Orban, who was the only candidate for the post, was elected by the delegates for one year in a secret ballot with 729 votes out of 737 valid votes.

The congress also elected four vice-presidents: Fidesz MEP Kinga Gal was re-elected and the three other vice-presidents are former minister and Fidesz deputy group leader Janos Boka, former government commissioner and Fidesz deputy group leader Alpar Gyoparos and Salgotarjan’s mayor Balint Kreicsi.

They are replacing Gabor Kubatov, Szilard Nemeth, and Lajos Kosa.

Delegates unanimously accepted the report of the national caucus in an open vote, and with a single nay vote, they also accepted the proposal of the party leadership, which included a document assessing the reasons for the party's electoral defeat.

Delegates also adopted a political resolution rejecting the EU’s migration pact and protesting against the "violent removal of democratically elected public officials".

The party statutes were amended, the organisation of Fidesz will now be aligned with the local municipality system, in addition, the national board has been expanded to 28 members.

After his re-election, Orban said "I never back up, I am an insurgent; I am only interested in national politics, I will not be tempted by money, European positions, or international praise."

He said in the coming year he would work to "hand down fidesz to the young generation as an organised and modern party with chances of winning."

The former prime minister said he had always considered it personal mission to build a sovereign Hungary, and considered the Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance as a community whose members would "sacrifice even decades of their lives for that goal".

Orban said he had "no illusions" concerning the incumbent government, adding that "the liberals now having power will open the gates, foreigners will come and ransack the country".

Meanwhile, he said a new generation would need to take over the party leadership: "let young people come, in their forties and thirties, who are willing to invest 30-40 years in service for the country," adding that he would work "so that it could happen as soon as possible".

That is why, he said, he had requested re-election for only one year.

Magyar: Orban has taken Fidesz hostage

Viktor Orban has taken the Fidesz party hostage and is preventing taking responsibility and party renewal, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said in a post on Facebook on Saturday, responding to speeches given by leading Fidesz party officials at a party congress.

"Viktor Orban spoke like the secretary general of the MSZMP, and he is pushing his party to the same place," Magyar said, referring to Hungary's former communist party.

MTI Stock Photo

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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