Will Orbán leave with dignity? What his wife should learn from Jill Biden

Given Fidesz has now been trailing in the polls for eight straight months, three questions have bubbled up:

1) Should Orbán continue to lead Fidesz or should there be a changing of the guard?

2) Will Orbán hold the elections or find a sneaky way to “cancel” or postpone them?

2) If Orbán loses the elections, will he go peacefully?

To question 1, I say that it doesn’t matter. They could switch him out for anyone but it wouldn’t change anything. All of the senior people in the party are equally responsible for the state of the country and the Party, so it’s not like a new face would alleviate the issues that voters have. The balance of probabilities is actually that Fidesz would do worse without Orbán because the reality is that voters love Orbán the person not Fidesz the political party.

To question 2, yes, I’ve heard the theories that Orbán may try to indefinitely postpone the elections as he holds Hungary hostage in a fake State of Emergency (due to Covid and then the Ukraine war) and elections can be postponed during states of emergency OR he may try to find some loophole to ensure Péter Magyar cannot run. If he jumps the shark and goes down either route he will officially kiss goodbye his reputation and legacy, and make a martyr out of Péter.

With regard to question 3, it’s interesting. It’s something we’ve come up against in recent politics, haven’t we? Donald Trump never conceded the 2020 elections, and Joe Biden didn’t want to relinquish power despite obviously ailing.

That’s where I think Viktor Orbán’s wife Aniko Levai could play an interesting role.

Why? Former First Lady Jill Biden is being pilloried for not telling her husband Joe to stand down. Surely, she could see his failing healthy and the political realities better than anyone?

People are basically accusing her of elder abuse, and some think she pushed him to continue simply because she liked life in the White House too much.

Aniko should learn the lesson in this story, and when the time comes she should convince her husband to do the right thing — if he’s having any doubts.

It’s not an irrational fear to have.

Recently, I’ve been asking family friends who generally support Fidesz, if they lose the election can they imagine Orbán saying, “We’re a democracy, and the voters have spoken. I concede the election. This time they have chosen a different path and I wish Péter Magyar the very best in running the country”?

The response has been a little concerning because most people can’t really imagine Orbán doing that.

Aniko: Don’t fall into the same trap Jill Biden fell into. Put country above party (and husband). If Orbán’s wavering guide him to the right decision.

I live in Australia and we recently had elections also. The person who lost, Péter Dutton, gave the most graceful concession speech. 

He spoke about it not being the result he wanted, but that he called the Prime Minister to congratulate him and wish him all the best. He said that he was honoured to have the role of Opposition Leader and that he was sorry to those who lost their seats. He acknowledged that his supporters would be disappointed, but that the party would rebuild without him.

It made me proud of Australia’s democracy, and hopeful that Hungary could have the same experience.

Anikor and Orbán should watch it. 

How they handle the defeat will make or break their reputations .