Hungarian politician Lajos Kósa announced on Sunday, April 26, 2026, that he will not take his parliamentary seat following the recent national elections, ending a 36-year tenure in the legislature.
Kósa, who serves as deputy leader of the ruling Fidesz party, made the declaration on his official Facebook page, stating he would neither accept the mandate earned from the party’s national list nor run for any position at the upcoming Fidesz renewal congress.
He cited a sense of collective responsibility for the party’s electoral defeat as the reason behind his decision, emphasizing that while he is stepping back from national politics, he remains committed to serving the people of Debrecen, where he has long been a dominant political figure.
Kósa first entered parliament in 1990 and has since won seven individual mandates in Debrecen, serving as the city’s mayor for 16 years. His announcement adds to a growing list of prominent Fidesz figures opting not to take their seats in the new parliamentary term, including former regional party leader Erik Bánki and several KDNP officials.
The move reflects broader internal shifts within the governing coalition as it prepares for a leadership transition following the election loss. Fidesz-KDNP will determine how to fill the vacant seats before the new parliament convenes.
