Toilet Humour in Hungary: 100's of WC Brushes Dumped at Lázár’s Home

  • 29 Jan 2026 9:21 AM
Toilet Humour in Hungary: 100's of WC Brushes Dumped at Lázár’s Home
Key members of the opposition Momentum Movement staged a humorous political protest on Wednesday morning to make a serious point, leaving hundreds of toilet-cleaning brushes outside the mansion of János Lázár, Hungary’s Minister of Construction and Transport.

The creative stunt was led by Momentum vice-president Lajos Lőcsei and the party’s founding president, András Fekete-Győr. 

In a statement, Momentum said the demonstration was intended as a response to recent remarks by Lázár that were widely criticised for offending Hungary’s Roma community.

A public backlash followed comments made by the minister last week at a forum in Balatonalmádi, where he spoke about a lack of migrant workers and suggested that domestic “reserves” should be considered for tasks such as cleaning toilets on trains, explicitly referring to Roma people. 

His remarks sparked sharp criticism across the political spectrum and among civil rights groups. Lázár later issued an apology for his comments.

Speaking at the scene of the protest, Lőcsei said that no politician should be allowed to violate the human dignity of Roma people in Hungary without consequences, regardless of their position or political affiliation.

Fekete-Győr added that the absence of clear repercussions within the governing party suggested the comments reflected more than an individual lapse in judgement. In his view, the lack of response pointed to a broader related attitude within Fidesz itself.

More About Lázár

He is one of Hungary’s most influential and controversial political figures, known for his disciplined approach to power and his long-standing role within governing Fidesz.

Very much a party loyalist, but also someone with his own power base, he’s known for strong views on sovereignty, state control, and national interests. He has occasionally positioned himself as tougher or more “order-focused” than some party colleagues.

His style is cool, controlled, and often blunt. He’s not a populist firebrand, but he doesn’t soften his message either. When he speaks, it’s usually calculated - and often controversial.

He first rose to prominence as head of the Prime Minister’s Office, where he was widely seen as a key enforcer of government policy and a central figure in the day-to-day management of the state.

Unlike more overtly populist politicians, Lázár has built his reputation as a strategic operator and technocrat, favouring blunt language and firm positions rather than repeating party rhetoric. 

Supporters regard him as a capable and decisive administrator, while critics argue his style reflects an increasingly centralised and confrontational political culture.

Lázár remains a significant presence in Hungarian public life. His statements and actions frequently attract attention beyond party politics, often igniting broader debates about power, responsibility and the boundaries of political discourse in Hungary.

There has been recent speculation about what might happen beyond the long tenure of PM Orbán.

According to investigative reporting referenced by VSquare, party strategists have at times discussed contingency plans for scenarios in which Orbán might not lead Fidesz into a future election - and in those internal conversations János Lázár’s name has been mentioned as one of the few senior figures with a high public profile and deep experience in the party’s ranks.

Sources cited in that reporting suggested that Lázár’s active presence in the campaign trail and his own communication efforts are part of what makes him visible within the party’s broader political strategy, though this was framed as speculative planning rather than an official succession plan. 

VSquare also noted that such “emergency scripts” exist largely as theoretical exercises within elite circles rather than as confirmed moves by Fidesz leadership.

It’s also worth underlining that Lázár himself — and authoritative news outlets - continue to state publicly that Viktor Orbán is expected to be Fidesz’s prime ministerial candidate, and there are no officially confirmed plans for Lázár to replace him. The idea of succession remains commentary and internal speculation.
 

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