Fidesz gauges members' opinion on Orbán's suitability in internal survey

Following its defeat in the spring elections, Fidesz has launched an internal investigation to determine the reasons behind the failure, Blikk reports.

According to the response we received on the subject from the party's press chief Bertalan Havasi, “a comprehensive assessment of Fidesz’s organizational, infrastructural, and personnel conditions is underway, as mandated to János Lázár by the party chairman and the executive committee.”

According to Blikk’s information, the party’s internal survey is seeking to find out, among other things, what led to their defeat in April, what condition the local chapters are in, and how Fidesz’s political presence can be rebuilt throughout the country.

The survey also asks members to evaluate the party’s internal communication and style, and whether a more direct, modern, and positive tone is needed. The party is interested in members’ views on what kind of opposition politics they would like to see: a tough, combative approach, or professional, constructive criticism. At the same time, the survey is asking members to rate the work of several leading Fidesz politicians: Péter Szijjártó, Gergely Gulyás, Tibor Navracsics, János Lázár, and Viktor Orbán. At the end of the questionnaire, there is a space provided for leaving a message for Viktor Orbán.

In response to an inquiry from 24.hu, Bertalan Havasi wrote that he had also filled out the questionnaire, which should be viewed as a sincere act of self-reflection.

He added that

their goal is to ensure that when Fidesz enters the fall political season, it would be “a streamlined, unified, resolute, and coherent party—one that is ready and worthy of leading the national side and of waging an uncompromising struggle against Péter Magyar's tyranny”.

He added: “Fidesz is in good shape, and thanks to the internal reorganization and party-building taking place behind the scenes, it will be in even better shape by fall.”

According to our information, the former minister of construction and transport János Lázár has been travelling the country on behalf of the party to assess the current state of Fidesz’s chapters outside the capital in the wake of the election defeat, and to determine what, if anything, has remained of the party. He is to submit a report of his findings to the Fidesz executive committee by September, which the body will then use to make an assessment of the party’s prospects. We understand that so far he has mainly visited counties in the Transdanubia region.