Orbán Relaunches Fidesz Opposition Strategy at Annual Kötcse Speech, Threatens NVVH Staff

Viktor Orbán delivered Fidesz's traditional closed-door season-opening speech at Kötcse on September 12 — his first since losing power in April — outlining a strategy to rebuild the party from opposition. Orbán cast himself as leading the political offensive while assigning deputy Fidesz chair János Bóka a defensive brief, urged the fragmented Hungarian right to stay unified rather than splinter (a swipe at the breakaway 'Democratic Citizens' initiative led by Tibor Navracsics and Csaba Ferencz), and argued Fidesz should stop re-litigating its April defeat and instead attack the Magyar government's record. He accused the Tisza government of turning Hungary into a 'Brussels colony' by surrendering economic sovereignty, and framed the planned 2030 euro adoption as cover for austerity. Details of the closed speech emerged through leaks to Hungarian media rather than an official transcript.