excludes opposition, signaling Orbán's political decline

Hungary's new government has pushed through a sweeping constitutional reform, including term limits for parliamentarians, which will effectively exclude a significant portion of the current opposition from participating in the next election. This development is widely interpreted as accelerating the political exit of Viktor Orbán, the long-serving leader of the Fidesz party.

Orbán, who recently retained his leadership of Fidesz despite a significant election defeat, reacted to the reform with a stark Facebook post: "Democratic Hungary, 1990-2026," accompanied by a photo of Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The reform also aims to prematurely remove President Tamas Sulyok.

Opposition leader Peter Magyar has decried the changes as the "end of democracy in Hungary." However, his declaration was somewhat overshadowed by Orbán's simultaneous attendance at the World Cup, a move that has drawn criticism and raised eyebrows even within his own political circles. Political scientist Gabor Török commented that one cannot simultaneously claim democracy is threatened and attend the World Cup, suggesting it marks "the end of the political myth of Viktor Orbán."

While Fidesz delegates recently reaffirmed Orbán as party chairman, he himself has hinted at a transitional phase and the need for a generational shift within the party, acknowledging that Fidesz has struggled to connect with younger voters. Analysts suggest Orbán's political future is limited, with some noting his resignation from parliament earlier this year.