Bloomberg: Orban is thinking about how to maintain power. There is an option - to expand the powers of the president and take this post

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is considering expanding the powers of the country's president and taking this post, Bloomberg reports, citing a source familiar with the situation.

According to him, Orban is exploring options to maintain his power in the event of the defeat of the ruling Fidesz-Hungarian Civil Union party in parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2026. Some polls show an advantage for the Hungarian opposition over Fidesz.

The opposition party Tisza also admits that Orban may carry out presidential reform, said a Bloomberg source familiar with the position of party leaders.

Even if Fidesz wins the election, Orban could still take the presidency with expanded powers, where he could be more involved in foreign policy, the article says. In this case, he will leave domestic policy to his “reliable ally” Janos Lazar, who now heads the Ministry of Transport.

If his party loses, Orban as president will be able to prevent his main rival, Tisza leader Peter Magyar, from radically changing Hungarian policy.

To take the post of president, the current prime minister needs to act now, while his party has a majority in parliament. In addition, the current President of Hungary, Tamas Szuyok, will have to leave office early. His term of office expires in 2029.

• Hungary is a parliamentary republic. The president of the country performs mainly ceremonial functions. The main power belongs to the government headed by the Prime Minister.