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Navracsics Tibor, the Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development, who has been a member of the leading governing party since 1994 and officially strengthened the KDNP since 2022, candidly discussed his relationship with Fidesz, his political career, and current issues in Hungarian public life. The minister expressed that he identifies with 65.3 percent of the current Fidesz, and although he never considered leaving the party, he acknowledged he has had significant disagreements within it over the years.
Navracsics Tibor feels 65.3% aligned with modern Fidesz, though he has faced serious internal conflicts within the party.
He believes a major transformation occurred in Hungarian politics between 2014 and 2019, setting Fidesz’s communication apart from his views.
He disapproves of the coarsening public discourse but remains committed to his role and trusts in Fidesz’s organizational structure.
The government does not target minority groups,
As a minister, he addressed issues concerning the Samsung factory in Göd, suggesting an increase in environmental fines.
Navracsics highlighted that between 2014 and 2019, a notable change occurred in Hungarian politics, which he observed from his role as a commissioner for culture, education, youth affairs, and sports at the European Commission. Although he didn’t specify the nature of these changes, he recognized a clear divergence between Fidesz’s communication style and his own beliefs since that period. Nevertheless, he feels he cannot evade his responsibilities: „The public holds me accountable, and I have to accept that,” he stated in an interview with Telex, adding that he has always tried to act with the best intentions and knowledge, admitting he has participated in poor decisions as well.
He is troubled by the deteriorating quality of public discourse.
Navracsics acknowledged being disturbed by the state of public discussions and attempted to improve it without success. He attributes his continued presence within the system to the will of the voters. Regarding Fidesz’s future, he expressed cautious optimism, believing that party activists will do necessary work before the elections. He perceives apathy as the greatest danger but trusts in the party’s organization and campaign strategies.
He also shared his motivations for joining Fidesz and how unexpectedly different the tone was upon his return from the European Commission:
„In 1994, after the electoral defeat, Fidesz barely entered Parliament, and an MSZP–SZDSZ coalition formed which realistically suggested a regression to past conditions. I considered helping Fidesz if I could. I never anticipated that the situation in 2026 would be as it is, nor could I have predicted the state of Hungary, Europe, and the world during that time.”
The minister addressed the situation of minorities, such as the Roma and LGBTQ+ communities. He asserted that the government does not attack these groups and believes whether the government’s policies are discriminatory is a matter of interpretation. He regards Pride parades as manifestations of a countercultural movement, asserting that a government has the right to define the boundaries of the right to assembly. He sees the labeling of political opponents as war-mongering as part of a „militant political vernacular”, considering it verbal conflict rather than discrimination.
The interview covered the controversy surrounding the Göd Samsung factory, which falls under the purview of the government office, and thus Navracsics’s ministry’s oversight. He indicated that the government offices only came under his jurisdiction in January 2024, hence his knowledge of the factory’s issues has been limited to that time. Regarding past incidents of poisoning at the plant, he stated they were outside his authority, but he later received a report on the situation, which he considered an event history.
When asked if the government had failed in its decision-making regarding the case, he acknowledged actions taken by the government in this area. He phrased it as follows: „(…) as it concerns a general regulation, we had to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises were not excessively burdened by fines. Samsung is a significant player in the Hungarian economy, but we had the intention to impose stricter measures.”
Discussing his personal role in the matter, he stated: „That’s why I contacted Csaba Lantos, responsible for environmental affairs, and initiated the proposal to increase the amount of environmental fines.”
At the end of the interview, Navracsics commented on how power has influenced Orbán Viktor and why he does not see an issue with the presence of wealthy individuals in Fidesz. His responses paint a picture of a politician who, while loyal to his party, is aware of its flaws and strives to maintain his principles while engaging in public life.
Regarding the questions about the estate in Hatvanpuszta, he responded: „The Hatvanpuszta estate (…) doesn’t bother me, as I accept what the Prime Minister says. In fact, I’m not interested in this question.” He added: „Nobody has been able to prove whether Orbán Viktor possesses wealth, how much wealth he has, and whether he obtained it legally or illegally. I don’t see myself as an investigative journalist or a great truth-seeker. I’m much more interested in other issues than how much money someone possesses.”
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