Orban offers resignation as Fidesz leader after election defeat

(Patria) - Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban yesterday offered his resignation as the leader of the right-wing Fidesz party.

The party's assembly in June will decide whether to accept his resignation, a party MP told local media.

Tisa, a center-right party led by Peter Magyar, defeated Orban in the April 12 elections, ending his 16-year rule and sparking calls for change within Fidesz.

- Fidesz will vote on new leadership at the party congress on June 13 - specified party MP Erik Bánki, as quoted by the state news agency MTI.

Fidesz did not respond to a request for comment.

Orban did not speak to the media after the party meeting on Tuesday, nor did he post anything on his Facebook.

After the elections, Orban told the right-wing YouTube channel Patriota on April 16 that as Fidesz president, he takes "full responsibility" for the party's defeat and that the Hungarian right needs a "comprehensive renewal".

On Saturday, in a video posted on Facebook, he said he would not take his seat in parliament, but would "return" the mandate to Fidesz.

- I am not needed in parliament at the moment, but in the reorganization of the right - said Orban, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, who was supported by the leaders of far-right parties in Europe before the elections.

On Saturday, he also said that the Fidesz leadership wants him to remain at the head of the party and that he is "ready for this task" if the June congress supports him.