According to a recent representative survey conducted by the Publicus Institute on behalf of the Népszava newspaper, 55% of Hungarians believe that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is ‘tired’ and no longer fit to lead the country. The poll was conducted by telephone between 21 and 24 January 2026 among 1,001 respondents.
This opinion is particularly widespread among supporters of the opposition Tisza party (90%), the Democratic Coalition (DK – 84%) and among undecided voters (44%). At the same time, only 4% of respondents in the Fidesz–KDNP camp see signs of fatigue in the prime minister, while 94% continue to fully support Orbán and do not consider the question of succession to be relevant.
If Orbán does step down, Péter Szijjártó is the most popular successor among Fidesz supporters, with 39% of respondents from this camp backing him. János Lázár is in second place with 12%. Overall, other names (such as Mihai Varga with 12% and Lazar with 9%) are mentioned much less frequently across the country.
The Publicus Institute emphasises that even if Orbán leaves, Fidesz’s base remains stable — more than 90% of the party’s supporters will continue to vote for it regardless of who the leader is. However, experts note that in a real competitive situation with specific candidates and parties, the balance of power could change significantly.
The poll reflects the mood ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections, when the rivalry between Fidesz and Tisza is becoming increasingly fierce, and Orbán’s long tenure in power is increasingly being discussed in the public sphere. The topic of the prime minister’s ‘fatigue’ has been particularly active in opposition and undecided circles in recent months.