Hungary Fears Losing EU Voting Rights; PM Orbán May Not Run Again

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government is growing increasingly anxious about the European Union’s planned “Article 7 procedure,” which could lead to Hungary’s voting rights being suspended over rule-of-law violations, an investigative newsletter reported Friday.

VSquare, a respected investigative regional news outlet, also cited well-informed sources saying that Orbán may not seek reelection in 2026 as polls show his Fidesz party trailing the startup Tisza party led by Péter Magyar.

“Orbán is now treating the process as a real threat—not just political theater in Brussels. At the heart of Orbán’s fear is a domestic concern: that Hungary’s surging opposition could frame the April 2026 election into a de facto referendum on EU membership,” VSguare reported.

“If Article 7 progresses to the point where Hungary’s voting rights are suspended, it could fuel the public perception that the country is being pushed out of the EU—sparking fears of a potential ‘Huxit.’”

To prevent Article 7 from advancing, Orbán needs a coalition—or at least one firm ally—to veto it in the Council of the EU, where unanimity is required for final sanctions.

VSquare cited a former high-ranking official from an EU member state that strongly supports Article 7 as recently recalling “a telling conversation” from late 2023: a representative from Orbán’s informal blocking coalition—which at the time included Austria, Cyprus, Italy, and Slovakia—confessed they were “only pretending” to back Hungary. In private, they admitted they’d be open to supporting Article 7 if it came to a vote.

“That makes Orbán’s strategy even riskier. While Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico remains his most reliable ally, Fico’s political future is unstable following recent internal turmoil. Without Fico, Orbán’s veto shield could quickly collapse,” the outlet said.

DESPERATE SEARCH

A Hungarian government-linked source suggested that Orbán’s desperate search for an EU ally made him endorse Romanian presidential candidate George Simion, viewed by critics as a far-right, pro-Kremlin populist who has repeatedly attacked Romania’s Hungarian minority.

Despite the backlash at home and in the Hungarian diaspora, Orbán apparently saw Simion as a potential future ally willing to return the favor by vetoing Article 7 proceedings. His support didn’t help: Simion eventually lost the Romanian presidential election.

Several Hungarian sources say that as pressure mounts, Orbán, a close ally of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, may not seek re-election in 2026.

Sources said Fidesz would nominate another candidate, János Lázár, Hungary’s Minister of Construction and Transport, as prime ministerial candidate instead.

“A longtime Fidesz heavyweight, Lázár has recently reemerged as the second most visible figure in the government. In recent months, he has toured the country extensively, held campaign-style events, and in early 2025, consolidated a central communications team comprising PR staff from state-owned companies under his ministry’s control—effectively building a campaign infrastructure of his own,” VSquare commented.

Lázár has repeatedly denied having leadership ambitions, saying he is neither preparing to challenge Orbán nor succeed him.

However, investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi said sources confirm that his candidacy is being considered a distant but very real option.

CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE

Lázár isn’t without controversy after he reportedly used Hungary’s foreign intelligence service to spy on European Union’s anti-fraud investigators looking into Orbán’s son-in-law.

Orbán’s family, friends, and allies have won billions of euros in tenders since the prime minister came to power in 2010, according to multiple EU and other investigations.

The prime minister, a rightwing populist, has denied wrongdoing and asked about corruption allegations once said he “doesn’t deal with business.”

The government has also struck back at Hungary’s opposition, labeling some leaders as Ukrainian spies.

The new legislation also enables authorities to crack down on non-governmental organizations and independent media seen as “threatening Hungary’s sovereignty.”

Critics have compared the measures with a Russia-style “foreign agent” law, saying “signs of desperation” are beginning to show beneath the surface.

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