Pressure mounts on Orbán’s comrades-in-arms

On social media, there can sometimes be harmful content. A vintage photo of President Katalin Novák and former justice minister and Fidesz EU top candidate Judit Varga recently circulated on platform X. The picture showcases the two politicians smiling energetically at the camera. Also included in the image is a dark-haired, glasses-wearing, bearded man. This man is József Szajer, a former Fidesz member of the EU Parliament. Szajer gained notorious fame when he was caught escaping a gay party in scant clothing with a backpack filled with ecstasy during the 2020 Corona lockdown in Brussels.

This incident caused a massive scandal and embarrassment for Prime Minister’s national conservative government, led by Viktor Orbán, who portrays herself as the defender of traditional family values. Nonetheless, this scandal pales in comparison to the controversy surrounding the pardon of Endre K., a man convicted of concealing pedophile crimes. This scandal led to the resignation of Novák and Varga, the only two female figures in Hungary’s political apparatus, over the weekend.

Ever since, there has been speculation about who suggested Endre K.’s name to Varga and Novák.

Potential candidate Zoltán Balog, Bishop of the Reformed Church and ex-Minister of Human Resources, is being considered. Balog is perceived as the ex-president’s mentor, and Novák would do anything for him, according to the independent media portal hvg.hu.

Balog’s name has previously been linked to the case. Allegedly, he once endorsed a children’s home director, who was convicted of pedophilia, for a state honor. The pardoned man’s family is also believed to have connections to Balog’s church. Balog, however, has denied any wrongdoing in a letter to the leadership of the Reformed Church.

Inner Circle Accusations

Judit Varga’s ex-spouse, Péter Hungarian, sparked controversy when he heavily criticized the Orbán system on social media soon after Varga’s resignation. Despite being part of Orbán’s inner circle, Magyar resigned from all his positions over the weekend. He accused the actual culprits of hiding behind women’s skirts. In an interview with the online platform Partisan, he mentioned immense control pressure and pointed fingers at Orbán’s closest cabinet staff, Antal Rogán, Gergely Gulyás, and Balázs Orbán, for manipulating the nation.

A Hungarian journalist commented that this is the first time in Orbán’s 14-year reign that his power is being seriously challenged, thanks to an insider’s revelation. The interview was viewed over 1.6 million times on YouTube, while the pro-government media remained silent.

Balázs Böcskei, director of the political science IDEA Institute in Budapest, labels the crisis as unmatched. He said, “Fidesz has lost a future leader in Novák. The party has always managed to distinguish itself from the opposition through its coherent identity, conservative values, and child protection. But now, the fundamental identity and political attribute of the Fidesz party have been tarnished. The government-controlled media are still searching for a new central theme that they can convey to the voters.”

As for Orbán herself? The Prime Minister remains quiet, just like after the gay party scandal involving her ex-ally Szájer. Independent media speculate that it’s improbable Orbán was unaware of the pardon. She has only announced her intention to constitutionally prohibit the pardon of abuse perpetrators so far. On Wednesday, she posted pictures of her government on social media with the caption: “There is work to be done!”

Unlikely the Scandal will Cause Damage

Despite this, it is improbable that the scandal will inflict long-term damage to Orbán’s power structure. The government has lost credibility, even among loyal Fidesz supporters. However, the next vote in Hungary won’t be until 2026, and the opposition is weak.

Orbán will try to shift public focus to other issues, such as in her upcoming State of the Union Address on February 17th. Böcskei predicts “a concrete plan to rehabilitate the identity and create a new interpretative area.” He added that the scandal involving Szájer has been forgotten.