Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, according to information from within the ruling Fidesz party, is considering switching to a presidential system that would allow him to retain power even in the event of an electoral defeat, Bloomberg reports.
The idea comes at a time when the opposition is leading by double digits in some polls. Meanwhile, parliament has already passed a law making it harder to remove the president from office.
Orbán, who has mentioned the possibility several times in the past, also recently discussed the issue with Donald Trump during a visit to the US. If he were to take this step, he could continue to run the country as President, while leaving executive power to a trusted ally.
In the event of a loss, as head of state, he could hamper the opposition's attempts to change the political course and the relationship with the European Union. According to sources, he thus wants to transform the ceremonial function of the presidency into a more powerful one. A spokesman for the Hungarian Prime Minister described reports of a presidential system as "left-wing fake news".
The opposition Tisza party has raised the possibility of constitutional changes as a crisis scenario. Analysts warn that such a move could be perceived as a rejection of the will of the electorate and would reinforce fears of a threat to democracy in Hungary.
(max)