Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, facing a real threat of defeat in the April 2026 parliamentary elections, is considering a radical scenario to maintain control over the country. According to Bloomberg, Orbán is exploring the possibility of transitioning to the presidency with significantly expanded powers, which would allow him to block the actions of a potential opposition government.
Hungary is currently a parliamentary republic, where the president performs mainly ceremonial functions and real power is concentrated in the hands of the prime minister. However, according to the agency’s sources, Orbán is discussing constitutional changes that would grant the president broad executive powers, similar to the models in Turkey or Russia. This would be a “contingency plan” in case Fidesz loses its majority.
Public opinion polls show that the opposition party TISZ, led by Péter Magyar, is several percentage points ahead of Fidesz. Magyar promises radical reforms, including fighting corruption and steering Hungary toward closer cooperation with the EU. If the opposition wins, Orbán, as president, could use his veto power to block these initiatives.
Recently, Hungary’s Fidesz-controlled parliament passed a bill complicating the procedure for removing the president from office. This is seen as the first step toward implementing the plan. For a complete transition, Orbán will need the early resignation of current President Tamás Szujok and the use of the current supermajority in parliament for constitutional amendments.
Government spokesman Zoltán Kovács called the Bloomberg article “yet another piece of fake news from the left.” However, experts note that Orbán has repeatedly mentioned the idea of a presidential system after previous victories but has always rejected it. Now, against the backdrop of economic stagnation and falling ratings, such a maneuver looks like insurance against the first serious defeat in 15 years.
If the plan is implemented, it could be another step toward Hungary’s “illiberal democracy,” as Orbán himself calls his model of governance. The opposition has already accused the prime minister of attempting to usurp power, while Brussels fears that Budapest will further distance itself from European values. The 2026 elections promise to be the most tense in decades.