Intense Period Lies Ahead for Governing Parties: Faction Meeting, State of the Nation Address, Campaign in Full Gear

An extremely busy period is expected in Hungarian domestic politics until the spring elections. One of the most important events will be Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s annual State of the Nation address, followed by an off-site meeting of the Fidesz-Christian Democrats (KDNP) parliamentary groups before the National Assembly convenes. The elections are likely to be held in April based on legislation and past traditions.

Viktor Orban’s State of the Nation address always draws strong public interest (Photo: Prime Minister’s Press Office/Vivien Cher Benko)

On these occasions, the Prime Minister not only evaluates the current international, economic, and domestic political situation, but also comprehensively outlines the challenges facing Hungary and presents the government’s tasks.

Typically, the Prime Minister does not limit his assessment to narrow annual frameworks. His speech offers a broader perspective with a clear strategic arc.

Also expected in the second half of February is the off-site parliamentary group meeting of the governing parties. Traditionally held before the start of the new parliamentary session, Fidesz–KDNP lawmakers review the tasks and challenges of the upcoming period. On the first day of the event, Viktor Orban usually delivers a closed-door briefing. Decisions made at the faction meeting are later communicated to the public by Mate Kocsis, parliamentary group leader of Fidesz, and Istvan Simicsko, parliamentary group leader of KDNP. Following the faction meeting, the spring session of the National Assembly may begin at the end of February. Due to the spring elections, this session is expected to be short, with only a few sitting days.

DPK to Continue Nationwide Tour

During the election campaign, the Digital Civic Circles (DPK) launched by the Prime Minister are also expected to return to the road. As is known, in the final months of last year, the DPK nationwide tour visited five cities. The anti-war rallies were held at the following dates and locations:

• November 15 in Gyor,
• November 29 in Nyiregyhaza,
• December 6 in Kecskemet,
• December 13 in Mohacs,
• December 20 in Szeged.

All five venues on the DPK tour were filled to capacity,

 underscoring the depth of public support for the pro-peace position.

When Are the Elections Likely to Be Held?

President Tamas Sulyok is expected to decide on the date of the elections in the coming days. Under the Fundamental Law, the specific date must be announced at least 72 days before voting day. Elections must be held in April or May of the fourth year following the election of the previous National Assembly. The date of the vote cannot fall on a national holiday, nor can it be Easter Sunday or Pentecost Sunday. By law, elections must be held on a Sunday.

Past practice shows that the incumbent president has always set the earliest possible date. Since April 5 will be Easter Sunday, it is highly likely that the elections will be held one week later, on April 12.

After that, an additional three to four weeks may pass before the newly elected National Assembly holds its inaugural session in the first half of May.

Cover photo: Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Fidesz congress (Photo: Balazs Ladoczki)