Fidesz on the Path to Political Extinction, Says Magyar

Following the departure of longtime minister Péter Szijjártó to a top position at Chinese automotive giant BYD, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar declared the Fidesz party is rapidly collapsing.

Szijjártó joins Chinese automaker

Péter Szijjártó, a key figure in Viktor Orbán’s cabinet, resigned from his parliamentary seat on Wednesday. He announced he has accepted a position at BYD, a leading global automotive firm.

Magyar: A sinking ship

Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that the disintegration of Fidesz is accelerating as top politicians abandon the party. He noted that other high-ranking officials, including Gergely Gulyás and Orsolya Ferencz, have also departed or are moving toward new political alignments.

Magyar remarked that Szijjártó is now employed by a company for which he previously negotiated significant state subsidies, essentially shifting the source of his compensation from the Hungarian taxpayer to his new employer.

Orban’s foreign focus

As his party faces internal turnover, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is currently in the United States to attend the World Cup and seek meetings with Donald Trump. Magyar criticized this move, citing it as an example of fading glory amidst Hungary’s domestic constitutional debates.

Controversies surrounding BYD

The appointment of the former minister raises questions regarding his previous role in granting 20 billion forints in public funds to BYD for a development center in Budapest. The company has recently faced scrutiny, including investigations by the European Union into potential illegal state aid and safety concerns at its Szeged facility.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Defense added BYD to a list of firms identified as having ties to the Chinese military in June 2026. While the designation does not trigger immediate sanctions, it serves as a formal warning regarding security risks.