Orbán to seek Fidesz re-election as party undergoes major restructuring

Viktor Orbán is poised for re-election as the president of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party at its upcoming congress.

The party last held a leadership election in November 2023, confirming Orbán and the four vice presidents in their positions. However, the upcoming congress is expected to bring about a significant reorganization of the party's structure, moving away from the current electoral district president system.

This planned restructuring draws parallels to the Fidesz congress in May 2003. At that time, Fidesz, having lost government power in 2002, also underwent a substantial transformation. The party adopted the name "Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance" and introduced the electoral district president system, which is now set to be abolished.

The new party structure will align with the municipal system, effectively reverting to a pre-2003 organizational model. A key difference from the 2003 congress is that Orbán was returning to the party leadership after a three-year hiatus, having previously served as party president from 1993 to 2000 before the positions of prime minister and party leader were separated.

Since his re-election in 2003, Orbán has continuously held the position of Fidesz president. The upcoming congress is thus seen as a moment of significant internal change for the party, reflecting on its past while adapting its structure for the future.